Short Summary

Hi!  My name is Alicia Neumann and I am passionate about pies.  I began making pies as a New Year's Resolution in 2012 and since then, I have not stopped baking.

I grew up here in Virginia, graduating from JR Tucker High School in Richmond and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  For the past 15 years, I lived and started a family in Seattle, Washington.  After getting an MBA in 2001, I have gained experience in a variety of marketing roles in telecommunications, insurance and internet companies.  After the birth of my son in 2009, I realized that time away from him had to be well spent in a pursuit that sparked my passion. Fortunately, in 2012 that I realized that passion was making pie.  Since then, I have made over 700 pies at home, by hand, from scratch.

The Local Pie Company is the intersection of my background experiences and my vision for the future.  Having my own shop will allow me to become a part of a community.

What We Need & What You Get

In order to get the doors open, we need to raise $40,000 to help with costs associated with completing the construction on our 1,100 sq ft space and purchasing equipment and fixtures. Our budget breaks down like this:

• $15,000 for construction:  Most of the big ticket items are done (plumbing, electrical, fire safety), we just need to put the finishing touches on the space including paint, drywall, trim and flooring.
  
• $15,000 for equipment:  This is for ovens, refrigerators and freezers.  We are already working with a kitchen equipment reseller and are ready to go!
  
• $10,000 for furniture: Including counter tops, tables, chairs as well as finishes such as bathroom fixtures and lighting.

The Impact

The Local Pie Company is not just about making and selling pies.  Our mission includes

• Connecting local farmers to the community through handmade, seasonally inspired sweet and savory pies;
  
• Contributing to the success of local artists and musicians by providing space for them to display their work to the public;
  
• Creating a positive work environment that allows employees to be creative in their work while providing excellent service to our customers and guests;
  
• Providing a community space for formal and informal gatherings including pie making classes from our open concept kitchen.

In every marketing role I held since 2001 I always sought out ways to support the community either through direct corporate giving or by developing campaigns that foster a sense of community. 

Risks & Challenges

Starting a pie shop is scary but I can feel in my bones that this is the right thing and our space is the right place to make this dream a reality.  Throughout my life, it is the times when faced with seemingly impossible challenges that I am at my best. My keys to success have been and will continue to be:

• Flexibility: being able to adapt to my environment and surroundings will be key.  This is why I am adding savory pies to my deep dessert pie reservoir to be able to better meet the needs of the community - there are no coffee shops and few lunch options nearby.
  
• Tenacity: since 2012, we have lived in 4 homes.  We initially moved to get more space for our family.  Even still, I managed to make over 600 pies while moving to 3 different addresses around Seattle.  Since moving to Richmond, I've added over 100 pies to my count.  I love making pies.
• Openness: I am so looking forward to taking cues from my employees and my customers on new pies to create, new techniques for baking, what hours to be open, and what services to offer.  I have a business plan that I am ready to take to the real world.

Businesses fail and food service business have an even worse track record.  I believe with the 3 keys to success named above, I am ready to meet and exceed the challenges ahead.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you can't contribute, that's okay.  I understand.  There are other ways you can help:

• Do you know people?  If so, please share my story with them! 
  
• Do you have some time & like to work with your hands?  I could use some help getting the shop ready! 
  
• Looking for work?  I'll be hiring soon!  Message me and let's talk!