Hudson Valley Business Journal

January 12, 2004
Business Spotlight

Managing time, creating a business and eating well
Newburgh entrepreneur puts it all together

NEWBURGH- Stacey Hawkins came up with a business idea that has helped her draw together several of the most important aspects of her life.  It gave her creative outlet and has launched a new careeer; it enables her to work form a home base while caring for her children and tending to her family; it has helped her "to lose weight and establish healthy eating patterns."

That certainly covers a lot of territory, and her business- Time Savor Gourmet- is doing all that and more.  She now has five staffers who are "independent consultants," meaning that each has created their own business from the base of Hawkins business.

Here's how she explains the concept:
"Time Savor Gourmet is a gourmet cooking company designed to allow people of any ability in the kitchen to turn basic grocery store ingredients like chicken and potatoes into delicious, gourmet-quality food quickly, easily and healthily.  We make this happen through a combination of our products and our keep-it-simple strategies in the kitchen.

Hawkins has created 10 herb and spice blends that have low or no salt, no sugar, no calories, no fat and no MSG.  She also makes flavored cooking oils, mustards and sauce products that add flavor to food without many calories.

That's the start.  But the company is not simply selling its products.  It is selling its expertise.  "Our Independent Cooking consultants are individually trained by our headquarters on every aspect of our products, their uses and how to "teach" people cooking basics," Hawkins says.  "Once trained, one of our senior members (usually someone on the training committee) works with the consultant to coordinate the at-home "Gourmet Experience." 

In the home party mode, a consultant meets with a number of clients or potential clients who will learn about the products and how to use them.  The gathering, "is usually hosted by a friend or family member.  Unlike many at-home-party companies, our products are available for purchase and take home that evening," Hawkins says.  As for the consultant, she or he is free to "begin networking to host more and more parties and sell more and more product."  The "consultants are, in essence, individual business owners who purchase products and receive support from the corporate company, but are ultimately responsible for their own success."

Hawkins says she created the business because she wanted to lose weight, and she has- 54 pounds in the last year.  She also wanted to find simpler ways to cook healthy meals "and establish healthy eating patterns for myself and my family.  I truly hated the fact that on so many of these 'diets' I had to make a separate meal for me and then one for my husband and kids.  I wanted the support for us to establish healthy routines together, not apart.  After extensive research, I was able to put together exclusive recipes of herbs and spices that allowed me to add incredible flavor and variety to my cooking without the calories.  The meals were and are ones that the whole family enjoys, from appetizers to desserts."

"I thought that the success of these recipes and methods too good not to share, so I put together a business plan and hit the ground running."

Hawkins is a graduate of Marist College's business school and she's spent many years in business for herself as a professional business consultant.  After her first child was born, she worked part time, but the birth of her second child "prompted me to become an at-home-mom," she says.

So far, business has been doing quite well, Hawkins reports.  "Customer count is a little hard to determine" she says, but "since the weekend after Thanksgiving (when all the product was ready to go) we have sold over 500 units and have already made back our startup costs."

In addition to meeting her personal goals, Hawkins says it's rewarding to help others on two levels:  The first and most obvious is in regards to the products and benefits that they provide- not only in health, but as a time saver to families who work or want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time elsewhere.  The other reason is that "through the creation of this business, I have provided opportunities for people like me to work on a part-time basis as consultants.  This allows them to enjoy the freedom of being their own boss, gives a great sense of control over destiny and is rewarding in that they are providing products, assistance and answers to their clients."

To find out about the firm and its products as well as business opportunities, call 845-565-8532 or check out the website at www.timesavorgourmet.com.  Hawkins says the site is still in development stages, but does give a basic overview on her introductory line of products and recipes.