Company Description
Jenny and I love pastries and bread warm from the oven...for me, the smells and tastes connect me to my most treasured food and family memories.
In Feb 2020 we were wandering through France in search of the simple, warm, pastries of French legend (and great skiing) when COVID began. As we returned to an anxious San Diego, we could not find hot from the oven bread or pastries anywhere. That is when we decided to bring joy to our community (and ourselves). So with this simple idea, a Kansas farmer's can-do spirit, and a boatload of naivete, we taught ourselves to bake and turned a century-old photo studio into what would become a top bakery in San Diego. I remember IZOLA's first day, June 10, 2020, we lowered 12 croissants in a basket out the 3rd-floor window to socially distanced customers waiting below. After their first bite, we saw their faces smiling up at us and realized we'd found our purpose. From that day until now we have been lifted by the grace of so many people. Starting with our heroic team pictured below.
Perks
IZOLA is offering perks to investors.You earn the most valuable perk available based on your total investment amount in this business. You will not also receive the perks of lesser value, unless specified below.
IZOLA Builder
Invest $1,000 or more to qualify.Unlimited available
You've helped us build our new home....we'll hand punch your name into metal, and mount it on one of the beams that support the building.
SOURDOUGH ARTISAN
Invest $10,000 or more to qualify.
9 of 10 remaining
You helped build it....we'll mount your name inside one of our sourdough deck ovens....you'll bake with us every day!
QUEEN OF CROISSANTS
Invest $20,000 or more to qualify.
10 of 10 remaining
Wow...you're really stepping forward for us. To honor you, we'll add your name to hallowed ground....the stone table we roll all of our croissants.
MASTER BAKER
Invest $50,000 or more to qualify.
1 of 1 remaining
There can only be one. And recognition of this tremendous support, we'll etch your name in the glass wall of the croissant cube in the heart of the bakery.
Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Jeffrey Brown
Founder
PROFILE
A proven business builder who is passionate about creating fully immersive experiences - from reimagining the bakery industry and serving hot from the oven sourdough and croissants resulting in San Diego's only 5-star bakery to telling Pulitzer-recognized stories through film and photography.
EXPERIENCEFOUNDER
IZOLA Bakery / San Diego, CA / March 2020 - Present
Reimagined what a bakery could be - handcrafted sourdough and croissants made from the best tasting ingredients, served hot from the oven all day long, in a welcoming community space.
Posted 384% YoY growth through word of mouth and a marketing budget of less than $200/month.
Achieved over 300 five-star reviews on Google through direct customer reach-out campaigns.
Developed proprietary enterprise resource management solution – IZOLA Operating System – allows us to control the journey for 800 croissants + sourdough each day and bake them just a few minutes before customers eat them.
Helms a startup that has reached profitability in less than 2 years.
FOUNDER, DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Tallgrass Pictures / San Diego, CA / October 1997 - March 2020
A hybrid production company that created both films and still photographs. Clients included Adidas, Citibank, Nike, Dolby Creative Services, New York Magazine, and USA Today.
A full-time staff of 10.
Generated annual 7 figure revenues.
Managed the entire production, including creative, talent casting, location, crew, permits, insurance, and payroll.
Post-production capabilities included ten editing bays, DaVinci Resolve color correction, broadcast calibrated theatre with 100†screen, Dolby 5.1 mixing, broadcast mastering, and nationwide distribution.
Recipient of multiple ADDY awards.
PHOTOJOURNALIST
Copley Newspapers + Jacksonville Journal-Courier / May 1992 - September 1997
Covered natural disasters, world sporting events, and global health issues. Work has graced the front page of USA Today, National Geographic, Life Magazine.....Pulitzer Prize finalist for work documenting the experience of an immigrant crossing the border from Central Mexico to Chicago.
Jennifer Chen
Co-Founder
PROFILE
Seasoned retail executive with 20 years of experience building multimillion-dollar brands. Consistently delivers double-digit YoY comps through a focus on assortment optimization.
Co-Founder / IZOLA / San Diego, CA
March 2020 - Present
Helped launch a business at the start of COVID that is currently posting a 384% YoY increase and on track to generate $1M in annual revenue.
Key accomplishments:
Created and built a system that allows us to have just-in-time inventory (hot-from-the-oven) ready for pre-order pick-up times and walk-in demand.
Forecasting methods and strategic assortment planning have allowed us to average 3% food waste vs. the double digits typically seen in the restaurant industry.
Associate Director of Merchandising / Brilliant Earth / San Francisco, CA (Remote)
May 2008 - Present (Consultant from 2008-2020)
Lead the merchandising, visual merchandising, and product development strategy of a company that went public in 2021, growing it from $6.5M to $380M; reported to the Senior Vice President of Retail.
Key accomplishments:
Joined the company when it was a team of 7 and now employs over 500.
Built merchandising department from the ground floor to a team of 14.
Delivered 51% sales growth during the pandemic, generating record profitability.
Doubled brick-and-mortar retail locations in the span of a year.
Led the merchandising integration of a new cloud-based data visualization software.
Established an open-to-buy process, improving in-stock rates, and limited inventory liability.
Senior Merchandise Manager / Provide-Commerce (Red Envelope) / San Diego, CA
Mar 2009 – Mar 2012
Oversaw over half of the total business
Key accomplishments:
Realigned under-performing categories, cut SKU count in half while posting positive YOY sales comps.
Developed a test program for incorporating customer insights into the product development process through focus group research and customer surveys.
Led customization/personalization integration with our two fulfillment centers to ensure holiday readiness.
Buyer / Wal-Mart, Inc / Brisbane, CA
Aug 2005 – Apr 2008
Managed the online jewelry assortment of the nation’s largest jewelry retailer.
Key accomplishments:
Drove double-digit comps each year on a $20M business.
Led annual overseas sourcing and product development trips. Oversaw cost negotiations, product development, and sourcing with domestic and overseas vendors
SKU count optimization reduced inventory by 50% while still delivering YoY growth in both sales and GM%.
Implemented new product photography requirements resulting in a drop in return rates.
Developed a high margin closeout channel which generated an additional $250k+ in annual revenue.
Identified and negotiated vendor marketing funds, contributing an additional $100k+ in gross profit annually.
Created warehouse tracking procedures to ensure on-time slotting of inventory; worked closely with QC to deliver the lowest inventory defect rate among all jewelry divisions of Wal-Mart, Inc.
