Poom ™

We look back with pride on a fantastic NRF trip! 🙌 Exactly a week ago, we gathered at Schiphol with a group of 35 retailers and 9 partners to head to the NRF in New York. At that time, we couldn't have known what amazing days awaited us! From the moment we met, we shared experiences, told stories, and gained a lot of retail inspiration. Everyone had something to take away, such as the new, small-scale bakery concept Poom ™, the guided store tour by Wegmans Food Markets, the humanization at Petco on Union Square, driving through Meatpacking in a Lucid Air, trying on glasses at Gentle Monster, Essentiel Antwerp explaining their launch in the US, gaining insights from store managers at Whole Foods Market, and a magical tour through the Harry Potter Store. The presentations by Hans Geels, Kitty Koelemeijer, and Linda Santing from Ikea US were also definitely highlights of our trip. They openly shared insights and challenges with us. Not to mention the enjoyable and special lunches and dinners we got to experience every day together. Once again, it was a memorable journey that wouldn't have been possible without our partners Hanshow, Capgemini, Adyen, Ingrid, HPE Aruba Networking, Slimstock, GK Software SE, Quinyx, and Keephub for providing the communication app. #NRF #Kegaretail

Poom is thrilled to share our interview with Columbia Eats Magazine! 🍴🌆 A thoughtfully crafted piece from Columbia University 's student-led gem, diving deep into the vibrant NYC food scene. Thank you for sharing our story with the students! e-magazine below: https://lnkd.in/dhidz-Qy

Starting Poom was all about getting to know the people living around us, one home baked loaf at a time. Even after eight years in this city, my neighbors were just faces in the hallway. Everyone said New Yorkers wouldn’t be keen on sharing food with strangers, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. It turned into something amazing – swapping breads, stories, odd pieces of furniture, parking spots, holding keys during holidays, and sharing prayer requests in desperate times. Today was supposed to be the grand opening day for Poom, but it just didn’t feel right kicking off without really connecting with the new neighbors here first and dedicate all of my hands and feet to say 'hi'. Huge shoutout to the bakers who came through to gift amazing baked goods this morning! ✨🎉✨ Hello @westfieldworldtradecenter 👋👋👋 We will open on Monday morning 12/18!

At the end of this spring, Poom found itself in a state of despair. Our investment money was dwindling, prompting us to suspend all of our salaries from February. The earnings from deliveries barely covered the taxes. I was seriously considering accepting a corporate job offer to dodge the growing debts. That's when a family friend, who's been working at a dry cleaners for over 30 years, handed over an envelope filled with a year's worth of her hard-earned savings. From 100-dollar bills to one-dollar bills, she diligently saved every extra penny. "Hang in there for six more months; then, you can quit," she encouraged. Then more friends discreetly contributed, sending funds to Venmo, delivering groceries regularly, even forgoing a child's birthday party to finance Poom's new laptop. Some canceled vacation plans to help cover the bills, and others acquired new skills to assist behind the scenes. Moreover, many of you generously paid for so many meals, shared bread, and facilitated incredible intros for Poom to grow. The most significant aid often came from those facing struggles of their own. The past 12 months have been a rollercoaster – from car accidents to money struggles and legal challenges – you name it. Yet, countless friends offered their resources, labor, and time to carry Poom, once again. And somehow, against all the odds, we've achieved all of our quarterly milestones this year. This isn't a fairy tale; it's a humbling journey that has taught me the true meaning of 'love in action'—experiencing the beauty of 'poom-ah-shi' (sharing resources, talent, and labor as a community in Korea) from ground up. Choosing to go all-in wasn't a surrender to pressure; it's recognizing the incredible humans who turned tough times into a story painted with the colors of gratitude. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving From Sylvia.

Good breads by AAPI community in NYC! "Poom is short for poom-ah-shi, a culture of sharing labor, talent, and resources with neighbors in Korea. AAPI led, handcrafted from the finest local bakers" 💛

Yay! 💛🙌✨

🏡 Behind East Village's vibrant facade lies a hidden reality—neighbors facing hunger where community fridges empty quickly. 💡During COVID, a note reached the POOM community: "Do you have any leftover baked goods? I have money to buy meals for my children but never enough for desserts..." The response? An outpouring of freshly baked, high-quality treats, delivered with love, igniting a "bake and share" movement that we now call POOM. 🙌 This Fall, we've teamed up with talented local bakers to make this flame of generosity burn brighter and more sustainable -- comitting to restock community fridges with quality baked goods every month. Here's a snapshot of the community's latest contribution: 🍪🍩🍰🧁🍞👨🍳 - Apple Crumb Cake - Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies - Pumpkin raisin Cookies - Chocolate Chip Cookies - Lemon Pound Cake - Cherry Pie - Madelines - Lemon Cookies - Whole Wheat Sourdough - Matcha Muffins - Blueberry Muffins - Apple Cider Donuts - Coffee Cake - Mooncakes #letspoom #poom Share Bread and Live Neighborly ✨ One Loaf at a Time 🍞 #foodinsecurity #neighborsfeedingneighbors #loveinaction