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Update #4: Status Update on Kickstarter Packages
Hello Beautiful People,
This is Alissa again. Checking in with an update. First, I wanted to report more evidence that you all really kickstarted something! The cheeses have been selling amazingly well. Almost miraculously so. I have a few action shots...
This is a shot Tom sent me from Live Live and Organic in NYC while he was on tour. Some premium shelf space there!
This next shot was tweeted by a blogger in San Francisco the day the my cheese appeared on the shelves at RAINBOW GROCERY. They were a big hit. Getting a fair amount of media attention for a little wheel of cheese including a mention the SF WEEKLY and a prominent vegan website called VEGANSAURUS.
As a result, they didn't last long. A friend of mine sent me this pic about 5 days later. I love the sign. :)
I also wanted to mention that we ran into some shipping snafus last week with several packages disappearing in the mail. I will be resending those. But wanted to let people know that there was a pause in shipping packages as a result. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. About 25 left to go. I will be emailing you individually when yours come. So be on the lookout. Cheeses are perishable. So I will let you know when to expect them.
More updates and some very exciting developments coming soon!
XOX
Alissa
Update #3: FUNDING SUCCESSFUL: A Xanadu Moment
Hello out there!
Well, if you haven't gotten the memo yet, our fundraising campaign was successful thanks to all of you! This has been a truly INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. There are no words to express how grateful I am for this chance.
I am getting a fresh start for my 40th year with my hand and my heart on the horizon.
Just wanted to recognize a few folks before I leave you with the first of your thank you gifts. Thank you, RUSSELL JAMES! For those who don't know, Russell has been hailed as the UK's leading raw food chef by THE TIMES. He was also one of my instructors in culinary school. Russell is an amazing talent and someone who I've looked up to for a long time. So as you might imagine, it's been a great honor to be the recipient of a couple of his 'sonic booms' during this campaign.
I would also like to thank Zachary Vex (maker of of the world's most amazing guitar pedals, Z VEX PEDALS). Z Vex is one of Minneapolis' most esteemed entrepreneurs. He turned a creative idea into a wildly successful business venture while maintaining the highest standards of quality. I hope to learn from his example.
Thank you to my dear friend from childhood and beyond Jue (Jooyee) Chung. So happy the internet can now connect people who are on opposite sides of the globe!
And thank you to Logan Erickson, a connoisseur of music and technology, AND the guy who took this campaign over the goal! Thanks, Logan!
Thank you to my friends at Too Hot Too Stop. These ladies are an amazing bunch and I learn from them every day. ESPECIALLY during this campaign! Thank you TINA PRUITT (the Healthy LIfestylist), Lorri Kovitz, GRACE QUANTOCK, and Michalene Casey, DEBBIE YOUNG, Elle Blythe and everyone there). These ladies are all true survivors with their own amazing stories!
Thank you to my amazing family for seeing me through this ordeal! And thank you to my boyfriend, Tom! Thank you for supporting me when I needed a little extra help. And thank you for being a genius who inspires me every day.
OK. Now for a thank you gift. Starting with some music! This is a digital download of a not yet released track. It's a cover of a Tom Waits song, Goin' Out West. This was recorded right around the time that I started to lose my eighteen month mono infection. I had tried everything I could think of to shake it. And it became clear that I needed to make a big change. So I went out west to stay with some friends for a month or so. And I think it was the time off that finally allowed me to get ahead of it. So I was feeling pretty liberated at the time. (The picture was taken in my friend Erin's basement which seemed significant as he was officially the final supporter of this campaign...getting in seconds before the end!)
Tomorrow, I will start sending out surveys regarding the individual packages for donors and when to expect them. Be on the lookout. :)
THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE! This campaign has done so much for me. Before this happened, I had taken some hard knocks from some people with bad intentions. Not only has this provided me a chance to rise above that. It has also shown me the best side of human nature and restored my faith in humanity. A priceless asset! Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!
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Wendy Lewis on February 8
I'm smiling my face off right now! CONGRATS. (And so nice to hold a wall up @ First Ave green room the other night w/ you & Tom... it had been too long since I'd seen you.)
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NOW... you're off & runnin. xx
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Carla Anderson on February 9
You rock! You're way better than most local musicians in MN. Since I know a quite a few, I'd rather not leave my name. Will you be needing any volunteers for your business venture? I could loan you some original artwork for your walls. All nature, all watercolor. holm.33@hotmail.com
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Lorri on February 9
You are a rawk star in so many ways...Congrats!!!! (Now get to work and make me some cheese!!!!)
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Update #2: 59 Hours To Go!
Well, we're hitting the home stretch now. 59 hours to go! I just want to say THANK YOU! This has been an amazing experience. The support that I have gotten has been truly awe inspiring. From elementary school friends to college roomates to former bandmates and indie music show co-hosts to finding out my best friend in grad school went to high school with one of my yogamates to my band of superheroes in Seattle to my foodie/blogging friends (esp Shannon Marie and Russell James) and those who are Too Hot To Stop (Tina Pruitt, Marketing Genius and Lorri Kovitz, Queen of Editing and Grace Quantock who just plain sparkles above adversity) and to Tracy Singleton who inspired me to 'be the change' and to the most AMAZING AND SUPPORTIVE music community there is...Minneapolis (where people actually band together in the most beautiful way to help each other) and most of all to my family and my boyfriend who never gave up on me no matter how hard things got.
Whatever the outcome of this campaign, you all have restored my faith in humanity! So I've already succeeded. THANK YOU!
It's not over yet. The party ends Tuesday Night around 10:30PM. Please feel free to pass this on to any interested parties. And reposting REALLY helps! Even if it doesn't seem like it.
OH! I almost forgot to mention that Mpls TV did a LOVELY WRITEUP about this. Do check it out.
Cross your fingers. I'll keep you posted on the outcome. Now I'm off to watch the Super Bowl. I think I might root for the Patriots this year. Only because Tom Brady eats raw food. And is a regular at PURE FOOD AND WINE (where they just started carrying my cheese).
Cheers!
Update #1: Halfway Point
Hello Out There,
We are now at the halfway point of this lovely campaign. I've been overwhelmed by the beautiful support I've received from friends. Thank you!
Things are evolving quickly, and I am fighting the good fight!
I have been working very hard to keep up with demand which is blossoming steadily. As of last weekend, our cheeses are now being offered at NYC's premiere raw food restaurant, Pure Food and Wine (in their juice bar). Here's a link to a recent article in USA Today about them. (They are known to be frequented by such luminaries as Bill Clinton, Tom Brady, and Ann Curry among others).
I am struggling to keep up with demand! It's a beautiful thing. However, I've been a little lax in the marketing department as a result. I could definitely use your help in getting the word out about this.
Thanks again for your support! And I will keep you posted as things unfold.
Alissa
207
Backers
$11,610
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 7.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Digital Download of 'The Screaming Cherry Blossoms' demo. The Screaming Cherry Blossoms was the band that owner, Alissa, fronted before she got sick and became a chef. One of songs on this demo (American Cheese) became the theme song for Punk Rawk Labs TV, an uncooking show. It's rather prophetic (as you will find)...
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Limited edition physical copy of The Screaming Blossoms demo (including PRL TV theme song) featuring a handmade cover. There are only 80 copies of this demo made in the world. Be one of the lucky few! :) We had intended to record a full album. It might still happen one day. This package also includes a bonus digital download of a Tom Waits cover, 'Goin' Out West' (This is a preview of an unreleased track!). In addition, you get a Punk Rawk Labs guitar pic and a sticker.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A goodie box containing two wheels of Punk Rawk Labs Nut Milk Cheese plus the limited edition demo CD (while supplies last) and bonus digital download, some Punk Rawk Labs guitar pics, a sticker, and a surprise. NOTE: Because these cheeses are a refrigerated item, we can only ship to the US.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
A 468x60 banner ad on Punk Rawk Labs TV. This is the ad that appears at the bottom of each video post. To see an example, click here: http://tv.punkrawklabs.net/?p=422 (Right now, it's an ad for this kickstarter campaign). This ad will appear for the duration of one episode cycle (about two weeks). You can also put a text message to the universe here (if you don't have an ad). In addition, you will receive the limited edition demo CD (while supplies last) and bonus digital download, some Punk Rawk Labs guitar pics, a sticker, and a surprise.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
A 300x250 premiere ad on Punk Rawk Labs TV. This is the ad the appears in the first ad position on our main page (as well as on each of the video pages). This ad space is currently occupied by a 'Raw To Go' ad. This ad will appear for the duration of one episode cycle (about two weeks). In addition, you will receive the limited edition demo CD (while supplies last) and bonus digital download, some Punk Rawk Labs guitar pics, a sticker, and a surprise.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
A permanent video ad on Punk Rawk Labs TV. These ads are embedded within individual episodes of the uncooking show. Each show features two sponsors at the beginning and end. These ads become part of the video and remain in the archives forever! In addition, you will receive the limited edition demo CD (while supplies last) and bonus digital download, some Punk Rawk Labs guitar pics, a sticker, and a surprise.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
A special edition of Punk Rawk Labs TV dedicated to you or someone you know. We will create a living cuisine recipe that is perfect for your special someone and demo it on the show. In addition, you will receive the limited edition demo CD (while supplies last) and bonus digital download, some Punk Rawk Labs guitar pics, a sticker, and a surprise.
Project By
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Punk Rawk Labs is a Minneapolis based company which specializes in living cuisine. Owner, Alissa, is a former scientist/musician who has been working in the restaurant/food industry since 1991. She became interested in this healthful cuisine while recovering from a toxic exposure and a car accident.
Here's what I just have to be all about... the fact that we are all funding each other. FK the banks and lenders, FK the system. We can all pitch in our small amount (even though we always wish we could do more) and it adds up. We love our people and support our people. We want to make a difference, in some way. I'm so very very happy that this is skyrocketing for you, Alissa. You deserve it so much. We are all behind you and I feel a part of the success that has come, in my small but very significant way. ALLloveONyou. xx
so true! what do we need the banks for? every day i am re-reminded of how the system doesn't work for people like me. the sensitive ones. the hard working everyday people. we are the backbone of this world. and always have been. though i think we've forgotten that in recent years. and the universe is trying to remind us. thank you for lifting me up from my pit of despair! the world is a beautiful place. and there are beautiful people in it. all of us. we are more powerful than we know. we just need to push past all this BS that has been hoisted upon us and keep fighting. bring the real back to our reality. little by ilttle. inch by inch. maybe this is the beginning of a new era. one where the people in charge aren't the people with the most money. they're the people who actually know what they're doing. i mean, it's already happening. all around. go ahead banks. make our day! we don't need you after all! :)