STRIPPAGGIO ARTISAN OILS AND VINEGARS | WWW.STRIPPAGGIO.COM | ELLEN.SOFTNESS@GMAIL.COM | (770) 256-8235
About: Ellen has a BA in Economics from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance from Columbia University. She spent two years at Bear Stearns on Wall Street doing institutional government bond sales and trading. Following graduate school, she spent seven years at Chase Manhattan Investment Bank structuring and syndicating leveraged buyout deals, where she was promoted to vice president. In 1993, Ellen and her husband and children moved to Atlanta and bought 2 Gymboree Play and Music franchises. Over the next 28 years she grew the business to 7 locations, as well as developed commercial shopping centers with Gymboree as the anchor tenant. After selling the business in 2/21 and driving around the U.S. for a few months, Ellen bought Strippaggio Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars in 12/21. The business is strictly e-commerce with plans to transition from being a local company to going national. Vilaga Brands, as the holding company, will add other lines to its portfolio. Ellen enjoys taking a small company and growing it through branding, marketing, and outstanding customer service. She is loving learning about the EVOO olive oil world which she knew nothing about. Ellen also enjoys experimenting with different olive oils and vinegars at every meal now.
Specialties: Ellen specializes in taking a small company and growing it by attacking from every angle to boost revenue and maximize costs. She has experience in rebranding, pricing, promotions, plus email and social media marketing campaigns and data analysis. Ellen makes decisions and implements them quickly. She relishes change, and has often said to employees that the only thing that will stay the same is that there will always be change happening in her companies.
Quote: “The only thing that stays the same is change.” — Unknown
Connect: Contact Ellen at ellen.softness@gmail.com or at (770) 256-8235, or visit her website below!