Former Refugee Is Cambodia's New 'Burger King'

(Photo: Paul and Julia Van Der Werf)

July 4, 2012
by Michael Sullivan
All Things Considered
National Public Radio (USA)

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There is perhaps nothing more American than flipping burgers on the Fourth of July — even if the burgers are being flipped in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A Cambodian-American who fled the Killing Fields of his country more than 30 years ago has returned and opened his own Burger House.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

It doesn't get much more American than flipping burgers on the 4th of July. And Cambodian American Chen Diem(ph), who prefers his nickname Mike, has been flipping his at Mike's Burger House. That's in Phnom Phen, Cambodia. Mike fled the killing fields of his country more than 30 years ago at age 19. He's one of a small number of Cambodians who've elected to return and start over again.

As Michael Sullivan reports from Phnom Penh, his business is thriving.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Hello, can I help you?

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Three Classics.

Healthier fare fills Full Belly

11/18/2009
By Sandra Diamond Fox
Correspondent
Connecticut Post (USA)

Back in July, when a customer called Savuth In to congratulate him, he had no idea what the customer was talking about.

In soon learned that his deli -- The Full Belly Deli on Padanaram Road in Danbury -- had been selected as "best deli" in The News-Times 2009 Readers' Choice Awards.

"I hadn't even known there was a contest," said In, 31, of Danbury.

More than 500 readers participated in the first-ever Readers' Choice Awards, casting more than 20,000 votes in 145 categories.

One reason In said he believes customers are attracted to his deli is because it offers healthier fare.

"We don't serve fried foods like hot dogs, burgers or fries," he said.

The Full Belly Deli, which seats five, serves breakfast and lunch. The menu contains about 25 sandwiches -- including a chicken club, meatball wedge, reuben and turkey melt -- that cost about $6 each.

Customers also can create sandwiches, using any combination of meat, bread, vegetables or condiments they choose.

The deli carries 15 kinds of house and deli salads including spinach, tortellini, peppercorn chicken and pasta, and chef, which range from $1 to $7. Chicken soup and chili also are sold. Recently, the deli purchased a panini press, which serves hot and grilled sandwiches.

According to In, 60 to 75 customers frequent the deli each day, traveling from as far as Southbury and New Canaan. "We have one customer who, whenever she's in the area, orders five or six grilled chicken pesto sandwiches to take home with her to upstate Pennsylvania," he said.

"Everything always tastes fresh. It's food that's good for you," said Danbury resident Helena Abrantes, who orders lunch at the deli three times a week.

One of her favorite dishes is the grilled chicken spinach salad with apples and grapes.

Last year, In opened another Full Belly Deli on Federal Road in Brookfield, which is managed by his sister Savoeun, 33.

In's long-term goal is to franchise the deli and open stores in Norwalk, Stamford and Waterbury.

The deli has been in In's family since 2002, and was owned by his parents -- Chhem In and Noun Phoung -- until 2006, when In took it over.

In's parents immigrated to the United States from Cambodia in the early 1980s, and worked for years as assemblers in Danbury factories.

In 2002, after they were laid off, they used their savings from their years in the factory to purchase the deli. "They came here with nothing and were able to achieve the American dream," In said.

The Full Belly Deli, at 56 Padanaram Road in Danbury, and at 265 Federal Road in Brookfield, is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Delivery and catering are available. Call 203-778-3354 in Danbury or 203-885-0255 in Brookfield, or visit www.thefullbellydeli.com.

Cambodian-American Entrepreneur captures celebrity buzz with Cambodian Jingle Bells anklets

Baby Emi Jewelry anklets

Debbie Savage at her wedding

Debbie Savage and her family

Trendy Mompreneur Captures Celebrity Buzz

Weekend Entrepreneur

Four moves, two babies and a personal illness didn’t deter this woman from pursuing her dream of being a successful mompreneur. So if she can do it, what’s stopping you?

When Debbie Savage combined her love, heritage, fashion and babies into a jewelry company, the unexpected happened. Her company, Baby Emi Jewelry, which she affectionately named after her oldest daughter, landed on the pages of InTouch Magazine and on the Celebrity Baby Blog. Why? Because her Cambodian Jingle Bells anklet was recently sighted on one of Hollywood’s cutest babies! Photographs featured Heaven Rain, daughter of Brooke Burke and David Charvet, wearing Baby Emi Cambodian Jingle Bells jewelry at her mommy’s baby shower in Beverly Hills. Other sightings include The View’s Celebrity “Bump” Bag, when the producers televised a baby shower for co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck and at the MTV Movie Awards Celebrity Gifting Suite.

Savage has generously shared how she kept going when the going got tough, the turning point for her business and the people and values that inspired her to get started. And although Savage’s tagline is, “Glamour for pint-sized people,” she’s not just another pretty face on the fashion scene. Savage is on a mission to help others by giving back to organizations that help children in need. Words she lives by: ” ‘Pay it forward baby!’ That is our motto here at Baby Emi Jewelry because we sincerely believe that giving back is the best reward in life.”

When did you start your business and what inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

Savage: Baby Emi was started well before its online storefront graced the web. It took a few years to create the business and, finally, when the timing was just right, Baby Emi launched in April of 2006. My passion to become an entrepreneur was instilled by my mother. She nurtured an ability and confidence to grasp the impossible and do all in your power to make it happen. My source of inspiration was the birth of my daughter Emi and our rich Cambodian tradition of baby jewelry gifting.

What tips can you give others who want to embrace their dream but don’t feel they have the confidence to move forward?

Savage: You will never “fail” if you try. I do not feel like I have lost when I have given an opportunity a chance. My belief is that if you are scared about doing something, you must do it. To gain confidence and experience you must go through the experience. And allow the stress, mistakes and disappointments in running a business benefit you by providing wisdom and a clear vision of what you are and what you represent. It is overcoming these bumps in the road that empower us to feel confident in making better choices.

What gives you the edge over your competitors?

Savage: Our flagship product is our Cambodian Jingle Bells jewelry. My daughter was given her first set of Jingle Bells anklets at her Cambodian baby blessings. The fact that my family is from Cambodia and I am selling a product that honors a tradition of ours that has been passed down by the generations tells an amazing story that provides Baby Emi a depth and familial connection that sets us apart.

Tell us about your product and what it was like to take an idea from concept to getting it up and running?

Savage: I am a jewelry designer. The concept of Baby Emi in its infancy stages was created in 2002. It took three solid years before my online boutique launched in April 2006. During that time I was researching the craft, jewelry designs, business logistics and competitors. Also, I was making jewelry prototypes and building the site. It was a lot of work between getting pregnant twice and giving birth, going through four moves and personal illness.

Was there a turning point for you when you knew you could succeed with your business idea?

Savage: It was not until I had a breakthrough conversation with one of my dropship account owners. Not only is she a dear friend but also a profound business mentor. I was feeling discouraged and wanted to see Baby Emi grow in leaps and bounds. A suggestion that she made was to find a way to make my business different from my competitors. I realized that I started this business because of my culture’s tradition to gift babies with jewelry. It was then I realized I must sell Cambodian baby jewelry. And since we added our Cambodian Jingle Bells anklets and saw the success of it through press and celebrity gifting, we knew we were on to a business concept that had depth and longevity.

Have you noticed certain advantages to being an entrepreneur versus having a day job?

Savage: At my past day job I often found myself thinking about my family. The things I wanted to do with my family. And as an entrepreneur, I am “home” with my family, and it is wonderful!

How long did it take before your business became profitable?

Savage: Baby Emi will be 2 years old at the end of April. So we are very new. It is my third baby. I have not financed my company. In the beginning we were paying for it personally. And now the business is running on its own. Every “profit” that we do see gets put right back into building the business. However, it wasn’t until a year and a half [after] its launch that I felt happy with the sales it had been generating. All great things take time!

Were there any challenges that you experienced along the way that you had to overcome?

Savage: Oh, my goodness, have there been a lot of challenges–like finances, time, personal illness, etc. The only thing I could do while facing these obstacles is pray and keep moving forward, keeping my eye on the vision of my business.

Did you have a mentor?

Savage: Yes, I do have a mentor. Many actually that have helped me during certain points of my business. But my greatest mentor is the woman who reached out and asked if she could carry my jewelry, and that is Heather Ledeboer of Mom4Life.com.

What’s next?

Savage: This is the fun part! We are currently in the process of launching our Cambodian Jingle Bells anklet on a national wholesale level. This has been a very exciting and stress-inducing project. We are working with international manufacturers, domestic gift box manufacturing companies, web designs, print designers and business colleagues to get this baby ready. My ultimate goal is to have our Cambodian jewelry sold in every trendy baby boutique across the U.S. and in high-end retail shops like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. I also have a dream to be on “Oprah!” I find her to be amazing and uplifting. I would love to share my story of Baby Emi on her show one day. To just sit next to her would be a dream come true.

Debbie’s jewelry is beautiful. In fact, when I first saw her website, I couldn’t wait to order something for my 3-year-old niece, McKaina. It also occurred to me that I would like to write about how you can get your product in gift bags. So check back to find out more.

Oh, before I forget, my favorite section of the website is Giving, and that is where you can see how Baby Emi is giving back to other organizations. And for more info about Debbie Savage check out her blog: savagebunch.blogspot.com.

Sooooooo, it’s time for YOU to live the lifestyle of your dreams. Let me know your thoughts and what sort of ideas and resources you are looking for. I am here for you.

Peace,

Michelle Anton