Gnosis Campaign
for The Second Decade

An appeal for your support so I may build an invigorated, sustainable love-inspired,
integrity-filled, passion-fueled company for decades to come!

Starting with the very first SuperChoc made for fellow health coaches at Integrative Nutrition in 2007, a community grew around Gnosis and carried it by word of mouth. Thanks to a network of ambassadors whose passion for Gnosis products and values spread the word far and wide (not by distributors, sales reps, or advertising) to over 300 stores across the nation and overseas!

I’m writing now in response to the countless calls, emails, texts, and letters from our community of loyal ChocoLovers - many of whom have supported Gnosis for OVER 10 years. Unable to find a comparable line of chocolate with medicinal herbs in stores, they’ve urged me relentlessly to grow the company again and put our creations back on the shelves - pledging their support should I run a crowd-funder!!!

After having scaled down to online-only for a while to catch my breath, I’m excited to launch our campaign so we can meet their demand! Our growth thus far has always been 100% organic and we’ve never played into the traditional debt vs equity model. Now in our 11th year of devotion to cacao - I am making my very first appeal for funding!

I’ve learned that in order for an enterprise to be sustainable, emphasis must be on Team! Hiring with a balance of strengths, providing first class tools and systems, and anticipating the team’s needs as our company grows. Click here to learn more about our campaign goals!

In preparation for a holiday season of significant growth, I’m interviewing to build that Team, and - with your support - can create a space in which they will flourish, and can purchase inventory that meets our rigorous standards on a scale that increases our buying power.

Rather than using a crowdfunding platform, this simple campaign appeals to our ChocoLover community directly - with reports and pictures of the progress we make towards campaign goals to come via our ChocoLetter emails.

I am deeply grateful for the vital role you’ve played thus far in writing Gnosis’ story! With your help, this holiday season will celebrate the opening of our next chapter.

With so much Love and Gratitude,
Your Chocolate Girl Vanessa

Gifts of Gratitude

Below are 6 buttons for tiers between $25 and $1000 with options for the gifts you’ll receive from us in gratitude! (please note, I can only ship internationally over $500). Or, enter another gift amount (eg: $1,000,000 :D ):

These are just some concepts - I’m more than happy to modify the gifts below for you or add others you suggest eg: hats, t-shirts, discount coupon for life, etc! If you’d like to give over $5,000, let’s discuss a profit sharing agreement!

Give any amount (even $1!) and receive:

1. Thanks: unless you wish to remain anonymous we will thank you publicly, and you’ll receive a little surprise expression of gratitude!

2. Reciprocation: As you’ve supported me, so too shall I support you! :D I’ll share a link to a conscious venture of your choosing (ie: your business, an event, charitable organization, etc.) or your favorite quote, inspirational video, etc to my network of 30k.

3. More!! An additional chocolate bar or cacao elixir of your choice for every $50 contributed to this campaign by your friends who are not already on my mailing list! Please share far and wide, and remind them to tell me I have you to thank!

   
   

$100

Autumn seasonal limited edition collection

+ 1 elixir of your choosing

PROGRESS!

Dearest ChocoLover,

2012 was choc' full of reinvesting in the future of Gnosis Chocolate. Thanks to the absolute dedication of Team Gnosis and your ongoing patronage online and in your local stores, those investments were fully self-funded.

These changes have truly propelled us forward on our mission to provide the world with delicious, functional, high-integrity raw chocolate. There will be a lot of internal change here at Gnosis HQ as we strengthen our infrastructure, upgrade our admin systems, and expand & empower Team Gnosis.

If you love what we're doing and want to see more of the same and better, you can help! (see below for ideas)
Either way, use this coupon code before 11:59p EST on August 18th to save 20% on all online orders while supplies last!

Gratitude Coupon: GROW-GNOSIS-GROW

With so much hope,
Your Grateful Chocolate Girl Vanessa

2012 Focus: PRODUCTS  - done!
1. Reformulate almost all single recipes with coconut sugar instead of agave nectar;
2. Perfect the ratios of fruits & nuts to chocolate, and improve the spice/herbal blend balance;
3. Work with RL Food Testing to generate nutritional information panels for our top 12 bars;
4. Design more elegant, shelf-ready packaging that's greener than ever;
5. Increase service to stores around the world - especially in northern California; and,
6. Without cutting corners, become more affordable -  reduce price by 22% from $8.99 to $6.99!

2013 Focus: TEAM & INFASTRUCTURE - work in progress

1. Hire our first experienced managers;
    First, a business manager
    Second, an office manager
    Third, a production manager
2. Simplify & upgrade our systems and software (server, shopping cart, inventory)
3. Delegate website maintainance & graphic design internally
4. Improve service to our existing customers

If you venture just a few minutes over the NYC midtown bridge...
In a modest 500sqft lovingly certified organic, vegan, and kosher space...
You'l find a sweetly scented kitchen that is packed to the brim with raw chocolate, superfoods, and 5 years of heart and soul called Team Gnosis.

Behind the scenes at Gnosis is a treasure trove of talent - a tiny, precious team of artisans who craft edible masterpieces for your enjoyment.

With belief in conscious business, excellence as the standard, and enough drive to serve chocolate lovers worldwide, Lauren, Danny, and their kitchen team is creating works of art by the thousands... 100% BY HAND!!!

From IIN classmates who enlisted sisters, daughters and mothers to help label boxes... To friends who lend patient ears, shoulders and wise insights...

To the small village of individuals who have served on Team Gnosis... Everyone has shared a high tolerance for the growing pains of a young, unfunded company, and a profound commitment to meaningful existence.

Taking pause to reflect on the rarity of such a team and extended family makes me feel silly for living in my computer screen   and on the number of hours I spend behind a computer, 

Growth always comes with change. Gnosis and its team is sure to receive generous servings of both! We've all seen companies fall apart (or perhaps worse - begin to cut corners) for lack of management, planning, funding, etc.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? This summer, we've taken a good look at what's needed for continued sustainable growth... and now we have a plan! While enjoying the last weeks of summer, we'll be focused on bringing that plan to life by reinvesting in two primary areas:
1. Building Team Gnosis
2. Supporting Team Gnosis

This isn't pretty but it is absolutely true and relevant so bear with me!

an important truth - it can be frustratingly hard to get in touch with me. It's time to invite a manager with the expertise and vision to implement hire our first experienced manager to help me want to avoid reacting to problems - we're finding solutions!This includes big changes to everything from our software and shopping cart to our physical location and job descriptions. level - from job descriptions to software , and we'll even be taking a few restorative days off!

In the meantime, we're accepting applications for several new positions which we plan to review and fill by October for the holidays!

We would REALLY appreciate your help! Here's how:

1. If you think you'll want to order soon, place it before the 19th!
(and here's a coupon code that will give you 20% off everything on our site! :)

OFFICE HOURS WILL BE LIMITED
STARTING AUGUST 19  

      BUT NEVER FEAR - WE'RE STILL HERE! 

Orders placed online will ship as usual in 1-4 business days

with FREE ice and insulation for a safe journey through the heat

Make sure someone is home to bring your order in from the heat
we can guarantee all domestic Express Mail, which ships in 1 business day for delivery 1-2 days later (recommended for birthday & other deadlines!)  

Have Questions? We'll return your calls as soon as we can! For now, emails are preferred so that we can get reply off-hours if need be! 

This summer has been like Christmas for a personal growth junkie such as myself. Wrapped in 57 layers of tissue paper, I'm discovering beautiful mysteries and afound a new sense of wonder and  pair of magic glasses (which of course I am bound to misplace at times). These special spectacles revea