Hi there,

I just published a new podcast episode with Joanne Littau. If you run a cottage food business in Colorado, there's a good chance you already know Joanne.

Joanne has an infectious spirit that's hard to ignore, and she supports Colorado's cottage food community in a number of ways. I met Joanne a few years ago at her local market in Denver, where she was selling her excellent jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butters.

Joanne's primary reason for running her business is pretty simple: it's fun! But is it profitable?

This was a unique episode, because as I learned more about her business, I realized that the numbers probably didn't add up. Running her jelly business is both expensive and time-consuming.

To her credit, Joanne fully realizes that she might be in the red. And she shouldn't change a thing about her business, because it's everything she needs it to be.

But if you're more profit-motivated than Joanne, and you're thinking of selling preserves, you'll want to give this episode a listen.

In addition to discussing finances, Joanne shared some practical tips when canning goods, as well as her experiences with the cottage food industry over the years. And I even had an unopened jar of her marmalade in the fridge that I taste tested during the interview!

Listen to Episode 12: Being Productive in Retirement with Joanne Littau


Until next week,
David

P.S. In case you missed it last week, I wrote about how the cottage food industry is evolving. No matter what state you live in, I think you'll find it interesting!