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In a Nutshell
My name is Steve Young and I'm the owner of ah-fudge! in Pomona, California.
We began selling happiness and our delicious pre-packaged fudge at farmers' markets throughout Montana in 2009. We moved the business to Southern California in 2011 where we participate in 8 to 12 farmers' markets per week.
We've grown steadily and our dream of a retail location is about to come true. We are raising $6,300 to open a retail location. We've saved a lot of money on our own, but in order to be up and running before the Holiday season, we need your help. The $6,300 will purchase a new (used) fudge kettle, and some other important kitchen equipment along with some items needed to make and sell fudge at multiple locations at the same time. Thanks for showing an interest in our campaign. If you'd like more details, please read on.
The Backstory
There's no easy way to say this, but from a very young age I've had a love affair with fudge.
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It began at the Los Angeles County Fair watching the "Mackinac Island Fudge" ladies in hair nets pouring fresh fudge onto marble slabs. I soon fell in love with the taste and texture and everything else about fudge.
So that's where my story begins.
We Love Fudge
Many years later, I found myself intrigued by fudge again. I practiced making it on my home stove with some success, dreaming of a time when I could have my own fudge business. Most of my kids developed the same love for fudge as me. Every time we traveled on vacation or away for a weekend, we would stop at our favorite fudge shop and buy fudge. I even purchased a commercial fudge kettle on eBay and my kids and I dabbled in making fudge.
In 2009 I borrowed some start up money from my daughter (who was in college at the time), and soon we were offering delicious fresh fudge to people throughout the State of Montana.
Everybody Loves Fudge!
We weren't ready for a retail location just yet. After participating in a few festivals and farmers' markets, we were bitten by the "farmers' market bug"
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Our Montana Farmers' Market/Festival Locations
By 2011, with the assistance of my entire family, some great employees and awesome friends, we traveled a weekly circuit of 7 farmers' markets along with other festivals and events bringing FRESH fudge to many locations in the State of Montana.
Let Them Eat Fudge!
Everyone who tasted our fudge LOVED it. And they told us about it!
I always knew I loved fudge. I knew my family loved it. But it was amazing to see so many other people who not only loved fudge, but loved our fudge in particular. Most people told us ah-fudge! fudge was the best they'd ever had. Our signature Dark Chocolate Blackberry Merlot fudge is so good, grown men and women have been seen crying when they hear we've sold out of it!
Our Montana farmers' markets were a huge success. Customers lined up for our delicious treats and we got rave reviews. Of course farmers' markets in Montana are a summer time affair. If you've ever traveled to Montana, you know it's gorgeous in the summertime.
Winter...well...not for the faint hearted!
Although we had great success in Montana and simply love it there, something had to change for our business to grow.
In late 2011, having decided that we wanted to continue to do farmers' markets, we decided that in order to grow and continue in business, we needed a location that was less seasonal.
Let Them Eat Fudge Too!
With original roots in California, and more help of family and friends who were excited to see our fudge dream expand, we relocated the business to sunny Southern California and immediately began selling our fudge at farmers' markets throughout Southern California.
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Our California Farmers' Market Locations
We currently sell delicious, fresh fudge at 8 to 12 farmers' market locations and do a variety of short boutiques and festivals.
We're very busy.
We're also very fortunate.
2013 has provided both growth and stability to our tiny business venture and we're ready to expand again.
While making fudge and selling it at farmers' markets is a blast, it's only one of many ways that we want to spread the joy of fudge to people everywhere. We've always seen retail locations, more wholesale opportunities and longer events and festivals as part of our future. We've also seen expansion back to Montana as an option when the time is right.
We still receive plenty of Internet orders from Montana and are asked regularly by our old farmers' market customers, employees and associates why we don't return to Montana.
Let Them Eat Fudge (Again)! ![]()
A friend has presented us with a fantastic opportunity to share a semi-permanent retail location back in Montana. This location has already proven to be a very successful location selling other delicious sweets and treats.
We'll be joining The Nutty Montanan inside the front of Shipton's Big R store in Billings, Montana by the end of October.
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We think adding ah-fudge! to this successful location is a natural way for us to re-expand to Montana - so here we go!
Additionally, it will give us some great experience in a new type venue that we can build upon and expand both in Montana and in California.
Long term, we plan on having multiple locations of this type throughout the western U.S.
We'll also stay open in California, keeping our most successful market locations running during this expansion!
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The Story of El Fudge (El What?)
That eBay fudge kettle I mentioned earlier? We call her El Fudge. She's 25 years old. While El Fudge is a workhorse and will be serving us for years to come, she's huge, weighing in at nearly 175 pounds - and has special electrical requirements (dedicated electrical service, 40 amp service, 220 volts). She serves us best cooking up batches of fudge from our home base for sale at California farmers' markets and occasionally being moved to a festival or boutique.
We need an additional fudge kettle to make fudge at our new retail location that can be moved easily to other locations as needed.
Our campaign is to provide funding to purchase a newer, smaller and lighter fudge kettle along with other equipment that will make us more mobile.
We'd Love It If You Could Help Us
We think it would be rude to ask you to fund everything we need for our expansion plans. So we've saved enough money to set up shop and purchase most of we need in the way of additional equipment, retail and merchandising displays, kitchen supplies, etc.
We also think it would be untoward to ask for something without giving you some great value in return. So make sure to read on and see the great perks that await you. You'll see that you can easily get more back than the cost of your contribution.
Here's What we Need Help With:
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1 new(er), lighter portable steel jacketed steam fudge kettle plus accessories, shipping/transportation - $4,500.
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Concession style three compartment sink (required for cooking onsite at semi-permanent location and events) - $800.
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Gas powered portable generator - $600.
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Flat bed trailer - $400
The total campaign is for $6,300.
What's in it for you? PERKS!!!
Like I said before, we're asking you for help - and we're willing to provide value in return. See the entire list of perks on the right. We think they're fun and provide great value.
Our perks include:
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Fresh fudge made in our new kettle just for you! Our campaign will end well before Christmas, so we'll provide options for you to give as Christmas gifts or to keep for your own Holiday needs - or both!
- Savings! In the form of coupon codes good for purchasing sweet gifts at ah-fudge.com. You most likely already shop online. Whether you're a fudge lover or want to give fudge as a gift - use our coupon codes and save up to 50% when you purchase fudge - for you or a friend/loved one.
- Create a flavor! This perk allows you to create your very own ah-fudge! flavor and be credited for it on all labeling, merchandising and the ah-fudge! website, facebook pages, etc.
- Have a business or a loved one you'd like to "immortalize" for a full year? One or our perks lets you name your favorite ah-fudge! flavor for a full year. That's right - Love Rocky Road fudge? Well now you can call it whatever you decide (tastefully as defined and agreed upon by ah-fudge!). The name will appear on all product labels, merchandising, the ah-fudge! website and facebook pages, etc.
And in most cases, you'll find that our perks have the potential to return MORE than your contribution back to you.
What If?
If we don't reach our entire goal, we'll use the money raised from this campaign to purchase what we can. The most important item is the fudge kettle. After that, we'll borrow money to get the rest..
While we're talking about what ifs, what if you could get a greater return in value on your donation than the donation amount? You can! Make sure to check out the perks on the right!
What Impact Will Your Donation Have?
First, it will allow more people to experience the unbridled joy of tasting our delicious fudge ;) This may sound corny, but you'd be surprised at the number of kids at our farmers' market who have never tasted fudge. And you should see their faces when they do.
Second, our long term goal of multiple permanent retail locations will mean we'll be employing hard working people in the communities we serve.
And of course it's about helping a great guy and a great family provide for their futures.
Rest assured, ah-fudge! isn't going anywhere (but more locations). We know fudge, we know festivals and farmers' markets and we're excited about this expansion into a retail location.
We appreciate any amount you can donate to our campaign. We'll be forever grateful if you'd help us out.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't CONTRIBUTE, that doesn't mean you can't contribute:
- Please like us on facebook and share our page and our campaign with your friends.
- When you share us, be sure to tell them you're sharing the information because you think your friends would be smart to contribute - if they can.
- Use the indiegogo sharing tools to spread the word about us!
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and help us.
In a Nutshell
The Story of El Fudge (El What?)
