Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Pfeifer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Diane. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started as a lead guitarist in an all-girl rock band at night with my identical twin in St Louis, while working days in a pharmaceutical chemistry lab. On an agent’s recommendation, I moved here in 1973. I performed solo with guitar in Atlanta clubs, sang radio/tv jingles, and recorded voice-overs, including wrong-number telephone messages. Besides acting in tv commercials and appearing in print ads, I continued to write songs, winning a local radio contest with a country song, I performed at Opryland as the prize, and there was invited to sing backup for Tammy Wynette on a world tour. I composed two Top 15 country hits for pop singer Debby Boone, plus recorded my own self-titled original album on Capitol Records. When the music scene changed to “good ole boy” country, I knew I had to change careers. On a movie date, I informed my date I wanted my own bucket of popcorn and didn’t share (a quantity issue, not germs). He joked he wouldn’t share his taco popcorn recipe and I was inspired to write a popcorn cookbook, “For Popcorn Lovers Only” with no culinary or even computer experience. I subsequently appeared on “Regis & Kathie Lee”, CNN, and CBS Morning News. While in Hollywood for a show, I was inspired to write a grits cookbook after telling a Hollywood sushi chef we Atlantans used grits instead of rice. After praying for a sign if I should write the book, I had an unexpected breakfast with Gregg Allman the next morning in the hotel coffee shop. My “Gone with the Grits” was featured on 16 million Quaker Grits boxes with over 100,000 copies sold, and later, I invented “Grits Bits” line of cookies and cheese straws baked with grits. I now specialize in Georgia-themed gift baskets for corporate events, weddings, and client gifts, with my Grits Bits and other locally-curated gourmet products. They even made their way to the White House for the First Lady’s Legislative Wives’ Luncheon.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, except for working in chemistry which I studied for my 2 years in college, I had to teach myself everything else: singing, playing guitar, acting, voice-overs, writing and publishing songs and cookbooks, and running a business. Being self-employed for 44 years has been daunting, as I basically wake up unemployed every morning.
I’ve made my share of mistakes: having 10,000 cookbooks delivered to my house; ordering $250,000 in books before I got the formal purchase order; writing books or adding products just to have something “new” without considering the market, and most of all, delegating parts of my business as I wanted everything done a certain way. I only need 5 hours sleep, so I do a lot of it myself in the wee hours but it’s a struggle.
Grits Bits and Georgia Gifts – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
While I started my parent company “Strawberry Patch” as a music publisher, and eventually book publisher, I am now known for my Grits Bits. I specialize in affordable Georgia-themed gifts and gift baskets, especially for corporate events and weddings, who may need large quantities. Because I use my products, I have the margin to offer good pricing, and I use “green” packaging so they don’t pay for unwanted containers.
I am proudest that I have been in my various businesses for 44 years, that I have sold over a million self-published books, and currently, that I offer great customer service and quick turnaround for my corporate and wedding clientele.
What sets me apart is that customers feel they are working with a real person, and that I will not only customize their order, but make it as easy for them as possible so they can concentrate on their event.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Having the faith to write a grits cookbook when I knew nothing about grits. Inspired in a California sushi bar 25 years ago, I prayed for a sign to write it, and the next morning I met Gregg Allman who was trying to order grits in our Hollywood hotel coffee shop.
Pricing:
- Gift baskets from $10-75 with custom items and logo hang tags
- Individual Georgia-themed goodies from $.50 – $9.00
- Cookbooks from $5.95-18.95
Contact Info:
- Address: 273 Eureka Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
- Website: https://www.gritsbits.com/
- Phone: 4042612197
- Email: diane@GritsBits.com
- Instagram: @gritsbits
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grits-Bits-132249026804541
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
