She had been a nutritionist her entire career but how could she scale a single service venture? Heather Bauer started her work life at a hospital and then a health club. Her duties were to help employees and clients make healthy diet choices. Her passion for nutrition led her to write her first book, The Wall Street Diet. It was published when her first child was only four months old. “This was a crazy time.”
But she was now a recognized nutritional author. Four years later when her twins were born, her second book, Bread is the Devil, was put out. “I like to say that over the last 12 years, I’ve helped 1000s of people lose 1000s of pounds.” Her third book she co wrote with Margaret McBride, Live Your Life, Not Your Diet. It focused on helping people who were always on the go, eat a healthier diet.
“One day my husband was looking through the book and at all the products I recommended and said I should find a way to monetize the product suggestions I was making in the book.” Heather had always suggested various food products to her clients and she began to formulate an idea around this concept of picking products.
“It’s 4pm, do you know where you snack is?” She realized that her clients needed healthy portable foods, so why not put a box together with specific products and have the client pay a subscription price to have the box delivered to their homes. Aha – Heather now had an idea that she could expand to the masses.
Each month, Heather and her team of health and diet experts carefully curate 5 product samples that have caught their attention. Items like nutrition bars, snacks, breakfast cereals, and supplements are just a few of the categories considered – everything from fig bars, to coconut butter, to melt-able zinc vitamins, to spicy olives. “We like to think of ourselves as match makers, introducing our clients to brands they will love!”
Launching in March 2012, Heather named her new service, Bestowed, as in, giving a gift. Building relationships with over 50 brands was her first step. Then it was time to market her service.
Visiting Doctors offices, gyms and spa, the word spread and people loved the idea – subscriptions began to pour in. “My husband was a huge supporter and gave me input along the way.” Her fresh and inspiring approach to healthy eating has landed her on Good Morning America, CNN, CBS, The Talk, Access Hollywood Live and The Tyra Banks Show. She also has regular columns on The Huffington Post and US News & World Report where she covers the latest trends in diet, health and nutrition.
Heather adds inserts with healthy eating tips to her Bestowed boxes. “I believe this can be really huge. I’ve always been an entrepreneur and this is an idea that can grow.” She says there are big ups and big downs and it can be extremely challenging working for yourself, but it’s worth it.
Contact: [email protected], www.bestowed.com
VentureMom Tip
Think of a way to scale your service venture to the masses.
