Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Don Gaile, Founder of Spun Bakery LLC., located in Freeport, ME, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is a micro bakery focusing on handmade-from-scratch baked goods and special treats. We offer everything from apple pie to zucchini bread with lots of options and varieties. We focus mainly on farmer's markets from May - October and custom orders throughout the year.
Tell us about yourself
I have always had a love for cooking and especially baking. It wasn't until I moved with my family from New York City to Maine that I could follow my passion. SPüN Bakery was a business literally built from the ground up. I spent the better part of a year developing recipes and my brand, the overall vision, website, social media, logo, and packaging. It's all part of the experience. Right now, I'm focused on meeting the increasing demands at local farmer's markets and lots of custom orders for cakes, pies, and other baked goods. It's six days a week non-stop from April through December, but I'm constantly motivated by my interactions with customers. I've been able to build a following of lots of returning customers who seek me out for their baked goods and treats. It's such a pleasure to connect with them through my baking.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is building and sustaining a business over these last seven years from the ground up through the highs and lows (and pandemics) and seeing my business grow steadily.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It's all a learning process! From how to manage the accounting books to hiring staff to figure out how to scale up my baking to keep the product consistent but not lose the bespoke handmade quality of everything.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would advise anyone looking to start a business to talk to anyone currently in that line of business - someone you're not going to compete against. Get hands-on advice from them. You'd be surprised what people are willing to share. Start with your vision and create short and long-term goals. Find a similar business that inspires you and see what they have done to achieve their goals. Be realistic and plan for failures and missteps. It's great to celebrate the achievements, but you have to be ready to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward. Start small and build on your success. It's better to underpromise and overdeliver than try to stretch yourself too thin and burn out. Give yourself time to rest and plan. That's what will grow your business in the long run.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://spunbakery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spunbake
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spunbakery/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dongaile/
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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