Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Artemis Antippas founder of Greek Girls Rice Pudding, located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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

I am the Owner and Founder of Greek Girls Rice Pudding – a deliciously authentic Greek treat prepared using a recipe that has been passed down by the women in my family for several generations! Our rice pudding is a sweet that’s not too sweet and is made with only a handful of straightforward, natural ingredients. And it’s naturally gluten-free, too! Greek Girls is also an incredibly diverse product that you can enjoy any time of day, any time of year! Enjoying Greek Girls Rice Pudding is a great way to kick off your morning for breakfast, as an on-the-go treat throughout the day, or as your post-dinner dessert!

Our rice pudding is ideal for customers interested in a better-for-you treat that everyone in the household will love. We playfully say in our family that “it’s great for people with teeth, and people without teeth!” So, give a little delicious scoop to baby, or to the finicky teens in the house; Millennials can’t get enough, and of course, you can’t leave out grandma and grandpa.

Tell us about yourself

I was definitely born with an entrepreneurial spirit and am lucky to have a family who has always supported me and encouraged my endeavors. I grew up adoring the rice pudding (rizogalo) my mom made for me and my sister, which only happened a couple of times a year because it’s quite labor intensive to make. Our mom learned to make it from her mom, who learned the secrets to the family recipe from her mother-in-law, who had previously brought it over to America when she emigrated from Tripoli, Greece. It was there that she learned from her mom and that is where we believe the recipe was first developed. It has been lovingly passed down generation after generation by the women in my family – a truly beautiful part of our family’s history.

The idea of starting a Greek rice pudding business first came to me at a family party. We were all sitting around the table, eating our rice pudding after dinner, talking about how absolutely divine it was and how there’s really nothing quite like it – and then it dawned on me that I bet other people would love this as much as we do! After performing some market research, making samples, and taking it around town for feedback (which was overwhelmingly positive!), it seemed like the perfect time to start the business. I just knew in my heart I had to share our family’s delicious rice pudding with as many people as possible.

It has been such a joy educating customers about the traditions of Greek rizogalo, which is a fairly unknown classic Greek treat. Getting to experience someone trying our rice pudding for the first time is the ultimate motivator! The smile, surprise, and excitement it brings to people make all of the hard work well worth it.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Without any business or culinary background, I have successfully grown Greek Girls year over year since 2015 and developed a very loyal and supportive customer base. It has been so rewarding to introduce a new product to the market and to experience people loving our rice pudding just as much as our family does!

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

Staying motivated! This has to come from within. But it’s definitely easier to stay motivated if you really and truly love what you’re doing. Otherwise, the constant challenges and daily grind will just wear you down to the point that there is little joy in your work. I’ve always sought to identify what I’m passionate about and then figure out how to make those passions my life’s work.

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

Being able to identify your strengths and weaknesses will tremendously add to your success. Know where you can handle the work and where/when you need to outsource support from colleagues, friends, or other experts.

Ask a ton of questions! Meet with everyone in your field and soak up the information they are willing to share with you. But a key piece of advice I would give is that you don’t always have to implement the suggestions given to you. Trust your gut and make the best decisions you can that are specific to your business and your goals. Also, stay organized – this will help you to avoid some bumps along the way.

Lastly, I feel that it’s very important to pump yourself up and applaud yourself for even the smallest of accomplishments…and then quickly get back to work! Believing in yourself and the work you’re doing and being your own biggest cheerleader is vital.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Surrounding yourself with other passionate and driven entrepreneurs is key. Lift each other up on the toughest days and be sure you’re paying it forward by sharing your knowledge with others who can benefit from the lessons you’ve learned from your experiences, mistakes, and successes.

Where can people find you and your business?

https://www.greekgirlsricepudding.com

https://www.instagram.com/greekgirls_ricepudding/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/40670890/admin/

http://facebook.com/greekgirlsricepudding

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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