Alaska’s Finest Seafoods

“Item Sold” I will never ever forget the title of that first email, I just sold my first product!!!! Well other than the two that I sold on the website but this was different, I immediately sent an email to the customer thanking them for their business and if there was ANYTHING I can do to make their experience better to let me know. Wait a minute, I just got another email! Same thing, another item sold.. I just outsold my entire year in a matter of two minutes!

Happy does not begin to explain it, it was complete euphoria. The trend continued, and I LOVED giving stellar customer service. (still do) It seemed as if I was shipping out every day, and at that moment I thought to myself.. “you know, I might be on to something here.” The feedback made it ten times better:

“Fantastic seller..excellent product.! Service is outstanding!”

“Excellent deal & quality, superfast shipping for Mother’s day surprize”

“ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW THEY HARDLY FIT IN THE FREEZER WOW “

And I’m thinking, I have finally found my passion. Entrepreneurship brings this emotional high for me. Up until now I have worked a blue collar job that got me by but this.. this is amazing. It was this moment that I knew I made a good decision, I’m definitely on to something.

It actually began a year and a half ago, but I’m just getting around to explaining it. This will be my personal blog, and who am I? Tony, the small town kid from Alaska who runs this joint. I am doing this part of the blog more for personal reference than anything, sometimes this business can feel as if it is going nowhere and times like that I can reflect back to this blog and see how far I have come.

It has been an amazingly long journey and I have only been in this business for 6 months. It took a year to go from concept to a full functional website, and even after a year I’m still working out the kinks.

I’m not really sure where to start, I can go into all of the money and resources I have wasted to get to where I am today but that is all water under the bridge. Every day is a new opportunity, and for me to dwell on the past would be to move in the wrong direction. I will just say I’ve wasted 5 figures on companies who did not deliver as they said they would, I’m spending a fraction of that to fix it.

At this point, I have sold 2 products from my website all year. After 5 months I was faced with a decision, I knew something had to change but I was not sure what. I promoted the site through Google Adwords, I aimed at converting 2% of my targeted traffic but the site was not selling ANYTHING. I began to think maybe I jumped the gun on this business without any chance of it coming together, which is super depressing considering how much time and effort I have put into this.

How could it go wrong? When I did surveys people couldn’t wait for my business to open and now everyone has dissapeared. I gave out samples and people LOVED it, crossed every T and dotted every i.. maybe I was wrong but damnit, I need to know for sure.

I turned to a popular website, where I can put my product on the market and gain exposure. I spent hours setting up the marketing, pictures, prices, everything. Two days went by, nothing.. my head is in my hands coming to the realization that I made a very bad decision, then I get an email..

Vegetable oil sticks him with $1,000 fine

Bruce Henderson, The Charlotte Observer

Bob Teixeira decided it was time to take a stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil.So last fall the Charlotte musician and guitar instructor spent $1,200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He bought soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more than diesel would cost.

His reward, from a state that heavily promotes alternative fuels: a $1,000 fine last month for not paying motor fuel taxes. He has been told to expect another $1,000 fine from the federal government.

To legally use veggie oil, state officials told him, he would have to first post a $2,500 bond.

Teixeira is one of a growing number of fuel-it-yourselfers — backyard brewers who recycle restaurant grease or make moonshine for their car tanks. They do it to save money, reduce pollution or thumb their noses at oil sheiks.

They’re also caught in a web of little-known state laws that can stifle energy independence.

State Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Denton, is known around Raleigh for his diesel Volkswagen fueled by used soybean oil. The car sports a “Goodbye, OPEC” sign.

“If somebody was going to go to this much trouble to drive around in a car that uses soybean oil, they ought to be exempt” from state taxes, he said.

The state Department of Revenue, which fined Teixeira, has asked legislators to waive the $2,500 bond for small fuel users. The department also told Teixeira, after the Observer asked about his case this week, that it will compromise on his fine.

But officials say they’ll keep pursuing taxes on all fuels used in highway vehicles. With its 29.9-cent a gallon gas tax, the state collects $1.2 billion each year to pay for road construction.

“With the high cost of fuel right now, the department does recognize that a lot of people are looking for relief,” said Reggie Little, assistant director of the motor fuel taxes division. “We’re not here to hurt the small guy, we’re just trying to make sure that the playing field is level.”

Atlanta, GA; January 12, 2007 – Robert Abrom, owner of Alaska’s Finest Seafoods & Desserts, announced today the debut of his company’s website, an ecommerce destination dedicated to delivering high quality, fresh Alaskan seafoods and tantalizing desserts to customers across the continental USA. Aksfinest.com is offering fast, in-home delivery of a full range of quality Alaskan salmon, halibut, king crab products, and caviar at prices that are competitive nationally.

“Restaurants in the southeast USA have been responding to the growing demand from discerning customers who are seeking high quality Alaskan seafoods by adding these items to their menus,” said Robert Abroms, owner of Alaska’s Finest Seafood & Desserts. “I already have strong relationships with many restaurant managers across the southeast and I am, therefore, able to personally guarantee that our products are shipped to them fresh. In addition, since I am well known to key Alaskan seafood suppliers, I can extend this offer to consumers throughout the continental United States.”

With Aksfinest.com, restaurant owners and consumers will have a generous selection of seafoods to choose from beginning in February 2007, including Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, Alaskan King Salmon, Alaskan Halibut, Salmon Roe Caviar, and Alaskan King Crab. Smoked Salmon, presented in cardboard or wood gift boxes, is also available online as are gift baskets, gift sets, low carb kits, and more. Standard shipment is via Fedex 2 day ground delivery with overnight air and 3 day delivery offered depending on product selected and availability. Please visit the website for specific shipment information.

Recognizing that customers who select the best seafood would prefer to consume the finest desserts, Alaska’s Finest also carries a large selection of delectable desserts. Raspberry Linzer Torte, New York Cheesecake, Georgian Pecan Butter Mousse, Carmel Nut Tarte, and no sugar added cheesecakes are just a few of the many mouth watering products and speciality cakes available to round off any meal. For the person who prefers to make their own desserts, the company also carries a choice selection of dessert mixes including Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix and Amaretto Brownie Mix.

For more information about Alaska’s Finest Seafood & Desserts, please contact Robert Abrom at 1-888-239-7933, or via email at sales@aksfinest.com.

About Alaska’s Finest Seafood & Desserts:

Capitalizing on the huge demand for quality Alaskan seafood in the southeast USA, Alaska’s Finest Seafoods & Desserts aims to be the number one supplier of fresh seafood to restaurants in that region. Aksfinest.com is headquartered in Douglasville, GA, a suburb of Atlanta, and is offering their products to consumers throughout the continental United States.