Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Addy Buigas-Lopez, founder of Board & Boujee, located in Orlando, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Board & Boujee is an Orlando-based, woman-owned charcuterie board and grazing table catering company. We specialize in creating beautiful & delicious spreads that can be customized to any diet or theme. We have individual boards ranging in sizes from 2 - 10 people and catering services for parties of 50 or more. Right now, we are servicing Orange and Lake County but can make arrangements out of those areas on a case-by-case basis. So far, our services have been used for parties, weddings, baby showers, business and club meetings, museum openings, teacher appreciation, holiday gatherings, and more!

Tell us about yourself

I started out making charcuterie boards for fun with friends and family. A few of my friends suggested I look into doing this as a business, and I brought it up with my family (now team!). My mom, sister, and aunt helped bring this idea to life and made this all possible. Aside from making charcuterie boards, I’m also a 6th-grade teacher at Lake Nona Middle School.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We just had our first anniversary as a business, and that was a huge accomplishment! We are so grateful to get to share our love of grazing with our community. Besides that, being trusted to cater to a wedding’s cocktail hour has been a huge milestone for us.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The most difficult part is just starting up. It took me a while to figure out things like appropriate pricing, packaging materials, sustainability, and (most difficult) social media management.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start with a small group of people you trust! It has made a world of difference to be able to bounce ideas off others, have helping hands, and celebrate successes with a team.
  2. Create social media handles and business cards with those handles as soon as you have a name and branding. The quicker you can put yourself out there; the quicker business can begin.
  3. Make the effort to take nice pictures of your product. Sharper images in good lighting with non-distracting backgrounds can take a social media page from looking amateur to professional.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I just want to thank the people in my circle for making all this a reality. I hope to make them proud! If you’re looking to start a business doing something you love, it’s worth a shot. “Work” is a lot less like work when you love what you do.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://boardandboujee.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boardandboujee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boardandboujee/

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.