Edmonton Micro Bakery - Bonne Vie Bakery

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Larry Harris, owner of Bonne Vie Bakery, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

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

Bonne Vie Bakery is a micro-bakery that creates artisan sourdough breads using locally grown organic grains, along with a variety of other baking. We started in the fall of 2020 operating from our home, and our community embraced what we were creating, with us selling out of our weekly bakes in hours! Since we started our micro-bakery, our customers keep coming back, with many becoming friends, with many new customers every week!

Tell us about yourself

I have been baking and cooking for almost my whole life. I have a particular passion for baking that originates from my honeymoon in Paris. There are a few things that happened that prompted the starting of Bonne Vie Bakery. First, like many people in 2020 during the pandemic, I was laid off with job prospects at the time few and far between. Second, I was selected to be a contestant on The Great Canadian Baking Show (Season 4), which was filmed in the fall of 2020. After filming was done, the job prospects were still slim, so I decided to bake a few loaves and see if anyone was interested, and they were! Passion and seeing the joy our customers have when they get their weekly baking!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Right now, my biggest accomplishment is actually taking the risk and starting Bonne Vie Bakery. It was always a dream to do something like this, but actually doing it seemed unattainable.

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

Determining the best way to grow and move forward. There are many options, all with their pros and cons, but you have to pick and go for it.

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

If you are looking to start a business, you can test the market to see if there is demand for the product or service you are offering. This can be done on a small scale, usually with minimum risk. Second, find some peers that have been in your position that you can talk to about challenges or just how things are going - a network of advisors. Finally, most importantly, don't forget about your family. They will be your greatest champions to help you move forward, especially if things are challenging, and will help you celebrate your wins!

Where can people find you and your business?

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

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/bonneviebc
https://twitter.com/harrislarryd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrydharris/

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.