Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Linda Louzada, owner of La Vie Est Berry, located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

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

Hello, my name is Linda Louzada, and I own La vie est Berry, an online bakery in Calgary- AB. Our specialty is Sourdough donuts. Our donuts are free from commercial yeast and are 100% naturally leavened, and each batch takes 48 hours to be ready. We make every glaze and topping from scratch, with no artificial flavours and colours. At La vie est Berry, we believe in supporting our local community as much as possible. That is why we do our best to source directly from local producers and only use high-quality ingredients. Our menu includes gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free options. My mission is to serve everyone, no matter their dietary choices. Our clients are health-conscious people that are looking for a healthier version of desserts without missing the taste.

Tell us about yourself

Back in Brazil, I was an interior designer, and baking was only a hobby; I was the one making my friends and family birthday cakes and baking goods all the time, but I never thought that this would be a job for me one day. After moving here, I felt the urge to start over again and do something completely new and out of my comfort zone. I had no idea how to transform my hobby into a business until the COOVID situation happened. I saw an opportunity to follow my dreams and create a business that wouldn’t be impacted by restrictions. During this time, I was spending all my time testing and creating recipes, all of that with a healthier approach and, of course, a Brazilian touch.

My goal was to create desserts that I could eat without feeling sick after and with healthier ingredients. I was finally following my dreams, it felt right, and I’m very passionate about my job. What keeps me motivated is to see that even with a small business, I can make a difference in my community and share all my creations, bringing a little happiness to people during these hard times.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say starting my business from scratch on my own, during a global pandemic, in a foreign country, and being successful at it. I’m very grateful to be able to do what I do and keep my business up and running.

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

All the responsibilities involved in running a business, especially when you are in the food industry and doing everything by yourself, it's 24/7 job where you are entirely responsible for all the big decisions.

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

  1. Do something that you really love and are very passionate about. Owning your own business is not easy, and if you don’t like what you do, there’s a big chance you will give up when things get harder.
  2. Don’t do something only thinking about making money, do something unique and put all your dedication and planning into it. Always deliver more than expected.
  3. Take advantage of social media and create personalized content, ask for feedback and be ready to change if it’s necessary. Listen to your clients, even the unhappy ones; they are a great source of learning. Connecting with people is a big part of a successful business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

There are no secrets to success. Everything is a result of planning, hard work, and learning from your mistakes.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.lavieestberry.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavie.estberry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavieestberry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindalouzada
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-louzada-28a79814b/

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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