Today we’d like to introduce you to Brit Williams.
Hi Brit, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I currently produce and package all my products in a commercial kitchen and can be found at multiple farmers markets, as well as a few local retail shops. I have loved learning, creating and developing a business with customers who make it all worth it – it’s so true that when you support local, the person’s heart behind that product beams with every sale, comment, repost and show of support.
I started this business because I wanted to provide a granola bar that was nutritionally packed with goodness while tasting so delicious you can’t help but come back for more. I began making bars for my husband and myself and then started bringing them on-site to events I managed to share with the staff, as a way to bring a little bit of homemade energy to everyone. One of my clients was a national health food store and their staff loved them so much they encouraged me to start selling and sharing my product! That was April 2019 and by June 2019, I sold my first bar. In October 2019, I created a website so I could sell my granola bars online. 2020 was all about getting my Cottage Food License and selling in Farmers Markets. This year (2021), I moved to a Minnesota Department of Agriculture retail and wholesale license, while continuing to build my customer base.
I named my business, “Please & Thank You” because at the time I was teaching my son, Oakley, manners and it reminded me how powerful manners can be. It’s important to treat each other with respect and kindness, despite our differences.
I taught Oakley about manners first through sign language and then constant, gentle reminders to approach requests and preferences in a kind way. The more that he started to do it, the more I realized how hearing the word, “NO” sounded much more manageable when it came out, “NO THANKS”. Many parents may relate to the constant requests for snacks, toys, you name it and I found that when Oakley asks, “May I have more milk please?” for the 20th time that day, I’m much more amenable to his request.
This got me thinking… If the simple act of using manners made me a more gracious mom, what else could manners help with? So, I thought, branding the business, Please & Thank You and keeping manners at the core of what we do would serve as a gentle reminder that using manners can positively impact peoples’ mood, approach and outlook on daily life.
To me, manners don’t always mean I agree with you, but rather that I respect you as a person. That mutual respect and care for another human is important as we try to tackle big, sometimes controversial, topics. Beyond my toddler wanting another snack – it means we can approach social injustice in a more productive way, we can have a different outlook when the world faces a pandemic and we can show each other kindness as we navigate political issues together.
Please & Thank You exists to be the gentle reminder to respect one another. A little bit of kindness and thinking outside of yourself can go a long way.
I continue this business because I’ve realized a bigger goal in it – not only do I want to share a high-quality, yummy granola bar that reminds people to treat each other well, I also want to be part of the community that “cracks the code” on an economical, user-friendly, shelf-life supporting, single-snack packaging solution. We need to figure out packaging for single-use snacks that doesn’t overwhelm landfills. As much as we love and need convenience, we must also consider and minimize the impact to our earth.. We’ll get there!
My business experience includes:
– Graduate from the University of St. Thomas with an Entrepreneurship degree
–10 years in Financial Services in various roles, primarily as chief of staff
– Current full-time event planner (6 years in the industry) for a major medical device company
– I manage my time through something I call the, “Model Calendar” – you can learn more about my time management philosophy here: https://goldivyhealthco.com/podcast/ – Episode 19
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve embarked on this journey with a one-step-at-a-time mindset. I figure out the action item or person I need to talk to for the task at hand and have faith that it will lead me to the next right step. I didn’t grow up in the food industry, so it’s been a steep learning curve. I just happen to have a message I really believe in and granola bars are the vessel in which I spread it. I have also adopted the viewpoint of investing only what I make out of the business, back into it. So far, I have only invested my time and the money I’ve made, so it puts me in a unique position of being able to evaluate whether or not I should continue, based on expected returns. This won’t always be the case but it has helped take a bit of the pressure off, at least in the beginning phases. I am so grateful for the connections, advice and guidance I’ve received along the way.
I can think of several tough decisions and process changes I made with the help of the many mentors I’ve leaned on as part of this journey. The small business community in Minnesota is so great for that!
More specifically on my current roadblock/bump: My biggest barrier/issue right now is the packaging. I have focused on compostable, simple packaging, which served me well for farmers markets, but is not an adequate solution as I grow and scale the business.
With compostable packaging, the wrapper acts as a sieve, allowing the moisture from the granola bar to escape through the packaging. This means that although the bar is “food safe” for 6+ months and still has the same great taste, the texture of it changes after about 6-8 weeks. This hinders my ability to mass-produce and therefore, I have to manage inventory in a different way.
Ultimately, a 6-8 week “best-use” date is a hard barrier to overcome when moving into retail. A retailer would have a difficult time saying, “yes” to me with that kind of turnaround time. So, I am actively working on finding a “retail” appropriate wrapper that is also sustainably sourced. As I grow the business, I want to be a part of the movement to offer eco-friendly, single-use, affordable packaging. I would love it if all the snacks we consume came in sustainably sourced, recyclable packaging that keep them fresh and at a price point palatable to the businesses producing them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Please & Thank You Granola Bars?
At Please & Thank You Granola Bars, we focus on three things:
1) Making products that are good for you and taste delicious – high quality ingredients without the extra additives and gluten-free. We focus on whole ingredients.
2) Sharing bars that remind us about manners – every bar is named after a manner, it’s even in our name! Manners show mutual respect in a world where a little bit of kindness can go a long way.
3) Producing a product that doesn’t produce extra for the earth – our wrappers and packaging are eco-friendly. Each month we donate part of our profits to One Tree Planted that supports reforestation around the world.
People ask me: “Why do you make granola bars with manners, Brit?” I want to remind people the power of manners and respect. I want to remind us all that even when we don’t agree with someone we can still show them respect in a way that strengthens our community.
“But why did you choose granola bars as a vessel for that message?” It’s a fun, easy, daily way to share an important message. My products are specially crafted to be inherently good for you – whole ingredients, well-balanced, and packaged in an earth-friendly way. It’s full circle: take care of yourself, be mindful of your community, think about your earth. They are simply a daily reminder of those things..
I care about you, our community and our earth. Please & Thank You is here as a reminder of goodness.
At Please & Thank You, we offer a product focused on you, the customer, the human, the friend. We want you to both enjoy and feel good about what you are eating.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My work ethic. The ability to work hard and put in the time and thought required to “make it happen”. I don’t feel like I have any special quality that sets me apart from anyone else, but I have the drive to do whatever it takes to make my vision become reality. I believe in my message, I believe in my product and I believe in doing things right.
Beyond working hard, I think it’s served me well to keep an open mind. I am always open to the feedback I receive from both customers and mentors alike. There is always something to learn, whether it’s something to do or not to do. Being open-minded has also connected me to a lot of great resources and people that I would have otherwise not known about or had access to. These connections have shaped everything about this journey. I realize that someone will always know more about something than I do and I strive to find them and receive their wisdom as often as I can.
Finally, gratitude. I’m grateful for all parts of my business. Purely the opportunity to start a business in the first place, the idea, the time, the resources and the people. I may be “in business” with myself right now, but so many people have supported me along the way and I wouldn’t be here without them.
My network that taste-tested my bars and gave me feedback have encouraged me from the beginning.
My husband that balances our home life for our family and is my rock.
My parents, aunts, in-laws – they take on roles to support producing and selling or helping with family life.
My other full time job that allows me the time to work on Please & Thank You.
My friends that cheer me on.
My customers that show up and make this all worth it.
My body for being able to carry heavy things, mix large batches and stand for long periods of time.
The list goes on. I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to see what will come of it all!
Pricing:
- Single Bar – $2.50, Peanut Butter – $5
- Pack of 4 bars or 8oz of granola – $9
- Dozen granola bars – $25
- 32oz of granola – $32
- Monthly Subscription – $22-28
Contact Info:
- Email: pleasethankyougranolabars@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.pleasethankyougranolabars.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasethankyougranolabars/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PleaseThankYouGranolaBars/
Image Credits
Skylar Rae
