Bramble Berry is so thrilled that we won the Businessperson of the Year for Washington State from the Small Business Administration. The awards ceremony was tonight and I am so relieved that our impending arrival stayed put for just one more event. He is already such a well-behaved little one, isn’t he?
The event was held at the Boeing Museum of Flight and WOW, what a great location. It was awe-inspiring to be seated among these amazing instruments of flight. They even have a retired Air Force One and a retired Concorde flight for us to walk through and tour.
We were incredibly honored by this award. It is based on a history of solid financials, overcoming adversity (wondering about the Bramble Berry story? It’s written out in long-form here) and our commitment to donating to worthy non profits. Over the last 13 years, each year, this donation has equaled out to approximately 8% of our profits.
I was so thrilled to be able to speak from the stage and give a huge shout out to my parents for their support, my brother for his management of our retail store operation and SoapMolds.com, all the Brambleberrians (led by our awesome COO Norman) and my amazing husband, who I have always said is “like a unicorn because they just don’t exist this good outside of fairytales.”
Even more exciting is the opportunity go to Washington DC in a few weeks for Small Business Week. We’ll be competing for the NATIONAL award (eeeeek!) and hopefully going as a guest to the White House (with the adorable Bramble Bump in tow).
congratulations! enjoy every minute. babies grow really fast.:)
I saw the announcement from Donna Marie in the IndieBusiness newsletter – my heartfelt congratulations!! It really couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. 🙂
CONGRATULATIONS AM!! I very much enjoyed reading your story. It is inspiring and a testament to how hard work pays off in the end. Aside from the great business you have now there is no doubt you will continie to succeed in other areas as well with such a strong business ethic. Sounds like you have fantastic parents and a wonderful husband… soon to add a beautiful baby!
Congrats Anne-Marie. That is awesome. You look adorable with your baby bump. I bet you are probably looking forward to saying bye bye to the bump and bringing baby home at this point. Congrats again!
Anne-Marie, congratulations! You are a wonderful woman with such a determination and strength! You deserve everything good that is happening to you.
You make it happen! You are a real model of inspiration to me!
Your life will be better with your baby boy! It will be a lot of change but so much joy. My experience here. 😉
I fell in love with your company last fall when I found you! I had been scoping the internet for everything soap, when I landed on your site and decided to place my first order. I have been hooked ever since, you have earned a customer for life. Your hard work has paid off, congratulations!!! I can’t imagine anyone who deserves this award more!!!
Wow, I just read your whole story about how everything happened and you really went through a lot. I am so glad that you found your “Unicorn” and that Brambleberry is so successful!
So incredibly wonderful for all of you! That little bump of yours is definitely well behaved 🙂 Congrats and thanks from all of us that look to Bramble Berry for wonderful supplies, great service and HELP any time we need it 🙂
Congratulations Anne-Marie! What an awesome award and fabulous night for you. You’ll have a busy time in between now and the next awards ceremony, but I am sure you will also rock those awards 🙂
Anne-Marie, I am so excited for you. Congratulations! I just read the story about your business life that you liked to and feel so inspired and amazed for you! Wow! I have so much respect for you! I often wondered how you have time for it all. Looks like you are just an extremely hard worker and a serious optimist – a great combination. I wish you all the happiness in the world in your next adventure – being a mum! In my opinion that also requires a lot of hard work and a ton of optimism…. no doubt you will be fabulous. xo Jen