Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kalia Gounden, owner of Kakes & Kanvas Inc., located in Calgary, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We make custom cakes, and we host paint nights, but our customers are buying memories. Cakes are so much more than just a dessert; they are the heart of the celebrations and milestones in the lives of friends and family. A paint night is not just an art class; it's an environment of encouragement where you can relax, express your creativity, and bond. We believe in putting positivity and creativity out into the world. When the lovely people who appreciate that come to us, we understand how important the entire experience is.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Kalia Gounden, and I started Kakes & Kanvas in 2017; I wanted to share two of my greatest passions with the world, baking and painting. I actually have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, but life somehow pulled me back to my true passions. My grandfather was a baker, and I learned through his love for baking and Kakes.
I'm so grateful to share my passions with such amazing humans. When creating Kakes for my clients, I get to see the smile and joy they bring to their special day or lives. Or at paint nights when individuals get the opportunity to create a piece of art, to express themselves fully without judgment, and just have fun! The smiles, thank-yous, and encouragement and support I get from the beautiful humans I'm so blessed to cross paths with is why I do what I do. Because I get to do what I love and see the positive effect it has on people firsthand. Nothing can compare to the feeling of making someone's day or putting a smile on their face, especially in times like these.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner would be pushing through, having a positive effect on people's lives, and now expanding our business :)
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Patience, we want our businesses just to work and work for us right away. But it takes time, patience, determination, hard work, long nights, and perseverance. That time it takes us to build our business, our foundation, and our brand is the time that molds us and shapes our company for success and us! It separates the ones who know they can and the ones that think they can't.
Also, being a woman in business, you're often underestimated or taken advantage of. But I've learned through the years to persevere and push through. Women supporting women, there's enough room at the top for us all! Share the love and support!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Persistence, most importantly. You will constantly feel like you are fighting an uphill battle, but you can't quit. If you spend your time trying to understand:
- Exactly what value you are creating.
- For whom you are creating for.
- How you can communicate that value to the customer.
If you persist, eventually, you'll get traction. When you start to achieve that traction, the feeling of meeting somebody's need is so rewarding. But you have to persist.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Keep those who believe in your success closest to you because they are what will get you through the hard times.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kakesandkanvas.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kakesandkanvas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kakesandkanvas/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kakesandkanvas/
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.
