[ 
Mood: Fed Up WIth Life ]
[ Currently: Thinking abouta nap ]
Dear Art-Is-In Bakery
When I discovered your products at the Ottawa Farmer’s market a few years ago, I immediately fell in love. To the point that I bought only your baked goods. I had no problem lining-up for your bread and would happily tell people asking why I would wait that long, why your bread was worth it. And when your retail store opened, I found excuses to drive from the Walkley/Conroy area to buy bread and sandwiches at the drop of the hat. I even added your bread to a scavenger hunt/car rally I ran this year.
Unfortunatley, I have to tell you, my love affair has come to an end. In the last four weeks you have been sold out three times of what I am looking for by the time I get to the Ottawa Farmer’s Market. The first two times were at 10:30 and today was 9:00 am. One hour after the market opened. Apparently you didn’t bring as much because of the supposed rain, the other time an oven was broken, and there was no reason given the third time.
So I as I had to explain to my crying three year-old why he wouldn’t be having his Sunday treat of one of your cinamon buns for the third time in four weeks, despite his getting up early and moving as fast as possible to get to the market to get said treat, it occured to me, it’s over.
That’s right. I no longer need your products. Because you no longer need me. When you were a smaller outfit, my business mattered. But now that you are "trendy", are selling par baked frozen bread to hotels across Canada and offer "bespoke" breads to those rich enough to matter, I am not who you want to sell too. This would explain your lack of effort in trying to keep my business.
And I am happy for you. It’s nice that you are doing so well in a recession to turn business away. You are an Ottawa success story and should be feted as such. I just hope your new friends will be as loyal as your old ones were once you are no longer the "new thing" everyone has to have.
And don’t worry about me and my family. We will find a new bakery to give me what I need. And no, I have no interest in buying your bread at one of the many places you seem to have set up as resellers. I told you, it’s over and that means I won’t be sneaking a slice or two under the table.
Best of luck in the future.