Making Educated Comparisons

One thing I have learned while in the process of deciding what company to buy my food storage from and then whether or not to become a Shelf Reliance consultant is the best way to compare companies and determine which one is giving you the best value.  At first I was comparing strictly prices and weight.  Shelf Reliance fared extremely well in that comparison.  I even made a detailed list with all of the major competitors.  Sadly that was all in vain because I soon realized that weight is not the best consideration in comparing food storage.  Why?  Well,  for one thing, not all companies' weights are determined in the same way.  Some give just the weight of the food and others give the total shipping weight (including the weight of the can) and there is no way of knowing which method they are using.  Also, in freeze dried food especially, weight can vary greatly depending on how much water any given distributor manages to get out of the food during the freeze drying process.  One distributor's 6 ounces can fill a can while another company's 6 ounces doesn't really come close.

So how should you compare?
1.  Number of servings:  not every company has the same serving size, so I figure out how many cups of product is in each can and go off of that.

2.  Quality:  To determine this you really have to see it and taste it.  That is exactly why Shelf Reliance does home parties. I have seen a comparison of SR freeze dried broccoli with a competitor's and at least for that product it was a night and day difference in quality.  If you want to know where a party is near you I can help you with that or you could even host your own.  If you want to taste the competitor's products, most of them do sell the items in pouches for a reasonable price.  You might consider buying a few and comparing if you want to make sure you are getting food you actually like.

3.  Shelf Life  There is an industry standard of shelf life, so there's not much competition there.  However you need to be aware that if you are buying food in pouches or buckets, the shelf life for most food is significantly less than in a #10 can.  For example the shelf life of freeze dried strawberries in a pouch is 5 years while those same strawberries last up to 25 years in a #10 can.

It's pretty obvious that I decided that Shelf Reliance seemed the best to me.  That is something we all have to decide for ourselves though and I truly respect that.  That is a big part of why I decided to do parties--if we are going to store a ton of food, we need to know we will eat it and that it is what we feel is the best possible option.   So, if you are interested in why I came to this conclusion, read on.

Comparing strictly on the best bargain is very difficult because there are so many variables.  Above I explained a little about number of servings being the best comparison tool though.  When I was first comparing weights, SR was the clear winner for price.  However, once I compared apples to apples by just looking at servings I found the playing field was pretty much level.  Each of the major companies had the best price about the same percentage of the time with a couple of exceptions who were consistently more expensive than everyone else on most things, (Shelf Reliance was one of the competitive ones).  Add to that the ever changing sales and specials at the various companies and it got even more impossible to compare.  So, to my frustration as a bargain shopper, price comparisons didn't end up being extremely helpful for me in choosing what company to buy from.  Then I found out that Shelf Reliance's top priority is giving consumers full cans no matter what (which they can do because they pack the cans themselves, while others have the distributors pack their cans), even if that means adding more product after the given weight is put into the can.  Because of that, Shelf Reliance was in the lead when it came to value, but I still wanted to research the quality of each company's products.  (Note:  I was not yet taking into consideration host benefits and the benefits of becoming a consultant when doing this first comparison.  I'll talk about that at the end because that is the real clincher, making Shelf Reliance the best value by far.)

When it comes to quality, I wasn't able to actually taste and compare everything.  So the reason I feel the most confident about Shelf Reliance's quality is based on what I could taste, seeing comparisons, and also learning about the company's high standards of quality.  I thought the food was great and it was also important to me that my kids liked it..  To say they do is an understatement.  They just kept asking for more and now are always trying to sneak in and swipe my party supply.  As for the company's quality standards, there are some items consumers are begging for, such as peanut butter powder, but SR won't sell it yet because they haven't found a distributor with quality that meets their standards (they are looking into though).  I think that shows a lot of integrity and it gives me confidence in buying what  they do sell.  They also pack their product themselves and have their own FDA and HACCP certified quality control to ensure the best product possible is going out.  They are actually known for sending back unsatisfactory inventory, while others do not pack their own food so chances are they wouldn't know if there was a problem or not.  Shelf Reliance has samples of their food tested in scientific labs monthly and also has 3rd party inspections on manufacturing facilities to ensure that they have the highest level of safety and quality possible.  Others just trust the distributor to do all this.  The paranoid part of  me loves that the quality is inspected so thoroughly.   So, for quality SR was the winner.  I'm sure the other company's foods are safe, but I don't have the confidence that they are the best tasting and highest quality and if I'm going to spend the money on it and depend on it to last, that is important to me.

Finally, Shelf Life was a consideration.  At first I was tempted by the large buckets of food I saw at other companies, but not at Shelf Reliance.  However, once I realized how the shelf life was affected by not being sealed in a #10 can, I decided to limit my purchases to those.  Other than that, Shelf Life is an industry standard, so there's not much else to say there.

Based on all of this, I had decided Shelf Reliance was the best for me at this time.  As an added bonus, my sister got me interested in the Home Party program after attending a party herself, and my decision was solidified.  Shelf Reliance is the only food storage company to do home parties.  I really liked that they had the confidence to let consumers try the food before buying it.  Also, if you do a party, the host benefits make it so you are definitely getting the most for your money as compared to other companies.  You can even do an online party through a consultant if you already know people who are interested and get the same benefits.  At the same time, I am always leery of home parties because in my mind they equal jacked up prices.  So I looked into it and found that is not the case with Shelf Reliance.  If you are interested in knowing what led me to this conclusion see the business model and benefits of being a consultant pages.  I discussed this opportunity with my husband and extended family and we all felt it would be to the benefit of our entire family if one of us was a consultant, so I decided to be the one to do it!  I'm so glad I did.

I hope this information is helpful and saves you time.  Believe it or not there is a lot more I could have told you.  If you want to know more, please feel free to contact me with questions or, just follow the blog because that is why I created it--to share all of the things I have been learning with others.

Hug a Trucker Day

Okay, it's not really Hug a Trucker Day, but you should anyway.  Do you realize how much your everyday life depends on whether or not truckers are able to do their job?  The American Trucking Associations (ATA) put out a report in 2006 about what would happen in the event that trucks became unable to deliver supplies to a given area.  There are many reasons why trucks might be unable to make their deliveries in an emergency, whether it is because of actions by the government halting or limiting truck traffic or the extreme traffic jams and destruction of roads that can occur in a disaster.  Whatever the reason, the potential consequences are alarming.  Below is a timeline from the ATA giving a brief description of those consequences.  For a more in depth look, check out the whole article entitled "When Trucks Stop, America Stops".

"When Trucks Stop, America Stops 

A Timeline Showing the Deterioration of Major Industries Following a Truck Stoppage 

The first 24 hours
• Delivery of medical supplies to the affected area will cease.
• Hospitals will run out of basic supplies such as syringes and catheters within hours. Radiopharmaceuticals will deteriorate and become unusable.
• Service stations will begin to run out of fuel.
• Manufacturers using just-in-time manufacturing will develop component shortages.
• U.S. mail and other package delivery will cease.


Within one day
• Food shortages will begin to develop.
• Automobile fuel availability and delivery will dwindle, leading to skyrocketing prices and long lines at the gas pumps.
• Without manufacturing components and trucks for product delivery, assembly lines will shut down, putting thousands out of work.

Within two to three days
• Food shortages will escalate, especially in the face of hoarding and consumer panic.
• Supplies of essentials—such as bottled water, powdered milk, and canned meat—at major retailers will disappear.
• ATMs will run out of cash and banks will be unable to process transactions.
• Service stations will completely run out of fuel for autos and trucks.
• Garbage will start piling up in urban and suburban areas.
• Container ships will sit idle in ports and rail transport will be disrupted, eventually coming to a standstill.

Within a week
• Automobile travel will cease due to the lack of fuel.  Without autos and busses, many people will not be able to get to work, shop for groceries, or access medical care.
• Hospitals will begin to exhaust oxygen supplies.

Within two weeks
• The nation’s clean water supply will begin to run dry.

Within four weeks
• The nation will exhaust its clean water supply and water will be safe for drinking only after boiling.  As a result gastrointestinal illnesses will increase, further taxing an already weakened health care system.

This timeline presents only the primary effects of a freeze on truck travel.  Secondary effects must be considered as well, such as inability to maintain telecommunications service, reduced law enforcement, increased crime, increased illness and injury, higher death rates, and likely, civil unrest"


I do not share this to scare, but to help prepare.  Some things this reinforced for me are that I need to:
1.  Become knowledgeable about first aid and have a good first aid kit.
2.  Make sure you keep a good stock of necessary medications on hand.  (If this isn't possible you may consider researching survival methods that can be used for people with your particular health issues).
3.  Always keep your gas tanks at least half full.
4.  Keep an adequate amount of food and water storage in an accessible place.  This will save you money, time, grief, gas, stress, etc. in case of emergency.
5.  Keep an ample supply of money in a safe, yet accessible place.
6.  Make sure you have reliable means of water purification.

Ample water supply is a key component of emergency preparedness.  See FEMA's Water Storage Guidelines here.  For additional information about water storage and purification, this article from the National Terror Alert Response Center is helpful.

Where do I start?

A big obstacle many people face when it comes to food storage and emergency preparedness is figuring out exactly what they need and how to store what they have. I know I definitely fit into that category before I learned about Shelf Reliance. Now I can honestly say that I am not stressed about making sure I am getting what I need in the right amounts.

There are three FREE tools Shelf Reliance offers that I find extremely valuable. Not only are they free, but they do not require you to give any personal identifying information or even your email address.

1. Food Storage Calculator

This free tool takes into account the caloric needs of you and each of your family members for a stretch of time that you choose and creates a customized plan, which tells you how much you need of various foods. It includes foods from all of the food groups and allows you to edit the plan to make sure it only includes foods you will actually eat. It also allows you to choose what percentage of your plan you want to be freeze dried foods versus traditional food storage options. Once your plan is complete you can either print it out for free for your own personal reference or you also have the option of purchasing your plan. If you would like to purchase it you can either do so all at once or by joining the Q program in which you can set a monthly budget and build your storage through monthly shipments. (Kind of like Netflix, but for food storage.)

2. Food Rotation System Calculator

Once you have your food storage plan in place you need to start thinking about where to put it and how to rotate it. If you don't have a system in place, it can be challenging making sure you rotate it properly so you use the oldest food first and don't waste any of your investment. That is why Shelf Reliance developed their Food Rotation Systems. They have a wide range of sizes and options from cupboard rotators to the large full size shelves. So how do you know what one to buy? Easy! Just tell this calculator whether you want a free standing system or one that goes on existing shelves. Then type in the dimensions of the space you have available and the calculator will narrow down the many options and show you only the rotation systems that meet your specific needs.

3. Emergency Kit Planner

"Preparing yourself and your family with an emergency kit and plan will reduce anxiety and panic should you find yourself in a disaster situation. Many emergencies don't allow time for people to assemble even the most basic items, which makes it all the more necessary to own the supplies your family requires." Shelf Reliance offers first aid kits and pre-assembled emergency kits for various lengths of time and many different group sizes. If you don't see one that you feel meets your needs or you just want the freedom to assemble it yourself, then the Emergency Planner is a great tool for you. "Simply enter your family's information and select a few personal settings, and the planner will provide you with a list of all the materials you need." (from the Shelf Reliance Website)

So, there you have it! These tools are easy to use and really take the stress out of getting prepared. I am really grateful that Shelf Reliance makes these tools accessible to all and provides this service with no strings attached.

If you like the information in this post and/or think it could benefit people you know, please feel free to share this post using the icons below and help your friends and family have the peace of mind that comes with being prepared.

*all images are from shelfreliance.com

Why Freeze Dry?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SURPRISE HOST GIVEAWAY POST

Many types of foods can be freeze dried--from fruits and veggies to ice cream, cheese, and meat. Freeze dried food maintains its color and fresh taste making it a tasty addition to anyone's kitchen or storage room. But is it really the healthiest storage method? I found this article about freeze dried food on the LIVESTRONG website that answers that question. It cites information from credible sources about the benefits of preserving food by freeze drying it. Some of the benefits are:

• When food is freeze dried, it maintains its nutritional value.
• Freeze drying removes more water than dehydration. And less water in the stored product leads to less of a chance of bacterial growth.
• Most freeze dried food has a shelf life of 25-30 years vs. a 12 month shelf life for canned foods and only a few years for dehydrated foods.
• Freeze dried foods maintain their antioxidant levels and those antioxidants are processed through the bloodstream in the same way they would if they had been consumed fresh.
• The freeze drying process uses no preservatives or additives in order to maintain an excellent shelf life. Other preservation methods often involve the addition of preservatives and/or high levels of sodium.
• Freeze dried food is light weight, so it is a convenient way to eat healthy on the go.
• Freeze dried berries are thought to protect against cancers of the colon and esophagus (according to this American Institute for Cancer Research link.)

I originally learned most of this information from Shelf Reliance itself, but it's always nice to see it validated by other credible sources too. This information is a big part of what made me really excited to get involved with Shelf Reliance.

Freeze dried food tastes better, lasts longer, and is better for you than canned or dehydrated food. Knowing all this, why wouldn't you want to add freeze dried foods to your food storage? Or eat it now for that matter?

If you want to learn more about the process of freeze drying foods, check out this link in my consultant store.

Welcome

Welcome to the TRHIVE Hive! I am excited to share the awesome products and services Shelf Reliance has to offer. I am going to kick off the blog with an Online Party! Why should you join the party? You will get the very best prices available on Shelf Reliance products including their Food Rotation Systems, the THRIVE food storage line (which tastes awesome!), and emergency preparedness products. You will also learn about how to create your own free food storage plan, how to have your food storage come to you every month for whatever price you choose (like a movie queue, but for food storage), where to find great recipes created by professional chefs utilizing your food storage, and more! PLUS, everyone who participates in the party will have their name put into a drawing and the winner will be the Surprise Host, which means you will receive the host benefits for this online party! That is an awesome opportunity, just take a look here at what the host gets.

So, let's get the party started! In order to say you have participated in the party, simply do the following:
1. Watch this introduction video:



2. Go to shelfreliance.com and look around. Some highlights you should definitely check out are the THRIVE Planner, the THRIVE Q , as well as taking a look at the many products Shelf Reliance offers. Just make sure you ignore the prices on the website. Instead, look at the Party Price List. (If you prefer a catalog format instead of looking through the website, see the Shelf Reliance Catalog. It may take a couple of minutes to load.)

3. Tell your friends about this party. You can post a link on your blog, post it on Facebook, etc. Please just make sure to comment to let me know what you did.

4. Use the tools to the right to follow this blog, subscribe to posts, and/or add THRIVE Hive to your blog roll.

5. The last thing you need to do in order to be entered into the Surprise Host drawing is place an order. Do Not order through the website for this party. In order to get the party pricing you must order through me. To do this, simply email me a list of what you would like and include a phone number where I can reach you to get your payment information (you can use a credit or debit card). Send emails to mythrivehive@gmail.com with your name and "Spring Party" as the subject (example: Jane Doe Spring Party). If you do not feel comfortable ordering in this way, you can also order through My Store and still get a discount, however you will be getting the online consultant price rather than the party price.

This party will stay open until May 5, 2011. That is also the day the surprise host will be announced. Good luck and enjoy the party!

A few of my favorite things...

There are a lot of great products available through Shelf Reliance, but I thought I would share a favorite from each of their main product categories.

THRIVE food:

Freeze Dried Strawberries. Great for snacking, on cereal, in smoothies, in dessert sauces, etc. I have to keep them up high so my kids won't devour them all by themselves!

Food Rotation Systems

I love my Cansolidator Pantry! Organization doesn't come naturally to me, so this is very helpful. It's nice to see a tidy and efficient area in my pantry and it is very affordable.
Emergency Supplies

Clean water seems to be one of the hardest things to come by in an emergency, so I got pretty excited when I saw these items. I haven't made up my mind yet, so you get to see three items in this category. I think one of these would also be a great gift for my camp out-loving husband...

The Katadyn My Bottle

The SteriPen Emergency or the SteriPen Journey

Or maybe even the Katadyn Combi Microfilter Or do I go with the less expensive Katadyn Hiker Microfilter?  Decisions, decisions...

What are some of your favorite products?

The Q

One of the best business ideas in the last decade, in my opinion, is a queue.  The best known example of a queue being used in business is Netflix.  Who doesn't love the ease of choosing what product you want, paying for it, and having it shipped to your door without having to leave the house?  Wouldn't it be nice if you could shop in this way for more than movies?  Well, actually, you can!

Shelf Reliance has a program called The Q.  The Q is a monthly food storage program that takes the stress out of building your long term food supply.  With the Q, you can create a custom food storage plan using the Food Storage Calculator, set a monthly budget, and pay as you go.  One of my favorite parts of The Q is that after the first three months, you have the freedom to adjust your budget and shipment date, or if you just can't afford it one month you also have the option to skip a shipment.  

When you sign up for the Q, you choose a Q club membership level.  For an explanation of this, see here (scroll down to the bottom of the page).  If you don't want to pay fees, you can have the bronze membership for free.  However, to take advantage of all the perks available, you should sign up for the platinum membership.  Normally this is $79.99 with an annual fee of $19.99, but I can get you the Platinum Membership for FREE (no annual fees either) if you order through me and set your Q at a minimum monthly budget of $100.  Or, if two people from a party join the Q they both get the Platinum Membership for free.  

If you are interested in signing up for the Q or would just like to know more, just email me at mythrivehive@gmail.com.