 Photos by: Lisa Schmidt, Moments Marketing Photography, (403) 404-1323, Okotoks, AB Success is sweet, and this Alberta business story, without a doubt, is very sweet. Originating from a sheer coincidence of using a cigar humidor to store brown sugar, a star was born. A star business that is, was born in 2018. SugarBaby Saver started with a chance spot at the Millarville Farmers’ Market and branched out to other farmers’ markets including the St. Albert Farmers’ Market which is the largest outdoor farmers' market in Western Canada, as well as selling their unique quality glass jars with humidor lids through Amazon and their own online store. You can also find their products in some boutique stores around Alberta cities. This small, but vibrant, Calgary based business started producing their proprietary designed multipurpose SugarBaby Savers to enable people to preserve their food from waste. With vintage 1950s look and feel, they not only developed convenient useful products, they even designed them to match most kitchen décors, with white and black lids. All while being environmentally conscientious, as their jars are made from recycled glass. Their customers loved the jars so much they were ingenious, by using the jar for all sorts of other things. Thus, giving SugarBaby viable new ideas of marketing it for marshmallows, dried fruits, cigars, soft pet treats, baked goods, and anything that needs that little bit of moisture. The jars are convenient to use, put in a cupboard and you forget about it for four months, then when you want to use it again It is still going to be soft and usable. Its ingenuity is in its simplicity. With the reopening of Alberta is gearing up slowly and the St. Albert Farmers’ Market opening, SugarBaby Products is launching their newest product, a mini humidor, the “humi pocket.” Which came about in response to customers’ need for a smaller version of the SugarBaby jar and fits any wide mouth mason jar. Jennifer Pedersen, founder and owner of SugarBaby Products, would tell you: “in business, you have to be able to trust yourself with your decisions, and if you fail, well then you have learned a valuable lesson.” Their excellent customer service is what distinguishes them, in addition to their unique niche products. Jennifer described it best by saying: “I think our number one competitive advantage is the fact that customer service is so important in our company. We strive to excel at earning and keeping our customers. I care how I make money, so I want to make sure that my customer has the best experience. I would not sell my products if they didn’t work.” As for the quality of their products, Jennifer explains “I'm proud to say we've never ever once had any customer come back and say, I tried that, and it didn't work. That stands to show that our products actually do work.” In terms of future vision, Jennifer explains that five years from now, they would like to be transitioned completely from retail to wholesale. Her sage advice to other small Alberta businesses: “believe in what you do, If you don't like what you're doing, you are not going to get far. You need to know who you are, what you offer and how you create value to your customers and don't be afraid to fail because it is the trying that matters.”  |