Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katie Tracy, owner of Bird + Bee Goods, located in Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Bird + Bee Goods is a one-woman business with the intention of creating products that bring feelings of comfort and familiarity. I started B+B Goods on a whim during the pandemic to share my love of cooking, baking, and creating with others beyond my close friends and family.
Tell us about yourself
The last few years of my life, I’ve done a lot of new things: I started playing hockey, went back to school, and navigated a global pandemic. One thing that I could lean on during all of this was my creativity and aptitude in the kitchen. Making and sharing the food I’ve made or giving people I love a handmade gift makes me feel whole. With B+B Goods, I can share this experience with customers, loved ones I might not have met yet. The people who support my business mean so much to me. To be a part of the gift-giving process, sharing goods that I made with my own time, skills, and care, is so rewarding, especially in a time where a little kindness and care go a long way for people.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
When I started B+B Goods in the summer of 2021, I made a list of business goals for the rest of the year and into 2022. I remember having “make one sale” pretty low on the list. In my mind, I made so many obstacles for myself just to make a sale. You must take obvious steps before making a sale, such as setting up a platform for sale and creating the product…but I remember being so scared of failure that I was obsessive for weeks doing “prep” to feel ready to sell. Long story short - you’re probably ready sooner than you think you are. Moving past that mental roadblock was such a big accomplishment for me personally, as well as my business.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is coming to terms with the fact that there are some people who will never be your customer. As a people please, I struggle with over-charging or under-charging, not wanting to offer what an individual wants, or not being able to offer what similar businesses offer. A local flower farmer shared some advice that I have to remind myself frequently: Don’t alter your vision or plans because of one or two customers. The customers you want are the people who realize your value and want to support what you are passionate about creating.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do some research - but don’t get lost in it. If you find yourself using it as an excuse to avoid doing what scares you, you’re ready to do that thing.
- There are TONS of free resources that you can utilize when getting your business started - a couple I love: Canva and Avery Label Templates.
- The customers you want are the customers who value you, your product, and your time.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.birdandbeegoods.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birdandbeegoods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_bird_and_bee_/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.