IT’S NOLA

• Margaret Barrow, a tenured college professor, founded It’s Nola in 2018 after struggling to find healthy snacks during menopause

• Based in Brooklyn, the woman-owned company produces vegan, gluten-free granola bites made with ethically sourced ingredients

• The idea for the business came from Margaret’s home kitchen and was encouraged by her students, who believed in her vision

• It’s Nola has grown into a purpose-driven brand focused on online sales and corporate gifting, with mentorship and community impact at its core

CHALLENGES

• No clear financial tracking systems or cash flow insight

• Limited marketing structure and overreliance on low-ROI retail channels

• Lack of customer engagement or retention plan

• Unfamiliar with loan-readiness best practices

• Difficulty leveraging business data for decision-making

TAP SOLUTION

• Introduced tools to manage cash flow, plan loans, and support forecasting

• Shifted sales focus to corporate clients for stronger ROI and sustainable growth

• Developed repeat customer strategy using surveys and CRM planning

• Strengthened pricing, margin analysis, and wholesale scalability through data insights

IMPACT OF TAP:

• 15% increase in sales

• 20% growth in repeat customer base

• Shifted marketing to focus on high-return

• corporate gifting channels

• Created internal systems to support ongoing

• financial and marketing strategy

• Gained clarity and confidence in interpreting

• business data

"The biggest golden nugget TAP gave me was learning to use data. I now have a foundation to understand where my business is and where it’s going."

- Margaret Barrow