A Delightful Twist - Chandler Honey
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tique Chandler, founder of Chandler Honey, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My name is Tique Chandler, and I was raised on a bee farm on the Canadian prairies and had been keeping bees since I was a teenager! Inspired by the magical properties of raw honey, I set out to create a line of infused honey that brings the magic back into honey - which is typically marketed as a 'boring pantry item.'
I take raw honey from my parents' farm, gently cream it, and add premium ingredients like lemon zest or vanilla beans to make honey as you've never seen before. My unique flavours like Crème Brûlée, Piña Colada, Mocha, Lemon & Ginger, and more have people from all across Canada falling in love with honey again.
Tell us about yourself
It's always been a dream of mine to own my own business, and creating a product with my own family story has been beyond wonderful. I am motivated each day by my customers, who are constantly tagging me in photos on Instagram and staying up to date with every product launch. Every time I pack an order for my customers, I think of the smile that will eventually be on the face of the recipient - and that keeps me motivated to grow and bring a bit more sweetness into more people's lives.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was fulfilling a huge order early on that was (truthfully) way out of scope for my small business. I filled jars for weeks, and I had fifteen of my friends join me in the production space one evening just to label jars for five hours as the deadline approached. It was so large; I had to rent a UHaul just to go deliver it!
I'm proud of myself for saying 'yes' to the order and acting as if it was typical for me, even though I had never done anything close to that large. I'm also grateful to have such an amazing support system of friends around me. No entrepreneur goes at it alone!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the most challenging parts of being a business owner, particularly a solopreneur like me, is to wear so many different hats. I'm a product manager, graphic designer, order fulfiller, Instagram Reels star, accountant, salesperson, delivery driver, inventory manager, and human all at the same time. It's exhausting, but honestly, I learn so many things every day because of it!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a product you're absolutely obsessed with.
- Treat your customers like gold.
- Do the scary thing (whether that's launching a website, placing a cold call to your ideal customer, or fighting a legal battle when you've been wronged). The scariest things are often the most worth doing.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'd be honoured if you followed along on my journey on Instagram @chandler.honey. I share plenty of behind-the-scenes videos on my stories that show what it's really like to be a small business owner. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://chandlerhoney.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandlerhoneycanada/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chandler.honey/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiquechandler/
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.