Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Broder and Rachel Trimmings, Owners of Cosmic Sweets Dessert Emporium LLC., located in El Mirage, AZ, USA.

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

We are a two-person operating home-based bakery. We offer a wide variety of cookies, brownies, marshmallow bars, and various chocolate-dipped sweets, fudge, truffles, and whatever just seems fun to add to our ever-growing menu. Our customers find us at local events and farmers markets. We also have our products sold at 2 Share a Unique Boutique in downtown Glendale, as well as in a vending machine at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Customers also find us online, where orders can be placed for pick up or delivery (within 35 miles of El Mirage).

Tell us about yourself

We first met each other at a wedding, the cliché yet undeniable 'cosmic love' as we would both always say of our chance meeting and the universal pull we had towards each other, and we have been unstoppable since!

We would bake for fun during Covid times for our family, friends, and coworkers. After some in-depth conversations, we decided to take the risk and gamble on ourselves by launching our business. We have high expectations of ourselves and the quality of the products we put out there. Our service, products, and everything we do is a reflection upon us, and that pushes us to continually perfect our craft with our "Out of this World Sweets."

The support and compliments we get from our customers, the opportunity to create new products and bake together, and the example we are setting for our children that you absolutely can follow your dreams if you take the time and put the work in to make it happen are what keeps us going!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We're coming up on 18 months since we first started, and seeing the feedback that we get is astounding. A few months ago, we did a fundraiser for one of our son's schools, and we're hoping to do more fundraisers and give back to the community that has been so receptive to our small business.

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

Definitely navigating everything out there in a competitive and sometimes saturated market. At times the challenge is going to events that have multiple vendors carrying similar products, making sure we stand out but also trying to have respect for others with the same trade. It takes a lot of discipline to balance family with business. We have had several 3-4 am nights of baking and last-minute prepping before events at times. It is a learning curve of time management that we are finally getting the hang of!

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

Believe in yourself, take the time to map out your vision with realistic goals, and don't rush to put out subpar products/services. Give it your all and put your best foot forward every day.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.cosmicsweetsdessertemporium.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CosmicSweetsDessertEmporiumLLC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmic.sweets.dessert.emporium/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cosmicsweets_de

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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