Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli VanRaalte.
Hi Kelli, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story with my sub fundraising business, Frandale Fundraising, started about seven years ago. I was a single mother of two teenagers. My kids were becoming more self-sufficient. I was looking for a new start, a career. I was hoping to get into my family’s restaurant business but it wasn’t going well. It didn’t feel like a good fit. During this time, my father was approached by one of our commissary customers. Our commissary makes a lot of the product for the restaurants but also supplies products for our businesses. She asks if he would interested in buying her fundraising business. He asks me if I would be interested in running this for the restaurants but I decided instead to purchase the business on my own and the rest is history. Best decision I made. It came with a huge learning curve. I worked with the owners for about six month to help understand the business. It has been a great experience. The business continues to evolve and grow. I now offer other products. Frandale has always sold sub sandwiches and soups but I have expanded into pies as well.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was a very large learning curve the first year. I was wearing all the hats; accountant, meat slicer for my sandwiches, delivery person, sales, etc. I was trying to find the balance between family and learning my business. It was a lot and very overwhelming the first year, however, I was able to develop a good team. COVID was a huge struggle. I had bought the business only a year prior and was just feeling like I understood the business. Business was very slow through COVID. I was lucky to have had a SBA loan. I was given financial support through the government, very thankful. Frandale survived and thrived following COVID.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Frandale Fundraising?
I am a fundraising business. I help schools, churches, sports team, etc, raise money. I am known for my sub and croissant sandwiches. I slice my own meat and cheeses and use all fresh bread. I have been around since 1980. Many people in the Wyoming area are familar with my subs from selling them in the schools. I also offer soups and pies. I have just introduced the pie option in the last few years and it has been a big hit. I specialize in individual service. I walk with each customer through the process from setting up their sale, sending them individualized order forms to begin selling, to deliverying their subs. I make fundraising very easy with great profit margins.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Ambition – When I decided to buy this business, I knew I had to succeed. I needed to be able to provide a home for my kids but also prove to myself that I could do this on my own. Ambition drives me to do whatever I need to do to be successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://frandalefundraising.com
- Facebook: Frandale Fundraising
