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St. Cloud State University
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Student markets 'Homemade cooking'
By Adam Johnson
Published:
Monday, December 8, 2003
"Homemade cooking, the way grandma used to make." This phrase is the lure that attracts customers worldwide, because people know that in all things, the recipe for success comes from experience.
Allison Renslow has put that philosophy to use in her new business, Allie Baba's Caramels, Inc., which she operates from her home in Sartell. She had been making caramels from an old family recipe for a few years when friends told her that there might be a future for the delectable treats.
"Everyone said 'you should market these,''' so I started charging people and it became a business that way," Renslow said. "It's really kind-of exciting to think of the possibilities."
Renslow received her food manager's license a month ago and has since found her side business to be fun and profitable. However, she has been careful to set her priorities in order to make sure the venture doesn't overtake her life.
"With the amount of orders that I'm getting in, it can be a little overwhelming, especially because I'm in graduate school," Renslow said.
Currently finishing her last semester studying mass communications, Renslow hopes to obtain a job in either advertising or public relations, and said that her experiences with Allie Baba's Caramels are already providing valuable knowledge that will benefit her in her future career.
The transition from making caramels on a small scale to a larger one has turned out to be more challenging than Renslow had anticipated. She has recently begun buying her packaging and ingredients in bulk from a wholesaler and has to spend an incredible amount of time in the kitchen. She's also been attending business workshops to help her make informed decisions about how to best operate a new enterprise.
"I've talked to a few people who own businesses here in the Midwest, and they're willing to write letters of intention, which means that they essentially promise to purchase from me in the future," Renslow said.
Though she's found setting up a successful business to be challenging, one thing Renslow's not worried about is the taste of her treats.
"I have a lot of confidence in my product and I think I've actually hit an area in the food chain that isn't max-ed out," Renslow said.
Her fellow students seem to agree as well, and have become some of her biggest fans.
"They're really good," graduate student Monique Russell said. "She brought some to class and I ended up almost eating the whole batch."
Renslow hopes to be able to expand her selection to include additional caramel flavors, as well as to build a small kitchen or factory to enable her to work on a larger scale. But for now, she's being kept busy working at home filling orders from students and companies who want treats for their holiday parties.
"I'd like to keep working on this as a small side business," Renslow said. "But if I should be so lucky that it becomes big and it's all I need to do to make a living, then I would definitely choose to do that."
Ordering
Renslow is currently taking caramel orders, which can be placed by calling (612) 220-6980.
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