Dear Friends,
Greetings! The Holiday Season of 2010 was one of hope for our family business. We were blessed with an abundance of national and local media coverage, advertising we could never have begun to pay for and for which we are very grateful. Such positive coverage renewed our commitment to continue to make our cookies the old fashioned way -- by hand. We are indebted to our loyal employees who have supported us during this challenging economic time and thank them for their understanding and perseverance. We are also grateful to you, our dear customers (friends) and promise to continue to provide our personal attention to every order. If you call us (during office hours), we will answer the phone in person (not by machine). Thus, you will speak to someone who genuinely cares about providing the best service possible. And lastly, we express our sincere appreciation to the following publications and media sources that gave us hope that, economically, our little North Carolina family business will not only survive, but thrive.
Special thanks to the following magazines and newspapers:
Dec/Jan 2010--Country Woman Magazine, and contributing editor Ann Kaiser. July 2010--Our State Magazine listed us as one of the "100 foods you must eat in NC’s 100 Counties." December 2010—Southern Lady Magazine for an article celebrating people, places and things from the south. December 2010--O, The Oprah Magazine - Oprah chose Mrs. Hanes Cookies as one of her favorite things. February & March 2011--Taste of The South Magazine featured our cookies in the "Good Stuff" section. The Dispatch, The Winston-Salem Journal and The Clemmons Courier.
Special thanks to the following television programs:
Liz Horton, WBTV, from Charlotte, N.C. came in July 2010 and did a wonderful segment entitled "A Good News Story." They also returned again and featured us three times during December in "A Carolina Camera Christmas" TV special. Julie Wunder, WLOS TV, in Asheville, N.C. featured our bakery in a Feb. 2011 segment called "One day Wunders." WFMY TV, Greensboro, N.C. featured us in December on “Made in the Triad.” TCT (Total Christian Television) featured us in a show called "TCT Today on the Road" that aired in April 2011. Food TV Network/Travel Channel that often shows re-runs of stories filmed in 2000 and 2004. (It is a testament to respect for our traditions that nothing has changed since that filming except our ages and weights!) All our local TV stations: WXII, WFMY & WGHP for their continuing support of our bakery during the regular news.
In addition, a big THANK YOU to the 30,000 people who visit our Bakery each year either to take a tour or just buy cookies. Our bakery has been accused of being in the "middle of nowhere." We appreciate your taking the time to drive out to the country so we can share our heritage and our cookies with you.
And now the family news: Travis and I (age 78) continue in good health. Even though we are approaching six decades of marriage, the highlight of my week (and theirs) is when all the family joins in fellowship at my dinner table. My children, grandchildren and extended family never seem to tire of my cooking! Although they may dread picking all the vegetables and digging over 1,500 pounds of potatoes every summer, they sure enjoy them when I cook.
Son Michael (Vice President) still rides his bike. In fact, last year he put almost as many miles on his bike (6,000) as he did his car! Daughter Ramona (President) and her husband celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary with a cruise. Ramona is sure she broke airline records for the number of bags she packed and the overweight baggage fees she paid. However, you must forgive someone who looks so forward to a trip that she starts packing three months before!
Our "older" cookie tasters, Jed (25), Madison (21), Isabella (13) and Fiona (9) continue to excel at their quality control duties and other activities. Jed works at a great bookstore where he keeps his eye out for deals for all of us who love to read. Jed assembles stars for our bakery customers (a truly stellar assembler!). Madison spent a semester in Australia in a Study Abroad Program with High Point University. ("Studying, ha!" says her mom.) Madison also works at the Bakery on weekends. Fiona and Isabella dance, sing, and continue to work hard in school. Evva Kate, who at age three is our youngest cookie taster, is often featured in our special emails, along with one of my favorite recipes. (So think twice before you unsubscribe!)
Daughter Caroline and son-in-laws Norian and Scott all help us out during the holidays. Yes, we are truly a family business.
I am sorry that the personal family news was a bit on the short side. However, I thought it was important to say "Thank you" to those individuals and organizations mentioned above who helped restore our hope in the future of our small business and to whom we are deeply grateful. Indeed, we are most blessed through your support.
All my best,
Evva Hanes
