Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Steinkamp.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I spent a career in the corporate world of marketing and was lucky enough to work on some pretty great brands including Disney, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Baskin-Robbins. But I always knew I wanted to create something on my own. Natural food has always been a personal interest of mine, so when we relocated to Boulder from Los Angeles, I immediately put a stake in the ground and decided to just go for it and start my own business in the natural food space. Boulder is such a hub for the industry, and there are so many resources and support for food entrepreneurs, I was immediately inspired.
Granola was a natural first step for me because I had been making it for years. My husband is a serious granola fan and eats it almost every day, so I spent years looking for brands with cleaner ingredients and less sugar, without much luck. They were all pretty much sugar and oats. Not what granola was meant to be. So, I started making my own, adding more healthy ingredients like raw coconut, nuts, and seeds, then sweeting it with honey and maple syrup.
After launching Spark + Honey, I began to explore the taste and texture more. I got creative with ingredients such as citrus zests and freshly grated spices for great flavor. Eventually, I realized you don’t need to completely dehydrate granola for it to be good. In fact, it’s just better if you don’t. Most granolas are baked for 30-45 minutes. Our Short-Baked granolas are baked for only about 10 minutes. They are perfectly crisp, fresher, and you can eat them right out of the bag!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A business centered around lots of ingredients can be logistically challenging. Recently, the global shipping container backup has even affected our production, as it caused a shortage of Organic Gluten-Free Oats which held up our deliveries and halted production for a week. Kind of scary when you are as small as we are, but everything is a learning experience. Now I keep more inventory of everything!
I wouldn’t call it all smooth sailing, but I really believe that when things start rolling, and there is momentum, you’re moving in the right direction. So far that’s the way it has been with Spark + Honey. Even with plenty of minor stalls or setbacks, I can feel the momentum continuing to build as we grow.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our Short-Baked granolas have quickly become a local favorite. I regularly get emails and Instagram posts with rave reviews, and questions about where else we can be found… There are a lot of people visiting Boulder that buy a bag at the Boulder Farmer’s Market, then go home and order a subscription from our website! That reassures me that I’m moving in the right direction.
The goals I have for Spark + Honey are lofty. Today we are making a better granola, but eventually, I can envision a “better for you” snack food company with bars, cookies, crackers, and more. We’re exploring all of these things, but in addition to an absolute hard line on clean, simple ingredients, it has to taste better than anything else in its category. It can happen!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Be brave. Be bold! There’s really no damage in making mistakes in the early stages. Also, know when to stick to your guns and when to be flexible about changing something. Even something big. I operate a lot on just a gut feeling, but I’ve learned that things might change or evolve from that initial thing I had in mind, and it’s almost always for the better.
I think a lot of people (including myself!) get stuck in how they see their business going. It’s so personal when it’s your baby. Whether it’s a better name, an evolution of product offering, or how best to sell your product . . . I think it’s a natural part of the process to have to re-work things and pivot along the way. I think even a solid plan has room for adjustment!
Contact Info:
- Website: spark-honey.com
- Instagram: @sparkandhoney
- Facebook: SPARK + HONEY
