Simple Pleasures
Choosing not to put her profits into one basket, an entrepreneurial gourmand is now savoring the sweet taste of success.
What: Home parties selling
gourmet food
Who: Jill Blashack of Tastefully Simple
Where: Alexandria,
Minnesota
When: Started in 1995
Want to know how Jill Blashack converted her gift basket
business into a $100 million enterprise? She got rid of the gift
baskets.
After realizing that the products inside her gift baskets were
what really interested customers, Blashack, 43, decided to
transform her existing business into a home party opportunity that
specializes in gourmet food.
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The idea sparked after Blashack participated in the Holiday
Crafters Tour, a local event that opened the doors of fancy homes
to artisans and entrepreneurs wanting to show off their wares. As
soon as Blashack gave the attendees taste tests, orders for her
products started pouring in.
An SBA LowDoc loan and a personal investment helped Blashack
finance Tastefully Simple, which features a menu with everything
from sauces and popcorn to beer bread and dips, most priced around
$6.99. Many customers have become consultants for the company.
Hoping to expand her roster of consultants to 10,000 nationwide by
year-end, Blashack says, "The best people we find are the ones
who have [experienced] a party and said 'Wow, this is cool. I
could do this.' "
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