Whom You Know: BIG APPLE BUSINESS: More on Balance Water

Thursday, May 7, 2009

BIG APPLE BUSINESS: More on Balance Water

Whom You Know first introduced you to Balance Water:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/04/big-apple-business-balance-water.html

Today we are pleased to present Martin Chalk, of Balance Water!

Peachy Deegan: As an Australian, out of all of the places to pick to start your water company, why did you pick Manhattan?
Martin Chalk: I love Manhattan. It has the best ethnic mix of American, European, Asian and Latin American people and cultures anywhere. It also has the most concentrated population density in the US so it is a great place to start a business. "If you can make it here....."

What makes doing business in Manhattan more challenging and what makes it easier?
More challenging is the competitiveness and cost. Retail owners and consumers have very little time and patience. Everything is about bottom line and dollar. In CA people will take the time to understand your product.
Easier is the fact that you can see 15 accounts in a day on foot and that a Whole Foods here will sell in a day what it takes a week in some suburban locations.

How do the Australian wildflowers get to New York?
We infuse them in water in the Australian outback and rainforests and make a concentrate. We then ship that concentrate to our bottling operation in CA and NY where it is added to Spring Water. We are not shipping large volumes. It's extremely concentrated.

How are the flowers put into the water?
We handpick the flowers in extremely remote locations. We immediately infuse them in glass bowls next to the plant. They sit in these bowls for 4 hours in bright sunlight infusing into the water. I've actually attached a picture of Crowea flowers doing just this. (see above)

Does this have any effect on those allergic to pollen?
No - we use a natural but laboratory grade means of sterilizing the concentrate. There are zero pollen remnants left in the concentrate.

How do the different Balance waters blend the different flowers to be effective?
We use a company called Wandarra Essences (Wandarra is an Australian Aboriginal word for good) to choose and mix the flower blends. Wandarra has a lot of experience with both the properties of the individual flowers and the blends. Not unlike a master winemaker.

What direction do you envision for your company-it is young, correct?
The company is young but growing extremely quickly. We're seeing a lot of interest in the natural food and health market. Our Traveling product is becoming immensely popular with airlines and hotels, where people swear by the benefits. We will continue to grow the company and remain as independent for as long as we can (possibly indefinitely) as we all love working here and we have quite a few exciting products waiting in the wings.

Peachy Deegan just loves Balance Water and is drinking it right now! Whom You Know recommends this product!

More on Balance Water:
Balance has offices on 32nd Street in Manhattan. The leading NY based drugstore chain, Duane Reade, carries Balance as part of their ongoing support for local NY companies. Balance is also ranged in Whole Foods Market and Food Emporium.

Balance® products do not contain any flavors, colours, preservatives, artificial additives, sugar or calories.

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

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“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
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Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
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https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

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Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/