How Sarah Realized Her Dream with Jackery

From Breakdown to Breakthrough

Sarah Deller stood in the middle of a bustling festival field, sweat beading on her forehead as her gas generator coughed and sputtered to a halt. The oil light blinked accusingly, and panic set in. Pies were cooling in the oven, customers lined up for milkshakes, and her food truck—Seasonal Sarah's—threatened to grind to a standstill. "I was getting really nervous," she recalls, her voice still carrying the edge of that near-crisis. It was early in her second year of business, a solo venture born from a love of baking and a need for financial stability. Without a backup, she might have packed up early, losing sales and momentum. But tucked away was her new Jackery solar generator, a quiet savior that flipped the switch from disaster to determination.

Sarah, an entrepreneur from upstate New York, never imagined her pie-making hobby would evolve into a full-fledged mobile business. She started entering local cooking contests, where her mini pies—flaky, fruit-filled delights—earned raves and requests. "People would ask me for my pie all the time," she says with a chuckle. Facing bills and seeking control over her livelihood, she launched Seasonal Sarah's two years ago, specializing in seasonal mini pies that capture the essence of farm-fresh flavors. It was a leap of faith, mostly solo, blending her passion for baking with the grit of entrepreneurship. Yet, the realities of food trucking hit hard: remote locations, no power outlets, and the sheer physical demands of setup.

The Weight of Starting Out

Those early days were marked by struggle, particularly with power. Festivals unfolded in open fields or parking lots, far from electrical hookups. Sarah's initial solution—a heavy gas generator—became a literal burden. "I couldn't lift it myself which always made me have to depend on other people to help me," she explains, describing the awkward ramps and constant need for support. Fumes clashed with food safety, and the noise? A deterrent for events. "Even the inverter ones are still pretty loud," she notes. Hiring her for gigs sometimes hinged on that racket; organizers balked at the disruption.

Worse were the breakdowns, like that festival fiasco where the generator failed mid-service. "We had something wrong with the oil, and it shut down," Sarah recounts. In the chaos, she turned to her Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro, initially bought as a supplement on a friend's recommendation. Plugged in, it powered through—oven, fridge, milkshake machine—all without a hitch. "It pretty much saved us from having a crisis and having to leave the event," she says. That moment shifted everything; what started as a backup became her first resort. "After that, I realized, well, I should be using this first, not as a backup only."

Discovering a Silent Partner

The recommendation came from her electrician friend when Sarah vented about her generator issues. "He suggested Jackery," she says. Intrigued, she researched alternatives but gravitated to it for its fit. Starting small with the 3000 Pro, she tested it for charging essentials like her phone and credit card reader. Impressed by its portability—no heavy lifting, no gasoline spills—she upgraded to the 5000 Plus about a year ago. "I liked the Jackery products the best," she affirms. "It would fit the needs of my company."

Now, the Jackery integrates seamlessly into her workflow. Wheeled into place under her trailer's table, it plugs directly into the electrical system, powering a full suite of appliances: the oven for baking pies, microwave for quick heats, freezer and fridge to keep ingredients fresh, even a sauce warmer for hot fudge. "I have a milkshake machine, coffee maker, hot water heater for the sink, fan running all the time because it gets very hot in the truck," she lists, painting a picture of a compact, efficient kitchen on wheels. Solar panels unfold like portable suns, recharging during events. "You just open them up and plug them in," she says, appreciating the simplicity for someone "not very technical."

This ease extends to transportation. Previously limited to an hour's radius to avoid warming her fridge, Sarah now eyes farther horizons. "If I had maybe a second one, I could power it on the ride to and from so everything would stay cold," she says. At weekly spots like Sweet Valley Farm Stand—Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.—it lasts the full shift, often ending at 30-40% charge without heavy oven use. "I'm able to do that because of Jackery," she emphasizes. "It allowed me to operate all by myself."

Independence on Wheels

Beyond mechanics, the Jackery embodies emotional liberation. Sarah's story is one of reclaiming action in a demanding field. "It's so important for me to be able to run my business by myself," she says earnestly. No longer dependent on my partner for heavy lifting or troubleshooting, she thrives solo. "It just really gives me that independence and ability to do that. I'm really thankful."

Sustainability adds another layer of meaning. As a gardener who composts baking scraps, Sarah values renewable practices. "I'm passionate about the environment and finding renewable energy sources," she states. The Jackery aligns perfectly—quiet operation draws compliments from customers, who marvel at the absence of a loud generator. "People comment that it's nice and quiet, and then I show them everything," she shares. It saves on electric bills too, especially with my solar panels to charge in the sun charging in rising costs. "By charging it with that, it saves me money and it's just really great for the environment."

Memorable events highlight the joy of having the Jackery with her. At the Garlic Festival, she themed pies with garlic twists, the Jackery ensuring uninterrupted power amid crowds. A recent town fair with fireworks capped a successful day, her setup humming efficiently. But it's the everyday reliability that resonates: no fumes near food, no noise complaints, just steady energy. "It's my source of power. It's there for me," she describes it as a "team member." In three words: "quiet, conservative, and easy to use."

A Powered Path Forward

Sarah recommends Jackery to fellow truckers, highlighting its approachability for mobile businesses. "It's very easy to use... it tells you what percentage you have left and how many watts you're using."

As she preps for another Wednesday at the farm stand, trays of mini pies cooling under the fan, Sarah reflects on her growth together with Jackery. From generator struggles to solar empowerment, the Jackery hasn't just powered her truck—it's fueled her dream. In a business of variables, it's the constant that lets her roll forward, independent and inspired. "If I didn't have it, I probably wouldn't be doing what I'm doing," she admits. For Sarah, it's more than a device; it's the key to a sweeter, self-reliant life.