Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tina Codinha, co-owner of Codinha Chocolate, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I have two businesses: Codinha Chocolate and Codinha Chocolate Mentorship, which I proudly run with my amazing husband, Bruno. We serve chocolates to chocolate lovers, mainly in Los Angeles, and mentor chocolatiers worldwide.
Tell us about yourself
Codinha Chocolate really was the culmination of years and years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and passion. I've been working with chocolate for 15 years now, and I only stopped working once I became a mom (in 2018). After a couple of years, I wanted to get back into the game, and I knew that it was time to do it big and do it how I always pictured it, and Codinha Chocolate was born. This business then grew and extended into the I Heart Chocolate Podcast and Codinha Chocolate Mentorship as I saw that not only my experience but my husband's as well is very valuable to newer chocolatiers or chocolatiers who are looking to really improve in their businesses. My motivation to do what I do each day really comes from a love for what I do. I wear many hats, but they all contribute overall to the main goal of making an impact and sharing this amazing chocolate journey.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Hmmm... I would still consider myself a work in progress and working towards much bigger things at the moment, but as of today, I would definitely say the impact that my husband and I have had working with other chocolatiers. We've been able to help others succeed in business and create a life for themselves that they love, and to see that, truly, has been pretty darn cool.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Entrepreneurship is definitely not easy. It's the mental, really. Because every day, you are being asked to step up and see what more you have to give. It's challenging to move forward when there are a number of things that could be out of your control, and having to constantly adjust and pivot and just do what you need to do. There's real grit and perseverance involved that sometimes, I think, gets forgotten because of glamorized social media. But if you're truly in it, then you know. Being a business owner in it itself is very challenging but oh-so rewarding when you pull it off.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you know why you're getting into the business. It will ground you and keep you going when times get hard.
- Have a plan. Don't go in hoping and wishing for the best, but do the work and really plan because it is a) not easy to start and sustain a business if you don't know what you're doing and b) you'll burn out too fast without one.
- There's never going to be a "perfect" time to start, BUT I do believe that you can prepare by again putting in the work. Learn more about what it takes to run your specific type of business, invest in a mentor or courses if necessary, and stay consistent with it. It takes time for businesses to take off and stabilize. Make sure you mentally understand that and can put in what's required for you to really grow.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://codinhachocolate.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/codinhachocolate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codinhachocolate/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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