Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Melanie Jenkinson, owner and founder of Howl at the Spoon, located in Beaverton, OR, USA.

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

I am the owner and founder of Howl at the Spoon. We make wildly convenient artisan sauces making us the first to market for single-serve healthy sauces. Our sauces will travel as well as you do.

Tell us about yourself

I am a fifteen-year veteran of the creative arts. I have worked in local, national, and global companies to up-level creative teams and brands. Also, I am a cookbook author and outdoor food blogger, which led me down the path of combining all of my passions into one company which is Howl at the Spoon. I started the sauces for the outdoors and traveling, but they are having a moment in the world of convenience, which I am here for.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Launching in the spring of 2020 simultaneously as COVID and still existing today.

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

I wear all hats, which can be hard to decipher when to shut off for long days. My hopes are that once I grow, I can delegate some tasks to others.

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

  1. Keep going: Push through the hard days and just remind yourself why you started this journey.
  2. Spend less at the start: When feedback filters in, you will inevitably be revising branding materials, so spend less on disposable branding at the start and invest in the next year.
  3. Start slow: I can't take credit for this, but it's been the best advice I had received from a mentor when I first started out. Don't over-promise and under-deliver; it will destroy your reputation.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://howlatthespoon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlatthespoon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howlatthespoon/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/howlatthespoon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniekosach/

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.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.