Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kellie Barclay, founder of Fancy That Cake, located in Fergus, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is wedding cakes and other celebration cakes with more of a focus on the wedding side. My clients are engaged couples planning their special day!
Tell us about yourself
I was only ever planning to do this part-time, between the hours of my 3 days a week office job. But I was laid off 2 years into the job and decided to do cake full time. I love creating beautiful wedding cakes and after 11 years, it is still a thrill to see how my part fits into the overall theme of the day!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Paying for my own car. I know it seems silly - but to be able to make the car payments for a brand new car, on my own, from business funds, was a really big deal for me. Kind of the sign that I'd made it, and wasn't just dabbling at this cake thing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Staying organized. I'm not an organized person by nature, so staying on top of all the moving parts of a business is hard. It's not all pretty pretty cakes! Paperwork, client management, emails, keeping the commercial kitchen in health code standards, creating new ideas, all while trying to not work until midnight each night.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- It isn't instant. It takes time! Don't be frustrated if you are not doing insane amounts of business in your first month. It took about 4-5 years before I could say I was consistently busy. And about 8 years before I could say I had replaced my office income.
- Believe in your vision. I had a few naysayers think I'd never manage to keep this afloat, and that I was wasting money.
- Take a business class. SO many people start a business because they found their passion, but have no clue about running a business! I have a business background from college, so helped for sure. But I've also never stopped taking classes - cake-related or social media/business/SEO-related. Never stop learning.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/fancythatcake/
https://www.facebook.com/Fancy.That.Cake.ca
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.
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