[OK] Nov 2011 - Vol 8, No 11

"If you can see something in your mind, learn, practice and innovate from there.  The success will follow." - Bill Copeland, Glacier Confections


TULSA, Okla. - It’s funny how indifferent we have become where food is concerned. We make a mad dash through a drive-thru window then drive down the street, cramming food from a bag into our mouths while we do any multitude of tasks while not tasting a single bite. We don’t like the food, we don’t taste the food, yet we eat it without thought or care. Sometimes we reminisce about the good ol’ days when the family would get in the car on Sunday afternoon and go to a local restaurant, the waitress would recommend the specials and she would tell you about their specialty dish. We are in such a rush to get to the next thing on our calendar, iPhone or Palm Pilot, we treat food as if it one more thing to ‘get done on the to-do’ list. Many kids think that all candy comes in a bag, wrapped in plastic, almost tasteless, except for the sugar buzz and subsequent headache. We’ve really lost touch with the special-ness of chocolate; the uniqueness of savoring the individual flavors that burst forth from the filling of a piece of handmade candy that has been carefully created then surrounded by a fluted paper cup holding in all that chocolaty goodness. When it enters your mouth, you savor for a moment, but without fail, you take a bite, then the explosion of the center fills your mouth, paying a perfect complement to the chocolate, providing your taste buds with a whole new flavor you never thought existed. The best part is the aftermath. You finish the chocolate, yet you are not disappointed that it’s gone; instead you have an aftertaste that leaves you with a warm inner glow. The endorphins kick in, and you are left with a bit of a high that stays with you for hours, it’s like Grandma’s hugs, warm blankets, your favorite pajamas, newborn puppies (or kittens) and a lover’s kiss all at once. If you’re wondering what the point of this rant is, stay with me, I’m making a point.
    There is a place right nearby that offers that experience that we all thought was long gone and I am honored to have been given the distinct opportunity to tell you about it. Before you read on, be assured that if you try the chocolate at Glacier Confections once, the subsequent trips will always be worth it. Here’s where we introduce Bill Copeland, the man of a million talents who started Glacier Confections after threatening his wife with his venture after the last of his three daughters started college. He made good on the threat, and we are all the better for it. His confections are like nothing you’ve ever had and you have been given a secret that could save the future of mankind if Bill would send his works of chocolate art around the world. We would all know world peace, there would be singing and dancing in the streets and Bill would be voted as Benevolent Ruler of All. Yup, it’s that fantastic.
    Now we move into what makes Bill Copeland the consummate entrepreneur. Bill’s excitement for chocolate is contagious. He’s so passionate about each and every piece of chocolate he creates, you find yourself feeling his passion (it could also be the phenomenal high you get after a few pieces of his chocolate, but either way you win). His shop is an excursion into a special time, where the customer is king, you feel like you are the only customer and your wants are met eagerly and all of your questions are answered with honesty and respect. Visiting Glacier makes it hard to go back to the real world where your purchases are thrown in the bag and the cashier doesn’t even remember to say “thank you,” but keep in mind that you can go back to Glacier and feel it any time you need it and you’ll be okay.
    So, how did all of this begin? Well, the lesson is long, so we’ll give you the Cliff’s Notes. Bill started out working for Eastman Kodak in California in the late ‘70s and after many years of horizontal moves within the company, he decided to venture out on his own and start a digital imaging company in California to service the motion picture industry. Successful in two start-up that were eventually sold, Bill wanted to leave the hectic California lifestyle behind, so he moved to Tulsa, which is good news for us, because we now have the world’s most incredible chocolate right in our own backyard. He left Kodak in the 1990s and started his adventures in entrepreneurship in the digital photography world where he was a key player in the early days of digital processing, but chocolate-making was evolving into a passion. His wife, Cynthia Calvert-Copeland was working in the packaging industry and the marriage of chocolate and unique packaging was born. Cynthia’s packaging business has a global presence and for anyone who has bought a heart-shaped box of Hershey’s for Valentine’s Day, you are familiar with her company’s work. The packaging company adds a special something to Glacier Chocolate; they have everything from leather-bound boxes with slide-out drawers to engraved wedding boxes, wine bottle shapes to bunnies and, of course, hearts in every size and color you could think of. The boxes are works of art all unto themselves, but Bill’s chocolate makes them all the more special. Get a box of Glacier chocolates in a specialty box and you’ll know the giver thinks very highly of you.
    Talking to Bill, I learned more than entrepreneurial lessons. What sets Bill apart from many business owners is his recognition of the importance of doing what you know (thereby leaving things you don’t know to others who do) and having a passion for your product and those who seek it out. “It’s all about offering something to the community and giving people a great experience. We give a little bag of candy to kids who come in with their parents because it’s important to make everyone feel special.” says Bill. He also says that if you have a passion for what you do, the rest will fall into place. “If you can see something in your mind, learn, practice and innovate from there. The success will follow.”
    Similarly, if you are all about the money, being an entrepreneur is not for you. The hours are long, the work never ends and if you are missing the passion to keep it going forward, you will not arrive at the destination you envisioned for yourself. “I started out working 12-plus hour days. Every day. If I worked those same hours without passion, I would not have succeeded.” Keep that in mind.
    As for what Bill thinks is important for becoming a successful entrepreneur, his thoughts are not just applicable to entrepreneurship, they are also valuable life lessons. First, find your passion; be sure you love it with your heart and soul. Second, understand that a business doesn’t fail because it’s bad; it fails because of poor money management (pay your bills and pay them on-time). Your suppliers are your lifeline, so never forget that fact and keep them happy. Third (and it’s a multi-parter), take ownership of what you do, lose any and all entitlement attitudes you might have (nobody owes you anything and once you make your peace with that, you will be able to move forward), give others (customers, staff, suppliers) a reason to believe and always keep your quality and expectations high.
    We felt that a good fourth rule is to always have a box of Glacier Confections by your side while starting your business. That’s our plan at least.
    You can find Glacier Confections in the Brady District at 15 E. Brady Street (across from Caz’s Chowhouse), by phone at (918) 938-6368 or via the Web at www.glacierconfection.com. You can find Bill’s wife’s (Cynthia) business on the Web at www.aspecialtybox.com, www.pi-pkg.com  or by phone at (918) 461-0609. If you pay a visit to Bill’s shop, his more-than-capable staff is ready to help you pick out just the right chocolate for your needs. Ask Bill’s staff, Mackenzie Ward or Davis Light, to give you a hand as Bill has shared with them everything he knows in order for you to have the best chocolate-selection experience. But, most of all slow down and enjoy what is sure to be a memorable visit. You deserve it.
    Writer’s side-note: We at The Current want to thank Bill for the WONDERFUL bag of goodies he sent to the office. It’s been a happy couple of days all because of Glacier chocolates. You have made us all fans and we can’t wait to come back and restock. Thank you, thank you, thank you!