Sugar & Spice, Peanut Butter Balls

Strolling around Henderson and online in Facebook groups, I always see these DELICIOUS looking, Chocolate covered Peanut Butter Balls. Seriously, who doesn't love Peanut Butter?!

I also see people ranting and raving online about how good these are... They are the perfect little gift or a  great accessory to a sweets table at a Party or an Event.

Let me introduce you to Sheri, The cute and bubbly owner / baker of Sugar and Spice, Peanut Butter Balls.


So, Tell me about your business. What does Sugar and Spice offer its clients?
We offer Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls that are available for individual orders and in local retail venues. Currently, product can be found at Slice 19 at the Chimera Golf Course, Vegas Valley Winery, Desert Wind Coffee Roasters, Sambalatte at Boca Park, Seasons Grocery in Lake Las Vegas, Artisanal Foods, Lily Coffee at Fashion Show Mall, Central Coffee Shop, and Khoury’s Fine Wine. We are growing with new accounts daily and I am so grateful to those retail shops that support small business and working with Sugar and Spice. Starting this month, we will have Peanut Butter Balls at local events. You can find us at the upcoming Black Las Vegas Food Festival, LV Craft Shows and Shop Small Henderson.


When did it start? What year?
Sugar and Spice began in Ventura County, California, in 2017 as a side hustle. With some
encouragement from some small shop owners and Chamber of Commerce members I decided to get licensed and turn it into a small business. After moving to Vegas in 2018, I acquired all licensing through the Southern NV Health District and began again in May of 2019 here in the Las Vegas Valley.


What was it that made you want to start this business?
After first relocating to Las Vegas, I ended up working for two companies out here with the highest employee turnover rate ever! After that second position, I took this as a sign from the universe that I was meant to start up Sugar and Spice here in Vegas and I did just that! I drove away from that last position with a plan already in mind!


What was the toughest thing you went through when opening?
The toughest task so far has been just to get the brand name recognized as something that people want to try. With food, once people try it and like it, then they're hooked, but the challenge can be getting product out there and visible enough that people want to give something new a try. A lot of the stores are doing reorders and selling to people who have purchased once and return to continue purchasing again.


What is the toughest part about having a business in 2019?
As a new business the toughest part has been getting beyond my output expenses exceeding my input. Having the patience in knowing that eventually it will pick up, but at first it starts out slow has just been a constant reminder that I need to keep plugging along and not lose faith or focus.


What is the number one way you currently bring in new customers?
I hit the ground running. I am contacting store owners, shop owners, food and beverage managers, or distributors to set up one-on-one appointments and meetings just to get them to sample and try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls. I meet with them, share a sample box and then we go from there.


Are you doing this all on your own?
I am the chief salesperson. I am the CFO, CEO, Head Baker, Director of Purchasing, Community Liaison, Manager of Charitable Giving, bookkeeper, accountant and janitor. I have however, been extremely blessed to have wonderful friends that have given of their amazing time and talent in design, photography, and just general cheerleading! It has also become a family affair at times, with my youngest daughter assembling boxes and my oldest daughter becoming quite savvy as the appointed Director of Social Media, with all payment in the form of Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls. I like people and
I love talking with people and connecting; therefore I attend a lot of networking events, entrepreneur meetings and business activities where I can collaborate with others. I also always have samples which are rarely turned down.


Has the Internet played a big role in your business as it has become more prevalent?
I think the first place people go is social media so in this way the internet has helped in terms of posting photos of product, making announcements, offering specials, or gaining followers. I also think it helps as a constant reminder for everyone with regular posts to simply give a, "Hi! I'm here!" message.
Doing “live” posts or give aways seems to be another reminder to those looking at social media; If you need something for a party, I'm here ... If you need gifts, I'm here ... holiday gatherings, I'm here. It just serves as a continuous way to remain visible.
I also just posted on a holiday website for online orders to be shipped out nationwide which is just another way the internet is serving a great purpose.


If you had to look six months to a year into the future, where would you like to see your business?
Right now, it’s just Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls that I want to push out first. Eventually I'd like to add in a white chocolate or maybe do something with a protein powder. I get a ton of suggestions from people; Keto, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, the list goes on, but right now it’s all just the real deal.
That’s what makes these Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls so GOOD! I would like to maybe venture into CBD eventually and see where that could go as well. I think they would sell quite well in that arena.

My ultimate goal is to be in big brand stores. I would love to see my product in Starbucks! I would love to see Sugar and Spice Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls in Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Trader Joes.

As far as my role, I would be perfectly happy and content just being in the kitchen and having someone else doing sales and meetings, purchasing, accounting and everything else that goes along with running a business. I’d like to create a team. I'm more of a creative person, more so than a logistics person.

After being in my previous employment positions and seeing how people were treated, I want to be the complete opposite as a business owner. I want to treat people the way employees should be treated. My hope is that people to want to come to work and they feel that they're valued and an expert in what they do. My hope is that I will be able to create an environment in which employees can feel part of a
team in knowing that they're creating the best well-being for themselves and for the company as a whole.

I’d like to create an entire charitable giving side and know that funds set aside for these purposes are truly going to local outreach and community organizations to help those in need. This has been a huge motivator for me from the get-go. I recently came to the realization that I can give small now, knowing that as the company grows, so too, can the giving. Participating in small local events with donations and sponsorships has been very rewarding in knowing that I am making the decisions with full authority to have Sugar and Spice take part in making a difference and giving back.

I’m looking forward to what lies ahead! As a result, I am pushed harder and further each day and learning as I go. I stay humble. I try to surround myself with those that are positive and encouraging and I go to work each day letting my faith in what is yet to come, be bigger than any fear.

Here is their contact information:
Phone : 805-404-1323
Website: https://sherilong.wix.com/sugarandspice
Email: sugarandspicesales@outlook.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Sugarandspicesales/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sugarandspicelasvegas/

Thank you Sheri from Sugar and Spice, Peanut Butter Balls for sharing your story of success with the Las Vegas Business Review and our community.