Workcation #4

I'm late posting. 2 days late actually. Let's blame the margarita.

So on Friday morning, well before I had a margarita, my workcation was about helping a local rescue revamp their website. This is a pro bono website which ties into my pet project. Really. I seriously mean pet – as in dog – project. That handsome silhouette in the picture w is my own rescue dog, Jedi (aka Jed). More on the two names later.

Dog rescue is near and dear to my heart. I've worked meet & greet events, taken dogs to vet appointments, transported intakes and fostered several dogs. (We "foster-failed" with two of them – Chalupa and Jed – which if you are not familiar with the term means they stayed). I also had the privilege to serve as a board member on a local rescue. I learned first hand just how much work dog rescue is. It is astounding how much time goes into raising money for medical bills and supplies. Despite donations, the organization still needs to actively generate funds. The board spent a lot of energy planning events like golf outings, bingo events, auctions, etc. This required coordinating volunteers and logistics, soliciting donations from vendors and sponsors, and advertising. All these activities took precious time away from the mission of rescuing dogs. This problem needed a solution.

Back in 2017, I had the idea of creating a way for rescues to raise money without diverting resources. Jed to the Rescue was born. Actually Jed's official name on his adoption papers is Jedi, but my IP lawyer said if I used Jedi to the Rescue, it would just be a matter of time before Disney sent a cease & desist letter. Seems they are very protective of the Star Wars franchise terms. So for branding purposes, Jed it is, but how cool would have Jedi to the Rescue been?

The original premise for Jed to the Rescue was selling biscuits in two ways. A rescue could hold a fundraiser (think Girl Scouts Cookies), gather orders, and then we'd bake to order. The other way is for rescues to add an order button to their website through which their supports could order biscuits. Either method, the rescues receive the difference between whole and retail on a monthly basis., all the while, the rescues have not had to do much of anything to generate revenue.

Understand, I'm a creative. I got the branding and marketing down. It's the logistics that have bogged down this idea. It's been frustrating finding a contract baker to do the baking. They are either too big and do not want to be bothered with a startup or they are small local bakeshops that have not been reliable for one reason or another. So for now, we may be stuck doing small batches, but we are not defeated. I'm hopeful that someone reading this can connect me with a great contract baker who loves dogs and would jump at the chance to help move this pet project forward. Please message me through LinkedIn if you do, and thank you in advance!

In the meantime, Jed to the Rescue will be adding a new offering to his cookie jar arsenal and this is something I can move forward with. We are crafting templates for dog rescues to easily and affordably update old, tired websites. This is still in the development phase as we work through a beta test with Zoe's House Rescue in Reading, PA. More on this project in a few weeks when we go live.

Workcation Day #4 wrapped up early for a late lunch with a former Vistage colleague Joe Correia, then dashed home for an online coaching session with my professional development coach, Cheyenne Bennett. All in all, it was a productive day - at least until the margaritas started flowing. Cheers!

Join Jed's Pack and we will keep you up to date on our progress.