Close encounters with real life customers

“With so many funny, endearing and immensely encouraging stories and quotes from customers, I thought I’d start a collection and share them here to warm the heart. The photos are different ways I’ve prepared Pink Muesli plus some contributions from real life customers, market scenes, production photos, etc. (Note: Reviews/Comments welcome here)

I’m calling this PINK TALES. Enjoy!”  – Marita (founder/producer)

(Note: Linked pix have recipes too!)

Pink Tale #107 Tale of ALL Tales

It’s been a year since the big move from Victoria to Queensland! The market landscape up north is a bit different from down south so the first few months has been a steep learning curve for us. Midway through the year we decided to stay put in one very significant market, the Original Eumundi Markets.  Not only is it the #1 tourist destination in the Sunshine Coast but it is also only half an hour’s drive from home! How good is that?!!

And it has been a good decision. We get customers on holiday from all over Australia (and the world!) so the Pink goodness is spreading out so much further and wider. Many of our close encounters have been very similar to previous ones, all very memorable indeed.

  • “Beetroot?? Wow,  I didn’t expect that! It is delicious!”
  • “Amazing! It is hard to find a muesli that doesn’t have a lot of sugar.”
  • “My friend can’t stop gushing about Pink Muesli, I just had to check it out myself!”
  • “It’s soo pretty! I’ve been putting it on my desserts.”
  • “I bought a couple of sample bags last time, now I’m back for the big bag, we love it!”

These are just some of the common reactions we get and can’t get enough of.

But there is one tale that touched my heart and everyone else’s that was within earshot of our conversation.  Marina visited the market in search of a healthy food product to give to her dying sister, Stella.  Marina traveled from coastal NSW to search for something that Stella could eat and perhaps make her days more bearable. Stella is in palliative care and could not keep anything down, so has become extremely skinny.  Marina spotted Pink Muesli and bought a bag of the Coconut Caramel Crunch & Almonds for her sister to try plus a few sample bags for herself. The following week, Marina was back! She even came way before market opened because she was on NSW time which had gone into DST, an hour forward. She excitedly reported that Stella loved Pink Muesli is all she could eat!! I was so touched that after Marina got the jumbo bag for Stella and a mixed pack for herself, I gifted her with a few more sample bags to try.  I shot up a prayer in silence for Stella and am so grateful for this encounter.  I was a bit stunned after that but was on a high the whole day.  What an amazing true story, one that I just had to share here as THE tale of ALL tales.  This is definitely one more compelling reason to continue producing Pink Muesli.

#happycustomer #happiermaker

Pmb Bulk
Pink Tale #106, Happy Tummy, another wellness tale

Lauren has some major digestion issues that prevents her from enjoying most foods. She would get quite ill so was very careful with what she eats. Then she discovered Pink Muesli at the farmers market. She was so thrilled to find something her tummy accepted without any troubles. That it was delicious and nutritious to boot clinched Pink Muesli as her go-to food since. She would order her favourite flavour, Pink Muesli with Berries every few weeks and in bulk. The times when we ran out because of supply hiccups would put her in a panic but she gamely tried our five other flavours until we were back in stock.  Here she is happily showing off her fresh supply. Her one request to Nana for her birthday is more Pink Muesli please! :))

So glad we could help settle your troubled tummy Lauren! Keep well xx

#happycustomer #happiermaker

Sandy
Pink Tale #105, A Tale of Wellness

Sandy has diabetes so has to be very careful with what she eats.  She first discovered Pink Muesli at the farmers market before Covid struck and had been a regular customer since; ordering online by the kilo throughout the pandemic.

She had inadvertently run out and decided for convenience sake to try a popular gourmet muesli brand. She immediately regretted it. Her body rejected the commercial brand and she felt terribly unwell! Sandy knew she just had to go back to her tried and true Pink Muesli. Her resolve was so strong that this brought about a lightbulb moment—she must share the goodness of Pink Muesli with her clients!  What a lovely way to pay it forward!

Pink Muesli sample packs are now featured in the breakfast hamper of her luxury wellness retreat, Acre of Roses, in trendy Trentham.  And Sandy is the best spruiker for such a unique product because she is living testimony of its health benefits.  What a wonderful tale of wellness.

Bless you Sandy, keep well and thank you so much for your continued support.❤

#happycustomer #happiermaker

Clunes Maria
Pink Tale #104, Inventing Yummy Ways

Meet Maria, she’s been a loyal customer since Pink Muesli started in 2015. She often stocks up at this time of year to spread the cheer to her nearest and dearest. Maria and partner Tim’s go-to is Pink Muesli Coconut Caramel Crunch & Almonds, getting their pink fix at the farmers market each month (thank you so much guys!).

Maria’s discovered a new way to enjoy our beetroot muesli this time on savoury dishes such as pasta and on stir-fried veggies as shown in pic using our Christmas Special Pear & Pistachio which is spiced with the flavours of Christmas! Wow! Here’s the note she sent with the pic ” Hi Marita, here is my knock up meal for Tim & mysef…Stir fry veggies on a bed of rice, topped with Pink Muesli, Xmas mix…delicious…yum…Thx Maria”

Wow! What an inspiration! I just love it when customers love my products and have fun with them, makes my heart sing every single time. THANK YOU Maria & Tim for your ongoing support. So much appreciated xx

#happycustomer #happiermaker

Pink Tale #103, Conscious Consumers

I met this lovely couple, Denise & Steve, five years ago when I first started my micro business. They’ve been buying their pink fix faithfully every month at either the Castlemaine or the Bendigo Farmers Market. They are such loyal fans that they spruik about Pink Muesli to their friends and colleagues and even give them away as gifts. After all these years, they know so much about my products, they can step in for me at the markets ha! Their favorite is the Coconut Caramel Crunch & Almonds or CCC as they lovingly call it. But last year, after learning of my latest win, gold medal for Citrus & Ginger, Steve decides to try it and of course got hooked! Here they are happily indulging me with a photo holding their favorite variety.

But more than that, they are my peeps because they love farmers markets. They are conscious consumers who care about where their food comes from and who makes them. They help small artisanal producers like myself and everyone else at the farmers markets survive this wave of small businesses shutting down because of covid19 restrictions.

THANK YOU Denise & Steve so much for your continuing support. It’s greatly appreciated then, more so now.  Cheers xxo

Pink Tale #102, Big Little Fan

Meet Rainier. He’s holding up his new favourite brekkie. His Mum has been a loyal customer for the last few years and she revealed that now Rainier has come around and started eating her muesli too! “I love it” Rainier beamed when he gamely posed for the photo. I might start preparing a kilo bag for them for the next market just in case this growing boy consumes his bag before I get back! You gotta love it when little people become big fans :)) Thanks Rainier see you next month ?

#happycustomer #pinktale

Tlc
PM pear pancake
Pink Tale #101, TLC comes knocking!

I had just got home from a market, ready to put my feet up when our gate alarm goes off alerting us of a visitor (open gate is 300 meters from the house). A few moments later, hubby calls out to me “Looks like you have a customer, a very animated girl!” So I hurriedly go to Pink Muesli kitchen (next building) to receive the guest.  I was pleasantly surprised to see not one but three and invited them in (and yes, they were quite animated). They were having a girls’ weekender in nearby Creswick, spotted our road sign and were very intrigued to discover what Pink Muesli was all about. They had passed our place three times before finally deciding to call in. Their timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Tarsh, Lee-Anne and Carla TLC for short were as lovely as their monicker with personalities that sparkled! Friends for over thirty years, they clearly enjoyed the weekender and had the same impeccable taste in food (ahem!). After taking them through a tasting of all six products, to much amazed oohs and aahs, they made their choices and cheerfully indulged me with a photo.  Thanks TLC, you just made my day.  Please come back for more (online is good!) and spread the word!

TLC in the pink ??

#happycustomers #happiermaker

 

hobart
Pink Tale #100, Hobart Habitues get in the Pink

Kyneton couple, Darryl and John, were holidaying with friends in Hobart when they stopped for brunch at a cafe on the wharf to take in that picturesque waterfront view before flying back home. They had ordered the brunch special and when it arrived they all gasped in delight. Not only was the fruit luscious and cleverly cut, but it was the unusual delicious pink sprinkles that intrigued them. They called the wait staff over to query her about it. Not sure how to answer their queries, she hurried to the kitchen and came back with a large packet of Pink Muesli. Darryl excitedly wrote down the number and was even more chuffed to read a Blampied/Daylesford address, only a skip and a hop from their place in Kyneton!

On their return to Victoria Darryl promptly called the number on the packet. Their story thrilled me no end as I had sent off a large order of Pink goodness to a first time customer/chef in Tassie not even a month prior. And it has come full circle with a very satisfied customer at my door eager to sample the rest of the products and purchase their favourites. Oh what joy! This tale and many others like this is what keeps me going.

I am so tickled Pink ??

#happycustomer #happiermaker

 

 

Pink Tale #99, Small Farms Big Feedback

‘Twas an exhilirating month after the September issue of Small Farms magazine hit the stands. Started with a phone call from Adelaide one frosty September morn.

Me: Hello, it’s Marita.

Caller: Marita! (he said with much warmth and familiarity) It’s Trevor calling from Adelaide!

Me: Hi Trevor from Adelaide! What can I do for you?

Trevor: I’m just reading about you and your Pink Muesli in the Small Farms magazine!

Me: Oh wow it’s out already! (I was interviewed in July and didn’t know when it was going to be published)

Trevor: Yes, and it’s a great story! How you overcame high blood pressure and all.

Me: Thank you so much! I am living proof that beetroot works!

Trevor: That’s why I’m calling, I also have high blood pressure and want to know how you went about your beetroot therapy.

Me: I just ate it everyday, mostly raw grated into salads or made tea with it.

Trevor: How do you make tea with it?

Me: I just cut a big chunk and pop it in my tea pot. That’s what I drank all day. When the chunk faded I cut another chunk and replaced it. Beetroot tea!

Trevor: Nice! I might do that. Your products are so beautiful, they look so delicious!

Me: Thank you, that’s all natural and yes, they do taste as good as they look.

Trevor: I can’t wait to taste them. So how do I buy from you?

Me: Just go to my website, the store is open 24/7.

Trevor: Right, I will!

Me: Look forward to it!

Trevor does place a large order shortly (yay!)

This conversation is repeated with different callers from all over Australia. I also got emails referring to the magazine, asking how to purchase. Big feedback from Small Farms! Thanks for introducing me to so many new customers! It is my sincere hope that my products will help them on their journey to good health.

In the pink ??

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW Thumb 123a
Pink Tale #98, Hater’s Paradigm Shifts

This Pink Tale happens all the time and we love it!

At Bendigo FM

A colourfully dressed lady came over to my stall and started oohing and ahhing over my display.

CDL: So beautiful! Oh! Beetroot! (her smile immediately crumpled into a scowl) I hate beetroot!

Me: And you come here to tell me that? (amused much)

CDL: I thought it was something else! (embarassed much)

Me: And you didn’t see my sign (I pointed to the large “beetroot muesli” sign)

CDL: I just saw “Pink Muesli” and I like pink! (we share lolz)

Me: That’s too bad you don’t like beetroot! It’s so good for you.

CDL: I knooooowww (embarassed more)

Me: You must have had a traumatic experience with beetroot as a child.

CDL: Yes! I first had it from a tin and it was awful! And people hide it in so many food, I gag!

Me: Oh that’s not good. I can understand why you hate it. Well, my products might surprise you. This might help desensitize you from your beetroot aversion because there is nothing like it.

CDL: No no no, I know it’s beetroot and I know I won’t like it.

Me: It’s all in your head you know. Just give me a go.

CDL: Oh alright. (she accepts the sample of PMCitrus & Ginger, pops it into her mouth and slowly her frown transforms into a look of surprise)

Me: What do you think?

CDL: Ummm, that’s not bad, not bad at all. I can’t taste the beetroot. It’s so different from what I remember. (her paradigm has shifted yay!)

Me: There you go!

CDL: Just give me a small sample bag and I’ll put it in my yogurt. I’ve been looking for something different to put in my yogurt.

Me: Different it is! It’ll go perfectly with your yogurt! (I hand her a bag) Thank you for giving me a go! (we share lolz again)

#HappyCustomer

(Note: Found this article that explains her beetroot aversion.)