Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bree Vandenberg, co-owner of FKN Bread, located in San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a pandemic born, family-owned and operated, God sent, self-taught bakery. We took a really crazy time in all of our lives and used it to create a business that hopefully can be passed down to our sons. We started baking and selling bread from our home to our friends and other local San Juan Capistrano people. We never thought it would catch on so well or become so popular. Soon after we created an Instagram profile, people were driving from all over Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties to buy our bread. It was such a fun time for us, and we loved having an outlet to be creative and busy during a time when a lot of people took the time to rest and reset. In July 2021, we were able to open our brick-and-mortar store in downtown San Juan Capistrano, and it has only furthered our customer base.
Tell us about yourself
When the pandemic hit, we just could not sit still. We knew that we needed to do something, but my husband, Dave, came up with the idea to make bread. We were chatting with one of our neighbors, and she offered to share some of her sourdough starters with us. Dave had worked at a small cafe in San Francisco while he was in college and always had a knack for baking. Since moving back to Orange County after college, he has always worked in restaurants as a cook and chef, so baking comes naturally. I took the lead on getting our products out into the community by starting an Instagram profile and sharing our story.
Growing to where we are now has been tough but so worth it. We were blessed with this opportunity and decided to give it 100% as a team. Dave and I decided that an opportunity like this doesn't come by every day. It was clear that God presented us with this to bless our family. Now it's our career, and it's providing us a platform to share our strengths along with the opportunity to care for our family.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think that it's easy to think about doing something, but following through and making a plan happen is the hard part. Our biggest accomplishment is creating a business where we can provide for our family and employ people so that they can do the same.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The most difficult part of being a business owner is juggling family and work. Dave and I have three small boys, and we also home a teenage boy along with me still working in foster care. It has been a struggle to make it all fit into a day. Some days we have to lean on our amazing friends, family, and staff to pick up the pieces that we can just not get to. Time is 100% the hardest part.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would say whatever it is that you want to do or create, just make sure that you are 100% content doing or creating this 24 hours a day. You have to be 100% in, or it just won't work. Then, make sure that you surround yourself with the right team to help you see your plan through to the end. And lastly, believe in yourself!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://fknbread.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatfknbread/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fknbread/
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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