The Tram Jam Evolution
Various Tram Jam Selections
PHOTO CREDIT: Lindley Rust
Local businesses always strike a chord. Jackson, Wyoming-based Tram Jam — makers of small batched traditional jams — is certainly hitting the mark in achieving a kind of success that fosters community. In today’s saturated society of macro distribution, harkening back to a handcrafted approach is exactly what consumers are craving, and well, quite frankly, demanding.
Crafted out of her kitchen, Head Jammer and founder, Lisa Roarke kicked things off on December 3rd, 2020. She wanted to share her family’s recipes of traditional jarred jams while simultaneously yearning to donate some of the earnings to beloved nonprofit, Coombs Outdoors. Roarke details, “I had no business plan. Nothing. I just said, ‘I’m going to post this on my personal Instagram page and see what happens.’ Zero vision, yet here we are!” The brand’s traditional jammed jar flavors consist of — The OG, Huck-it Berry and Aprés is My Jam — along with a handful of limited-edition offerings like Jampagne. Suffice it to say, these selections quite often sell out.
As a passionate local, Roarke has fully immersed herself into the Teton lifestyle; having called Jackson home now for almost a decade. The New England native is also recently engaged to fellow Jackson local, Taylor Felton. The former professional skier and arborist, now co-owns his own company called ArborWorks Tree Service. The reason for sharing such acute details about Roarke and her personal life is that it showcases a true sense of authenticity and passion for Jackson. She’s an optimistic, positive, get down to business, walk-the-walk kind of woman that Sidereal Haus is ecstatic to partner with for the Spring and Summer of 2021 — where each guest of the property receives a complimentary jar of Tram Jam upon arrival. Sidereal Haus founder and creative director, Jessica Kaplan had a chance to chat with Roarke to hear about the advent of Tram Jam and what makes it all so special:
Where did the idea to start Tram Jam officially come from?
“I honestly don’t even know where the original recipe came from. Though, my mother and my aunt were always making it; as it was passed down through the years. Right around the beginning of December every year, we’d all make jams to give out to friends, family, teachers and Secret Santa gifts. It was our tradition. I kept the tradition alive once I moved to Jackson.”
“This past season when I was making it, I started to think about all of the different companies that have blossomed over the past year since Covid started; many were donating proceeds to various nonprofits and health care workers. I thought perhaps I could do something similar with the jams and donate to Coombs Outdoors — the foundation that Doug Coombs’ family set up after he passed away. I know that I find clarity and peace in the outdoors and to be able to give back to help kids in our community — who do not have access to it — was very meaningful to me.”
What were some of your first steps from concept to completion?
“Before I went to sleep one night, I put one jar on Instagram and said, DM if you want any for Christmas. It was $8 a jar, local delivery and pick-up. Let’s see what happens. Woke up the next morning and had 30 DM’s on my personal Instagram account asking for 4 plus jars each! More and more orders were coming in, can I get a dozen? Can I pick them up today? I quickly realized this became ‘a thing’ and began finding myself constantly making jars, along with figuring out how to package them in a unique way.”
“While I was on my way to ski one morning, I realized I needed to name it and came up with Tram Jam. It was such trial and error in creating the logo and branding. I was trying to figure out how to get more efficient with the business because I was essentially juggling two full time jobs.”
“I also started to get orders from Ski Patrollers all over the country who knew Doug or knew of him and that’s how the entire shipping component came to fruition.”
Tram Jam Founder Lisa Roarke
PHOTO CREDIT: Lindley Rust
Tram Jam to me represents the epitome of a successful small business? How does it feel to have so much traction and local support right out of the gate?
“It feels fucking awesome! And you can quote me saying that too! I wish I could say it was a dream come true, but perhaps a subconscious dream come true. It all happened so organically and so fast in a really cool way. The amount of support, especially from the Jackson community, made me so proud to be a part of this community in Wyoming. I have so many friends here who are small business owners who started from the ground up.”
Various Size Offerings
PHOTO CREDIT: Lindley Rust
What’s the vibe like to own a small business in Jackson, Wyoming?
“I feel like I’m in a special club to be honest. Everyone is so supportive of each other. It’s not competitive. People are open and want to help you. I was trying figure out my tagging among other tasks at hand, so I reached out to Grace Peck at Roam Mercantile & Makery and she helped me.”
“I have a pretty heavy retail background from running MADE and Mountain Dandy for seven years and was the manager of both stores. Having that background was invaluable and how most importantly having a business also reflects the factor that they are people too! They may have just had a baby or are engaged or bought a house. You have your whole life behind the business name.”
Tram Jam is personally handcrafted by you. Tell me about your organic cooking style?
“The nuts and bolts come from making a small batch in my kitchen. Growing up we made it from the original recipe which only produced eight jars. I’ve since had to multiply that recipe of course. It’s made with a ton of sugar which all cooks down, strawberries, cranberries — which are very seasonal — and various other ingredients. I’m not a restaurant, I don’t have wholesale accounts to purchase provisions. It’s just me, going to the grocery store and picking up the ingredients. Getting the 25 pound sugar bag and the biggest cinnamon container I can find. Then going to stores trying to find mason jars, which I found out that during a pandemic since everyone is making things at home, I would have to go to different towns — and on one particular road trip to California, I picked up as many jars as I could at various stops along the way. Jackson was competently sold out.
Tram Jam Founder Lisa Roarke
PHOTO CREDIT: Lindley Rust
What are the official offerings of Tram Jam?
“There is The OG, which is made with fresh strawberries and cranberries. Then the Huck-it Berry, which is Idaho huckleberries which also has some blackberries and lemon juice. The Après is My Jam has jalapeno peppers, a little bit of pineapple, orange and strawberries with a tad of Triple Sec, making it smell like spicy margaritas. Those are the original three flavors, but I have a limited-edition flavor called the Jampagne, which has champagne in it, and evokes a kind of ‘sparkling jam’ if you will. Then I have another limited editor flavor called The Teawinot where I actually worked with the owner, Rebecca Sgouros, who owns Teton Teas; we collaborated to create a tea-infused jam. Overall, I have three flavors at all times with a few limited-edition flavors here and there!
What is does sustainability mean to you along with how you incorporate those ethos into Tram Jam?
“I’m doing Tram Jam by myself; it’s not mass produced. Using locally sourced food products, whether that’s huckleberries or strawberries, which is super important to me because it keeps it local and keeps it here in this valley of Jackson. I’m able to support those produce farmers by economically keeping it local. Also, keeping everything from A to Z sourced within the United States. From boxes to the mason jars and fabrics, every product I use is created in the United States. It’s really important to me!”
What do you like about this new partnership with Sidereal Haus?!
“First of all, I’m so excited! I love that we’re two badass female business owners! We also started from grassroots and figured things out on the fly. Meeting with new people along the way, networking and gathering knowledge. I love that Sidereal Haus is focused on partnering with sustainable, mostly female run, businesses — which is the coolest thing. It’s so rad to have another business that is thriving and successful that’s run by a woman. It’s really important to me. You rock, Jessica! (Thanks, Lisa!)
What do you hope each Sidereal Haus guest will feel after leaving with their own jar of Tram Jam?
“This sound so cheesy, but they get to take Jackson Hole home in a jar! It’s true! It’s made literally down the road from Sidereal Haus — minutes away — it’s as local as you can get. Especially the location again with the huckleberries being sourced in Idaho over Teton Pass. It’s close to home.
Where is Tram Jam currently being sold?
“Locally, it’s being sold at MADE right here in town in Jackson, Wyoming. Online of course on our website and then complimentary at Sidereal Haus. Book a stay!
What’s next in store for Tram Jam?
“I would love for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to sell it next winter. It would be amazing if that could happen. I would also love to have private label relationships with other US ski and snowboard resorts across the country — and hopefully European resorts one day too!
L to R: Tram Jam Founder Lisa Roarke and Sidereal Haus Founder & Creative Director, Jessica Kaplan
PHOTO CREDIT: Lindley Rust