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What started out as an idea for giving gifts to relatives turned into a family business of blueberry products across the state and a reminder of what West Michigan has to offer.
Relatively blue: West Olive mom, family growing small business
Thu, Jul 10, 2008
BY D.J. SOBISHWEST OLIVE — For business owner Tiffany Balk, Blueberry Haven truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
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What started out as an idea for giving gifts to relatives turned into a family business of blueberry products across the state and a reminder of what West Michigan has to offer.
Balk, along with her husband and three sons, thought of the idea to give blueberries to distant relatives as a symbol of the area. When they soon realized that blueberries were just as prominent as other Michigan fruits, she decided to exploit the "hidden secret," Balk said — and Blueberry Haven was born.
On what Balk describes as a "magical mid-2007 evening," the family started planning its venture. Visions of jams, pancake mixes, chocolates and other blueberry goodies came into the minds of the Balk family. Within nine months, the visions turned into products in 14 stores and several farmers markets across the state.
Among the most popular products are blueberry jam, a snack mix which includes nuts and spices, and a pancake mix.
While Balk gets the bulk of the credit, she is quick to establish that her family has just as much input as she does.
"My job is just organizing it and getting things done on time," she admits.
All of Blueberry Haven's products are hand-delivered by the family, without the use of professional shippers to preserve the image of a fresh product. Balk's father found a potential shop in Petoskey. A close family friend found a client in Ann Arbor. Her husband delivers products when making runs for his steel company; and his brother meets him in Traverse City, where he brings the product back to her father in Petoskey for distribution.
While the adults handle clients, deliveries and accounts, Balk's sons are involved in the act at the home base.
"I can be on the road and call the boys at home, and by the time I get there they can have an invoice printed and product ready to go," Balk said. "It's amazing what you can do with cell phones and laptops these days."
The boys work together, assembly-line style, labeling and wrapping jams and granolas. The boys have time cards, earn money and pay for anything they need.
"You see some parents just handing out money — but this way, they earn it," Balk said. "They work on their own and I have an account for them. When they want to go to the movies or need to buy new cleats, we look in the account to see how much they have."
Son Campbell is saving for a skateboard.
"(Working for mom) is nice," he said, then added "... sometimes."
Balk initially had to sway her kids into starting the business.
"They said it was lame," she said. "But once (products) went into the first store, they were really proud."
Balk still has "mom" things to do at home — like helping to take off Rollerblades, making sure the dog doesn't stray from their lakefront home in West Olive and keeping the boys from cheating at hockey.
"It's difficult sometimes," she said of balancing being a mom and running a business. "A lot of times I schedule work while they're in school. But a lot of times I'm just waiting around for them at a practice, so I can work then. That's the beauty of laptops."
For now, Balk would like Blueberry Haven to continue to stay a small home-based business. She admires American Spoon and Cherry Republic, two Michigan-based companies who have risen to regional prominence.
"Right now it's just one store at a time," she said. "I don't think you can do it quickly and do it right. Hopefully, when it comes time to hand it to the kids, it's something great if they want it."
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