Today we’d like to introduce you to Susannah Sapir.
Susannah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Who would have thought a holiday gift of garlic salt from a former Co-worker would spark my future business! Back in 2005, a Co-worker at a new job gave me homemade garlic salt as a holiday gift. Whenever I brought my empty jar in for a refill and was told I would have to wait a year I decided to make my own. That batch (now known as my Original Garlic Salt) is our bestseller in a lineup of 10 handmade garlic salts including Lemon, Rosemary, Thanksgiving (smells like stuffing), Shallot, Basil, Jalapeno, Chipotle Lime, Cranberry Orange and Ginger Turmeric (a flavor chosen by our customers in an online poll) What makes our garlic salt so special is that it is handmade in small custom batches, hand stirred, jarred and labeled the old fashioned way by a South Shore mom on a mission to replace salt and pepper shakers in favor of her gourmet timesaving “pinch pots” which combine raw garlic, kosher salt and black pepper in every bite (the holy trinity of any kitchen!) So far, users are loving it! After five years on the market, Hippy Pilgrim boasts over 11k Instagram followers (@hippypilgrimgarlicsalt), over 2k Facebook Followers (Hippy Pilgrim) and even landed an appearance on the Queen Latifah Show in 2013!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Early in my business journey I juggled family with a full-time job in human services, a part-time job in food television and I launched Hippy Pilgrim. After a few years I had a decision to make so I chose family and Hippy Pilgrim. Eliminating the others allowed me to solely focus my energy on my business and my family which has had great rewards.
Please tell us about Hippy Pilgrim.
My background is in food and television. In 2005 I landed on the inaugural season of the Next Food Network Star where I placed 4th. From there I spent the next 15 years representing food brands on camera including Kraft Foods and Publix. Now I am representing my own brand which is exciting and allows me to use all that past experience! Hippy Pilgrim also prides itself on giving back to the community in the firm of donations to non-profits like Relay for Life and DOVE.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Women in business should view barriers as invisible and just trail blaze forward in life without worry of something or someone holding you back. I am always inspired by women who refuse to hear no and carry on until the right person says yes or the right opportunities present themselves. Look for Hippy Pilgrim at this year’s Massachusetts Conference for Women December 5th and 6th in Boston!
Pricing:
- Hippy Pilgrim Garlic Salts can be found online at www.hippypilgrim.com with salts affordably prices at $10 each
- Hippy Pilgrim makes an incredible Coffee Rub for meats and seafood that retails for r $12
- Try the Dipping Oil Starter Base which makes restaurant quality dipping oil at home in seconds! Retails for $12
- The Ultimate Sample Pack is the way to go online! For just $50 you receive a sample size of all ten garlic salts!
- Hippy Pilgrim can also be found at the following MA Farmers Market on a rotating schedule: Plymouth, Attleboro, Braintree, Kingston, Scituate, Weymouth
- Hippy Pilgrim will be a featured vendor at the MA Conference for Women in Boston December 5th and 6th
Contact Info:
- Address: Facebook: Like Hippy Pilgrim
Instagram: @hippypilgrimgarlicsalt
Email: hippypilgrim@gmail.com - Website: www.hippypilgrim.com
- Email: hippypilgrim@gmail.com
- Instagram: @hippypilgrimgarlicsalt
Image Credit:
Susannah Sapir
