Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheri Long. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sheri, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience on this entrepreneurship journey has come from my faith. In knowing that I am never alone in my endeavors and that my path has been laid before me for whatever I set out to do has given me the ability to simply trust. When the works gets difficult, I trust. When the work gets confusing, I trust. When the workload feels like too much, I trust. Giving it up, allows for a clearer focus and the ability to know that all will work out as it is meant to play out. Someone once told me that faith and worry cannot occupy the same space. Therefore, every day I choose faith as one leads to peace and the other leads to panic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Formerly in the field of education for 25 years, I often refer to myself as teacher turned entrepreneur. Having taught in all areas of education, it was my last four years working with at risk high school students in an alternative high school diploma program that set the trajectory for my business. Working with these young adults aged 16-22, I filled a position outside of the classroom to assist with everyday skills such as getting a job, finding housing, writing a resume or simply opening a bank account. In working with these young people, what I soon realized is that many of these students were foster youth that were in the system through their childhood years, hit the age of 18 and were suddenly “adults” left to their own devices to navigate a very unfamiliar world with little to no guidance. Upon relocating to Nevada and establishing my business, I took it upon myself to help these kids and now I hire these youth with the goal to one day offer a complete in-house mentoring system along with employment. Along the way, I was approached by our local Grant a Gift Ackerman Autism Foundation and asked if I would serve as a workforce development site for young adults on the autism spectrum. The level of growth and confidence in these “kids” became so overwhelmingly apparent, that I was asked if I would offer a second weekly session to serve an even greater number of young adults. While I am now in business, and fully entrenched in all that business entails, it is working with others both special needs and foster youth that truly ignites my passion. Be it growing in confidence, skills, communication, or a myriad of other ways, I often like to say that my classroom has simply morphed into a large commercial kitchen space. All those who work in the Sugar and Spice kitchen help in the creation of making our gourmet Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls in both 4 count grab and go snack size boxes or a 12 count gifting/souvenir sized box. Sugar and Spice Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls are unique in both flavor and texture, making them a great gift or token of appreciation, but also used for party favors or perhaps even an indulgent guilty pleasure. The decadent creamy chocolate on the outside with the light surprise crunch on the inside, often makes for repeat customers in purchasing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Qualities that have proven to be helpful along my entrepreneurship journey have been the ability to learn and accept help, to stay humble and always know that tomorrow is a new day. It was early on, that I read someplace that many businesses fail simply due to a lack of mentorship. Upon reading this, I decided to soak in every bit of advice, mentorship, or resource that came my way. In many cases and through my faith, I trusted that those people I needed would appear when the timing was right. If the students trusts, the teacher will appear. I view those that are set in my path as an expert in their field and I have been willing to learn all that I can from others. When first starting out, my SBA mentor was the expert. When building out my commercial kitchen my contact with the city’s building department became my main resource for guidance. When mastering the art of shipping chocolate in the summer from the hottest part of the country (yes, you can call me Super Woman for mastering this task) my Fed Ex representative was the teacher. I feel that everyone has something to offer and teach, and accepting the advice, and staying humble is always helpful. Along the way, there have been many times that I have shared that I am new to this skill, and I need help. I have found that more often than not, people are always happy to impart their knowledge and expertise if someone is willing to soak it in and listen. Lastly, I always remember that tomorrow is a new day. If I have done even one small action for my business in a day, I have moved myself in the right direction. While some days can be discouraging with feelings that I am spinning my wheels and getting nowhere, I always remember that other days have big wins. It’s knowing that it all balances out and trusting that I am right where I need to be on the journey.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always seeking out new projects, funding or ways to collaborate. As a small business, the goal is finding different ways to grow and expand. From the beginning, my target market had been coffee houses. Coffee and grab and go Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, what better combination!?!? I am currently in many of the local coffee houses all around the Las Vegas Valley, however Sugar and Spice has grown to include resorts, casinos, wine and spirits stores, golf courses and airport souvenir shops. Having won THE BEST OF LAS VEGAS in the category of “Chocolatier” the last two years has been a huge honor. In growing locally, I still feel that coffee houses are my match. This being said, I would love to be in locations beyond the confines of Las Vegas and branch out into other cities across the country. I have always said Starbucks is my goal. I hope to one day have this become a reality. Collaboration projects are many as I love giving back to the community. Be it supporting the kids, pets or homeless, Sugar and Spice has been blessed to be a part of so many local events through auctions, raffles, gift baskets, or sponsorship. I hope to continue as the mission to help others is always at the forefront of everything I do. Working with new organizations in assisting foster youth is always welcomed, as when we come together it is amazing how much we can accomplish. The ripple effect of one small task turning into many is a fascinating phenomenon to be a part of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sugarandspicelasvegas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarandspicelasvegas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarandspicesales/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sugarandspicesaleslasvegas/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sugar-and-spice-henderson-4
