How Saltbox ignited a flourishing collaboration between Flour & Olive and Full Olive

In the dynamic world of small business, finding the right space and support can make all the difference. For Full Olive and Flour & Olive, the journey was about overcoming space constraints and operational challenges. Their story is a testament to how Saltbox's unique approach to co-warehousing can transform obstacles into unexpected opportunities.

From limited space to limitless potential

Adam, the founder of Full Olive, a gourmet food company importing from South America, watched his business rapidly outgrow the confines of his garage. Handling fulfillment alone, Adam realized his space limitations were hindering his business's growth. 

Similarly, Estelle, the innovative founder of Flour & Olive, premium olive oil cake mixes, faced her own space issues. While she managed product development from her home, she needed warehouse space for her physical products in order to launch sales.

Both entrepreneurs needed a solution that provided not only physical space but also operational support tailored to their growing needs.

The perfect recipe for growth

Saltbox stepped in with a tailored approach. For Full Olive, Saltbox’s Seattle location provided a flexible warehouse space complete with a loading dock and advanced shipping features. Adam first chose a 163-square-foot Starter Suite and smoothly upgraded to a 260-square-foot Small Suite within only six months to accommodate his inventory growth. The community aspect at Saltbox offered Adam a chance to network with other entrepreneurs, providing a refreshing change of pace from his solitary garage.

Estelle’s Flour & Olive found its perfect match in Saltbox’s eForce services. She could streamline her operations without needing to hire additional full-time employees. Saltbox’s dedicated workforce picks, packs, and ships Flour & Olive’s orders with no minimum order requirements. The clear, consistent pricing and customizable packaging options, along with support for receiving, inventory counts, kitting, and special projects, provided Estelle with the comprehensive support she needed to scale her business without capacity or time constraints.

A chance meeting turns into collaboration

Saltbox’s community fostered a lively environment where Adam and Estelle’s paths crossed. One day, Estelle left an olive oil cake in the common area for other Saltbox members and shared her creation on the Saltbox Slack community channel. Adam, intrigued by the use of olive oil in her cakes, reached out to Estelle. This serendipitous encounter revealed a shared vision: combining Full Olive’s premium olive oil with Flour & Olive’s unique cake mixes.

“When Adam and I were figuring out where to discuss the details of the collaboration, meeting up at Saltbox just made sense,” said Estelle. “ I walked into Adam’s warehouse suite, saw the gift boxes he was putting together with other products complementary to his olive oil, and everything clicked.” 

Their chance meeting resulted in a collaborative gift box blending Adam’s Argentinian olive oil with Estelle’s cake mixes to bring together shared origins and passions. “Once the idea came to life, I walked down the hall to grab a few cake mixes for Adam to try combining with his olive oils at home and the rest is history,” said Estelle. 

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Starting this new journey felt organic and natural for both Adam and Estelle, similar to the feeling they had when finding Saltbox. “Part of the reason we clicked so well was because we had the right setup to foster collaboration and community,” Adam noted.

Harvesting the fruits of innovation

The impact of Saltbox on both businesses was profound. Full Olive saw a 30% increase in operational efficiency, while Flour & Olive enjoyed a 20% reduction in pick and pack times compared with alternative solutions. But beyond the numbers, the true value lay in the community and connections forged within Saltbox.

"Saltbox provided us not only with the space we needed but also with a community that sparked an incredible collaboration," said Estelle.

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Adam added, "Saltbox has given us the foundation to think bigger and innovate. We're no longer held back by space constraints."

Looking ahead, both founders are filled with optimism. "With Saltbox, our future looks incredibly bright. We're excited about new collaborations and expanding our product offerings," Estelle shared. 

Check out the Flour & Olive / Full Olive collaborative baking box here.

In a world where every inch of space matters and every connection can spark something extraordinary, Saltbox stands as a beacon of support and innovation for small businesses. For Full Olive and Flour & Olive, it was more than just a solution; it was the catalyst for a flourishing collaboration and an exciting new chapter in their entrepreneurial journeys.