Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy Closson, CEO of Cupprimo, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

Cupprimo is a cupcakery and coffeehouse. We are an Austin original business started in 2008. We are a woman-owned business specializing in amazing cupcakes and delicious coffee. We bake everything fresh each morning and are open seven days a week. We are proud to be a family business, and all five of our children have worked at the store. We supply cupcakes and custom cakes for parties, celebrations, business gatherings, and other events. We have three sizes of cupcakes as well as morning quiches.

Our customers come from all over Austin, and many of them appreciate our "mom and pop" atmosphere and culture. Cupcakes and great coffees are extremely "fun" products to market, and our menu changes many times during the year.

Tell us about yourself

I moved to Austin in 2005 from Illinois, where I had a string of coffee houses. I knew coffee but also understood that I needed another complementary product to co-market. I have a huge sweet tooth, and cupcakes seemed a fun partner to coffee. Thus, Cupprimo was born. Over 14 years, I've learned a lot about cupcakes. I started as a Mom-baker, but now I feel that I could teach a master's class in the subject. We've had hundreds of flavors and sold tens of thousands of cupcakes and cakes. But I'm never tired of coffee and cupcakes. I eat cupcakes every day, and my coffee is my dearest friend. LOL

I'm motivated by money, success, and winning. I'm competitive to the core and take pride in my abilities as a mom, as a business owner, and as a person. I strive every day to be the very best at everything I do. The beautiful thing about having a small business is that I can always get better, I can always grow, and I can always expand my knowledge. (Which goes for motherhood as well, lol)

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

After 14 years, I'd say my biggest accomplishment is sticking to my original strategy of having an awesome product and providing top-tier customer service while staying a family business. It's rare in 2022 to see family businesses survive, but Cupprimo is thriving, and I'm very proud of that. It's also still FUN! I keep it that way, but I'm really proud of that.

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

One difficult challenge is to find the balance between running a small business, which takes an incredible amount of both physical and mental energy and having a full life outside the business. I have five kids, ranging from 12 to 25, so being a mom takes a lot of my calories. I find that instead of separating my "work" from my "life," it's best to incorporate all of it into one bucket, which for me is just LIFE. Having a "family" business really helps. My husband and my children work with me at Cupprimo, which is quite a blessing.

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

  1. Be a solver! Small business owners MUST be able to solve an array of problems/issues every day. If you are not a natural solver, have one handy, on staff, at home, or with a partner.
  2. Don't try to be all things to all people. Be a specialist instead of a generalist. Have guardrails to your products and services that keep you in your core competency. Too many small businesses get in trouble by veering off their original course and trying to make everyone happy.
  3. Do it your way! The person to listen to is yourself. Don't let your family, your customers, your friends, or even your consultants talk you out of trying things YOUR way. It's your business. One of the magical things about being a small business owner is that you get to flex your own creativity, your own ideas, and your own solutions. Don't give that power away unless you feel you need to change something.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Stay curious. Stay innovative. Stay brave. If your business is getting "old" to you, it's your own fault. There is always something new, something fresh, something fun, something awesome if you just keep looking.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.cupprimo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cupprimo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cupprimo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cupprimo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyclosson/

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.