Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katarina Schare, Founder of Havenly Baked Goods, located in Boulder, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a Swedish-inspired bakery in Boulder, CO, that makes surprisingly delicious gluten- and dairy-free bread! We have many European and US customers alike that love our products because of their great taste, clean ingredients, and high nutritional value. Our baked goods are suitable for most customers, even with strict dietary needs, and are made in a dedicated gluten-free and dairy-free bakery.
Tell us about yourself
I moved to Boulder in 2010 from Sweden, and I loved taking turns with my cousin to bake bread for our weekly family dinners, and the smell and taste of freshly baked bread became synonymous with laughter and good times. However, since moving to the US, I have experienced digestion problems, and I have tried different diets. As part of this exploration, I experimented with baking gluten-free and paleo-friendly bread and other baked goods based on traditional Swedish recipes and learned that my body did better with less gluten. These Swedish recipes were the base for nutritious bread using whole ingredients like organic oats, buckwheat, and various seeds that smelled and tasted amazing. Friends were astonished at how wonderful the gluten-free bread tasted and surprised by the nice texture. From a happy family to a happy tummy to happy friends, the seed was planted in my mind to start a gluten-free bakery.
There is something nurturing about creating bread, and it brings me joy to come to the bakery every day and, along with our bakers, provide our customers with the best gluten-free bread of their life!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Standing up a thriving bakery business with no prior experience in professional baking or in operating a small business.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It's juggling all the roles on your own before you are big enough to hire professional help with various areas like sales and marketing, design, packaging, human resources, ingredient sourcing, production planning, accounting, and taxes.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Hire an accountant right away to set up your accounting books properly.
- Be sure you have family support when you start your business, as it takes a lot of hours and financial commitment.
- Use 99design or a similar service to create a great logo and brand material. Upwork and Fiverr are good resources for creating professional marketing materials and finding affordable professionals in various areas.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://havenlybaked.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/havenlyGF
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havenly_baked/
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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