What is your name & how many children do you have?
My Name is Alice Choo-Shee-Nam and I have two wonderful children, Melissa (9) and Richard (4).
What’s the name of your company and the inspiration behind it?
Our company is Frostines Edibles a Peanut & Nut Free Gourmet Baked Treat company with the inspiration came from my two children as well as customer feedback and my passion for baking since I was a small child. I intially started the company because I had a passion for baking since growing up with my Grandmother in the country. My son Richard lives with allergies everyday because he is lactose intolerant. Intially, for the first three months into our business we were not nut free. Customers would come into the store and said they didn’t mind purchasing our products for themselves but they had people in their families that had allergies to nuts. So, in March of 2007 after opening in December 2006, we took out everything that had nuts in the store. We had to revamp our company recipes to reflect the products that now had no nuts. Customers welcomed the change so much so that local schools and current customers started referring those with allergies to our our company and we haven’t looked back since.
What is your current business struggle?
Currently our company struggles with getting our brand known to consumers and reaching those who would really love to hear about our products and services.
What is your current business goal?
Our immediate goal is to have Frostines Edibles known for our current services including our Newly Implemented Direct Selling Reseller Program, Private Label Packaging, custom label gift packaging programs and Bulk ordering.
What one quality do you think is a “must-have” for a mom entrepreneur?
I believe a mom entrepreneur’s main qualities should be inner strength, humility, passion for the chosen field, honesty and integrity.
What 1 thing or person has been very instrumental in your success?
My customers are my greatest motivators; I work everyday to make them feel happy about the products and services they receive. I would also say without resolve the many business women who have gone before me who have triumphed against all odds to achieve great success despite their limitations and who now paved the way for others to achieve their dreams.
What are your 3 favorite blogs?
The Girl Indie and Sixteen Weeks to Your Dream Business and The Mogul Mom.
What is your favorite quote?
This a quote my Grandmother would tell to me as a little girl every time she felt I was not pushing hard enough or was not taking things seriously, “Heights of great men reach and kept were not attained by sudden flight but they, while there companions slept, were toiling upwards through the night.”
What advice would you give to a new mom entrepreneur?
Be patient, have courage, celebrate the small achievements as well as the big ones.
How can we connect with you?
Email: customerserv@frostinesedibles.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/frostinesedible
Blog: http://frostinesedibles.wordpress.com
Website: http://frostinesedibles.com
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: heathall
June 6, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Thanks for sharing your story Alice…I love your favorite quote. Coincidentally, tomorrow’s Featured mom entrepreneur has the *same* quote–isn’t that amazing!?
Have a wonderful weekend.
Heather
Hi Heather,
My Grandmother was such a great influence to me, it’s amazing how we carry what we were taught by our Grandparents for so many years. I miss her dearly but she lives on in the products I make everyday and the traditions I pass on to my children all the time. Thank you Heather you have a heart of gold carry it you where ever you go.
Twitter: heathall
June 6, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Alice–Both of my grandmothers died years ago but I carry them and their wisdom with me. Maybe they each left me a couple of gold nuggets to tuck in my heart…thank you for that wonderful compliment.
Heather
It is so true that Grandparents are a very important part of our lives. My grandmother has been gone many years I miss her terribly she was a cornerstone for me when I was trying to start my own family.
Colo Junkett