It’s a Great Time to Give the Gift of Breakfast

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jacqueline Mearman, founder of Kitsch, located in Baltimore, MD, USA.

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

Kitsch was created during what will forever be known as an "uncertain time." I previously worked in fine dining for over a decade for brands like Four Seasons and Walt Disney World. When everything shut down, I had a chance to reevaluate and wanted to open a place that would have more accessibility for a larger customer base to enjoy more frequently. Our customers are like-minded individuals who want to embrace the day and enjoy positive human interactions. They learn our names and ask about family. We have hundreds of regulars that we see anywhere from weekly to twice a day. Our shop is bright yellow. It's filled with nostalgic toys and old family photos. The windows are filled with macramé and sprawling plants. Did I mention it? It's less than 400 square feet.

Tell us about yourself

I went to a Center of Applied Career and Technology North in Severn, Maryland for Commercial Baking in 2005, and it's been kind of an obsession to make food ever since. Serving people motivates me. We once got a ticket off our printer from a regular to announce their daughter had been born, and they were ordering some food for the hospital stay. We like being the kind of place that gets news like that.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The last year and a half have been chapter after chapter of self-improvement and growth. I don't know that I can identify a single accomplishment. It's been an extraordinary time learning how to process stress better and more healthily, manage time, and balance work/life.

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

If you're a solo business owner that's actively working in your own shop, you quickly learn that you have no one actually to vent to. You really shouldn't vent to your staff (even though you're human and probably will). If you try to talk to anyone outside the business about it, they might not be that into the subject. This kind of resolved itself two-fold for me. First off, it forced me to reckon with processing my own chaos without another lifeform listening. Secondly, it actually helped me identify people in my life who are willing to listen and give excellent feedback or advice.

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

If you're doing it for the money, don't do it. If you don't have joy for what you'd be doing day to day to make the business run, you're going to really hate it when you're on month six of not collecting a paycheck.
Be transparent with your audience. If you have to hide it, there's something wrong with it.
Know your numbers. Even if you have an accountant or a bookkeeper, go out of your way to understand the money coming in and the money going out. Finding ways to save even a few dollars here and there without changing quality can add up to a significant margin.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bmorekitsch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitsch.cafe/

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.