An Appetite for Success
Laid off and without work, this San Ramon woman didn't wait around for a job to find her. Instead, she used her talents to become a small-business owner.
When San Ramon resident Leslie Bowers found herself unemployed – another victim of the Great Recession – she saw it as a chance to draw upon her untapped entrepreneurial skills.
Her goal was to mesh years of experience in the corporate world with her passion for entertaining. The result? Elegant Brie – a bake-at-home puff pastry-wrapped brie appetizer that's earned mentions in Diablo Magazine and a Fox News gourmet gift guide.
Last year turned out to be a banner year for Bowers, thanks to a simple idea and a ton of hard work.
Today, Diablo Foods and Draeger’s Market carry her brie, which, she said, is “a monumental validation of the product.”
But it took a while before Bowers felt that validation. She learned quickly that moving into self-employment wasn't the easiest career move. But without work, and unwilling to leave her future in the hands of others, she forged ahead. It took months of jumping through hoops to get the required food and health permits, business licenses and a commercial kitchen – the ingredients she needed to start her company.
Family and friends chipped in to help Bowers gain momentum. She credits them with helping her build the foundation of a new life.
The San Ramon Farmers Market became the first place Bowers peddled her creation. The market was a smart promotional strategy because it put her in touch with plenty of customers, other small business owners and others in the industry.
“The entire farmers market experience, although a lot of work, is a gift to new businesses that want a chance to showcase their wares to the public," Bowers told me. "After a year of much hard work [at] rain-or-shine markets, it was a pleasant surprise to observe how far reaching the customer base had become.”
Patrons kept coming back week after week for the appetizer, which is sold unbaked and frozen so it can be baked fresh at home. Each brie is hand-decorated. With February right around the corner, Bowers is selling a Valentine's Day-themed brie.
It wasn't an easy road, but the effort was worth it. After the stress of joblessness and the struggle to pave her own way in life, the fearless entrepreneur looks back on her journey and all those hard-won lessons with a smile.
Bowers sums up the most important lesson in her company motto: “When the going gets tough, the tough eat brie!”
For more information about Elegant Brie, go to www.elegantbrie.com or call 800-931-BRIE (2743). Or, check out the Elegant Brie Facebook page.
