Her big idea had to be put on hold when she had a baby. Karen Schulz had known forever the business she wanted to create and it was a huge project. But after leaving her job planning events for Mercedes-Benz to start her family, Karen didn’t know how many years it would be before she would be able to launch her venture. “The hardest part was putting my dream on hold.” But Karen felt lucky to be able to be home with her kids and didn’t want to miss that time with a big job commitment.
So over the next twelve years her house filled with kids. Karen would smother spaghetti and meat balls or stuffed shells with the sauce her Gramma Napoli had taught her to make. The kids gobbled it up and Karen’s friends always raved about it. The sauce has a fresh, light crispy taste like Italy, not overly sweet or too “tomatoee”.
Gramma Napoli was the gatekeeper of the secret family recipe for marinara sauce that her family had been enjoying for generations. She never came to visit without a pot of the coveted sauce and other homemade Italian treats. Gramma Napoli taught Karen how to prepare her Italian dishes and eventually shared the sauce recipe with her, which is still written on the same olive oil-stained yellow index card. When she was 25, her Grandmother passed away and Karen was left to carry on the tradition.
This year, with her kids at more manageable ages, Karen started to think about her old dream. After mulling on it for years, Karen finally got serious and talked to a friend who owns a gourmet food store in town. Karen decided she wanted to sell Gramma Napoli’s sauce at the local farmers’ market but had no idea where to begin. Her friend June, of June and Ho’s gourmet food store, not only gave Karen advice but asked to carry the sauce in her store.
“June got me to cross the line in the sand.” Karen was apprehensive, so June asked her to bring a sample to the store for a taste test. Of course everyone thought the sauce was amazing and Karen had her first order from June. For Karen this was a homerun. Not only was June a savvy business woman but the store was a perfect fit for the sauce because it caters to busy, sophisticated moms who want fresh healthy food for their families. Now Karen had to deliver.
After shopping for jars at the local Ace Hardware, Karen asked another friend to help with packaging. Tina J the talented graphic designer from New Orleans, combined a favorite old photo of Gramma Napoli with Karen’s tag line – “cooked with love”- to create the label. After nearly thirteen years of thinking about it, Karen delivered her first dozen jars of Gramma Napoli sauce to June and Ho on October 27, 2010. The combination of supportive friends and happy customers, have kept the orders coming.
“It was weird to think of others eating my Gramma’s sauce that has been such an institution in my family.” Karen loves that her kids are seeing her pursue a business venture she enjoys so much. “It’s been very fluid and organic how this happened.” What’s next for Karen and this delicious sauce? Karen is thinking about a cookbook of Gramma Napoli’s Italian specialties.
“I’m still in the germination phase, but it’s great to realize a small part of my idea from years ago.” The sauce is actually a building block that keeps her big dream alive, but Karen thinks maybe this is the way it was meant to play out. Selling the sauce only in the Rye community currently, she may expand her distribution area or take it to the internet. Who knows, the whole country may soon be enjoying Gramma Napoli’s secret sauce.
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VentureMom Tip
Listen to your friends when they say you may have something to turn into a venture and get them involved in your path.
