Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kara Ullrich, operator of Front Porch Coffee Shop, located in Lakewood, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I helped open and now operate the Front Porch Coffee Shop. We chose that name inspired by southern hospitality and a forward effort to be a community presence. We are a not-for-profit business; all of the proceeds go back into the community through partnerships with the school to help the homeless and at-risk youth. We take pride in serving amazing craft coffee, so we get a lot of local coffee connoisseurs. We are right next to a high school, and because of that, we get a ton of high school students over their lunch and after school.
Tell us about yourself
I have always loved coffee, but my true passion is community and hospitality. Coffee shops represent, in my mind, the place where the community comes together and is a safe spot for everyone. I lived in Thailand for over a decade. There, my dream of opening a coffee shop was born to promote literacy and community. I moved back to the U.S. before that dream came to fruition, but another one was born since then. As a coffee lover, I want to serve excellent coffee and pastries; as a person, I want people to feel connected and cared for each and every time they enter the shop. I want them to feel awed over beauty and art, over craft and meaningful conversation. So, not just great coffee, but great care as well.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I started this business along with another friend, neither of us have any experience in retail or in coffee. She was a dental hygienist, and I was a stay-at-home mom. Looking back, I marvel at how anyone agreed to let us do this, but we showed up every day and worked our butts off! We learned how to do anything and everything- and took the time to develop our skills. I am so proud of the fact that we didn't give up - and there were a few times that I felt way in over my head. We found help when we needed it and pressed on. To this day, I feel that grit has helped us overcome not only the challenges of opening a business but of opening a business during a pandemic.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There are plenty of things in running a business that requires you to step out of your comfort zone and do things that are not your strength. It is also an interesting balance of knowing when to push yourself into the discomfort and get the work done and knowing when to realize that you need to let go of something and delegate it to someone more capable. The narrative of being 'the boss' is often that you need to be big, bold, and have all the answers. I have found humility to be one of the most challenging components but also one of the most important. Being vulnerable and humble with my team has helped earn mutual trust. Don't get me wrong, there is value in being confident and knowledgeable, but I feel humility is often overlooked.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Clearly state your vision and then three to four core values that support that vision. It is so much easier to make difficult decisions if you have those values in place and can simply ask, 'does this align with who we are and what we want to accomplish?
- Be patient in hiring to find the right fit, even if you are desperate for help.
- Identify what your true product is? I always assumed it was coffee, but after going through some consulting, we realized that our actual product was hospitality. We want our customers to come in and experience our hospitality - that affects our decisions on hiring, aesthetics, music choice, etc. If coffee truly was our product, all of those decisions would look different.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.frontporchcoffeeshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frontporchcoffeeshop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontporchcoffeeshop/
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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