Merry Christmas

'Tis the season to share good food, great stories and a lot of laughs. For all who have indulged in all of our lovely products, we thank you.

For your eating pleasure come to McEwan Foods, Bloor St. Market and Meat on The Beach for a chutney demonstration:

McEwan Foods

Date: December 24th and 29th

Time: 11:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Bloor St. Market: TBD

Meat on The Beach: TBD

All the Best, from all of us at On The Side Inc.

Chris

Metro Hall Trade Show

For me anyway, the trade show went smoothly. Would have loved to have sold more than I did, but the hours really left much to be desired: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. I'm sure, a few more hours would have made a huge difference in sales; nothing like enticing homeward bound customers to buy lovely hand crafted goodies . In addition, the CBC trade show was happening across the street. Sheesh you'd think the organizers would have known this before our event. Needless to say, I did sell quite a lot of my stock.

Thanks go to my dear friend Misbah for her wonderfully cheery demeanor and unceasing assistance. Misbah you are truly the best!!!!!!!

You'll be seeing me at any one of the following places in the weeks following and after Christmas: McEwan Foods, Bloor St. Market and Meat on the Beach.

For anyone interested in my lovely products, I also offer private tastings for groups of 10 - 15, at $10.00 per person.

Please let me know ASAP.

Chris

Christmas Trade show

Christmas is fast approaching and while 'tis the season for giving it's also the time for getting great stuff.

On November 30th, On The Side Inc. will be a vendor at a Christmas Trade show. When more details come my way I will share them with you.

Pencil or type this information into you calendar:

Where: YMCA Metro Hall
55 John St.

When: November 30th, 2011

Time: 10:00 - 6:00 p.m.

See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris

McEwans

Had a very successful chutney demo at McEwan Foods. Surprisingly, there weren't a great deal of people there; strange, given that Thanksgiving is fast approaching and any time spent preparing before the big rush is time well spent.

I happened to meet a very sweet man who made the time pass quite quickly. His hame is Nick; or Nickos if you're saying he's name in Greek. You got it right and what better product from Greece than lovely olives and olive oil. He has a large olive farm in Sparta, and has his casks shipped to Canada, where he fills smaller jars for the retail market. He has amazing business savvy and works like a damn; a 100+ work week. How's that for a work ethic. Despite the price of his olive oils; costing upwards from $26.00 per regular bottle, to $28.00 for organic. His Extra virgin olive oil is very light and leaves an almost floral after taste; lovely olive oil. I enquired into the possible purchase of a few bottles of his oil wholesale. With that thick Greek accent he quickly put up his hand and replied, "send me e-mail. Let's not talk business here."

Given the less than average number of clients, I was surprised how well I did; pretty much sold a case for each product. Except for the instance, when packing up and a walnut alergic youngster shoved a cracker with my cherry chutney into her mouth, it was an exceptional day. Could have been a disaster, but luckily the mother, I beleive, felt somewhat responsible as well.

Thank you McEwan, for another successful demo.

To everyone tuned in, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Chris

McEwan Foods

Come for a chutney demonstration at McEwan Foods.

Where: McEwan Foods @:

38 Karl Fraser Rd.

Shops @ Don Mills Centre

(corner of D.M and Lawrence

When: September 29th, 2011

Time: 12:00 - 5:00

See you there!!!

Chris

Bloor St. Market

Come and join me at Bloor St. Market tomorrow for a free sampling demonstration of all my products. All sampling will include various cheeses:

Date: Sunday, September 17th
time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
where: Manulife Centre on the concourse level.

See you there!!
Chris

Brochure Blues

I'm learning how to produce a brochure myself, using Adobe Illustrator. The learning curve is huge as I look to Dave (who knows more than I do, but it's kinds like "the blind leading the blind" scenario happening here) and a basic Adobe Illustrator manual for help. There is a lot to learn!!!

Needless to say, I did manage to get the file where I thought I wanted it until I brought it to a Scholar House Printers, where I met Allan the boss. The short and long of it is, we've been doing a lot of back and forth. I was hoping it would be out by Wednesday (two days ago), but that just didn't happen; like I said... a lot of back and forth. When it was finally done to my and the printers expectations I was sent home with a proof; this was late yesterday afternoon... before closing time. Before leaving I asked him when it would be done and he said, "around 12:30 p.m." He saw by the big sigh and the look on my face that that just couldn't happen. At which time and with some slight exasperation he said, "call me at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, I should be done by then.

I was happy... it was almost there... I could feel it. Once home I took the opportunity to fold it, just to see what it looked like and was horrified to observe that the gutters were too narrow. I phoned Allan, this morning, at which point he really let me have it. "I was just about to print the brochure and now I have to go to the file again..." I don't know how many "I'm sorries" I said to him but I believe, in the long run, I was right to do this. Turned out, an hour later he phoned back to confirm my own suspicions. "As a professional," he said, "I can't produce it the way it is." "We'll have to wait until Sue (their in-house Graphic Designer) comes in." So here I am now, it's 11:00 a.m., my brochure is still not final, I feel like I'd wasted my holiday; did nothing but this brochure, I was hoping to have it out a few days ago, so that Dave and would finally have what's left of my holiday time together; out of town or going to the spicy food festival at Harbor Front, but I'm stuck here waiting... trying to stay busy.

My advice to any of you who are planning on using valuable holiday time to work or worse yet, produce a brochure.... don't do it!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful long weekend.

Chris