Hi everyone,
I've been reading all the posts that have been written and thought I would reply to a few of the comments.
First, I want to thank everyone for their continuous support! My business has seen so much success in the past four years and I am so grateful to live in an area where people are so supportive and genuinely want to see small businesses succeed. Also, I wanted to especially thank the community of Gilford who have been nothing but welcoming and downright excited about our arrival these past few weeks. It truly makes some of the early mornings easier to adjust to when there are smiling faces ready to greet you each day.
Second, as much as people would love to create rumors or rivalries to make life a bit more interesting I'm here to squash many of these, sorry! Yes, a complaint came into the town about the Sawyers site plan and yes, I have heard that Beans and Green initiated that complaint; however they were well within their right to do so! Since then the town has approved the site plan and we are now up and running, leaving the past as just that, the past. We have no ill-will or grudge with Beans and Greens over this matter and you will never hear me or my staff speak poorly about Beans and Greens. They too are a small business trying to find their way and success in this area and I respect that.
Finally, Beans and Greens did sell Cider Bellies Doughnuts last year. However, I made a business decision to stop wholesaling my product to them, the reasons behind that decision will remain between Beans and Greens and I. I have heard that they are now selling cider doughnuts and I welcome the competition. We live in the United States where our economy is founded on this very idea. I in no way own exclusive rights to cider doughnuts and would never deter anyone from creating their own version of this product! I simply own my name and my recipe, thats it.
For me, it's great that so many people love my product and I love hearing all the compliments that stream in throughout the day but I also appreciate the fact that if someone doesn't like my product there are other options out there for them to choose from. I'm in this business to make people smile and provide the best doughnuts I know how to make but I understand that I cannot please everyone and hopefully my competitors will succeed in pleasing the people that I may not be able to.
Our community it just that, a community, and its important to stand together, support one another and work together so this is a great place for everyone to live and find success in.
Thanks again for all your support you have no have no idea how fun and exciting this journey has been for me! If you have further comments or questions for me specifically please feel free to contact me at
ciderbelliesdoughnuts@yahoo.com. Please do not write me on this forum as this is my husbands account and I may not get the message or he may not be able to respond to topics that concern Cider Bellies.
Jessica Stephens, Owner, Cider Bellies