The holiday push is on, and we are feeling it at Blueberry Haven! Every day, we are busy packing, wrapping, shipping, packing, wrapping, shipping, etc., as fast as we can.
It’s hard to believe we are celebrating our fifth holiday season in our store this year, and it’s even more amazing how our process becomes better every year. Of course, it definitely helps that I have a fantastic staff to keep our store running smoothly and more efficiently than I could ever imagine doing by myself. Many of you probably know that attention to detail is not my strong point—I’m the creative one, remember? My staff knows all too well that I often forget to get our customers’ phone number, email, etc., and they have to nudge me as a reminder to ask for this information. So, if I’m waiting on you in the store, you might want to request one of my truly professional staff members! I hope they know how much I appreciate their hard work and dedication, especially during our crazy season.
Regardless of whether I’m ordering, packing, sorting, creating, or waiting on customers, I love being at Blueberry Haven during the holiday season. It’s always fun to see who will walk through our front door on any given day, and this Monday was hockey moms day! I want to give a huge shout out to all of my hockey mom friends who have supported me since I began my adventures many years ago. They have continued to support my blueberry love by trying many of my products and spreading the word about Blueberry Haven.
Even when my hockey friends from out of town can’t make it to downtown Grand Haven to shop in person, they still find a way to pick up some blueberry goodies for all occasions. In fact, Monday began with an email from a current Grand Rapids Catholic Central hockey mom who needed gifts for her sisters and sister-in-laws. She likes to get each of them a little something for Christmas that she knows they will enjoy, so she decided on a jar of our Blueberry Chutney and a Michigan’s Blueberry Coffee Cake Mix for each of them. This way, they would have an appetizer in a pinch or a quick breakfast for a busy morning. Both great gifts!
During lunch time that same day, another hockey mom from my past came in to our store to ship a box of blueberry goodies to her dad in Texas. And the fun continued throughout the day. An online order came in from a former hockey mom whose son played on a team with my middle son and then later against him. She was sending some “Michigan Love” in the form of Blueberry Haven goodies. Then, as I was going through the mail that day, I opened a Christmas card from a another hockey mom who has continuously given Blueberry Haven gifts and has supported me since my start up many years ago.
Next, a Grand Haven friend whose son played roller hockey with my son when they were younger, came in to buy some gifts for an upcoming girls weekend. And, finally, another Grand Haven hockey mom from our sons’ travel days stopped in to buy 15 gift packages for her husband’s staff. They had specifically requested our Blue Chocolate Covered Blueberries. An excellent choice!
Wow—what a great day! Thank you to to all of my awesome hockey moms for continuing to support me and my little blueberry gig in Grand Haven! I definitely felt the love from so many of them on Monday, and it continues throughout the year as well. I have to say they are a very special group of women, and I was lucky enough to spend time with some of them this past weekend as we cheered on our “Blueberry Blue” boys in their high school hockey game. It was an exciting game to watch as they pulled out a win in the last 13 seconds of the game!
I’m not sure which was more fun—watching our boys play hockey or hanging out with my fellow hockey moms for a weekend full of entertainment. I would have to say it was a toss-up, and I had the best of both worlds.
May you all be blessed this holiday season with your own special group of friends and enjoy the time you spend together.
