December's OED 500 Winner Announced-- Cheesecake Anyone?

OED is pleased to announce that the fourth quarter winner of the OED 500 is Ruby Wesley of A Taste of Rubies. The New Brunswick, NJ-based specialty dessert company has been recognized for its creativity and perseverance throughout the past year. The OED 500 is a quarterly small business contest started as a way to recognize the flexibility, resourcefulness, and at times extreme measures displayed by American small businesses during our country’s recession. Hit hard by the recession like many small business owners, A Taste of Rubies has weathered 2009 and 2010 through the creativity and determination that is the hallmark of entrepreneurship.

“Ruby formed her business in 2007, just a initial indicators were pointing to slow down,” stated Brian Marshall, an OED Trustee. “The first two years of any new venture are often considered the most difficult. To launch a business under the recent conditions with credit tightening, consumer confidence lagging, and operational costs increasing shows a determination only fellow entrepreneurs can understand. You just keep moving forward, and Ruby has done that month by month, idea by idea. It’s a tremendous success story for NJ Small Business.”

Moving forward has meant creativity and leveraging every possible option to contains costs and entice customers. “It has been a challenge trying to offer affordable prices with the rising cost of goods. We came up with a new service: Dessert Parties as an affordable option for potential clients looking to have parties on a budget. This option allows potential clients to commemorate any occasion on a budget without having to sacrifice quality,” said Ruby. She continues, “We have adjusted, and we have parameters in place that allow us to be flexible and nimble in this volatile economy. We have several revenue streams (catering, wedding, general retail, fundraisers, wholesale and more). This versatile business model gives option and various way to continue earning income.”

To read the rest of the annoucement, visit OEDGlobal.org