The Most Delectable Experience - Le Petit Croissant

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Vincent Caradonna, owner of Le Petit Croissant, located in Greenville, SC, USA.

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

We are a fine bakery, and we make everything to order, most of the time custom for the people who appreciate fine desserts, wish to include chocolate, candy, cakes, etc.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a Master Chocolate maker and Pastry Chef from my trade, businessman by default. I started pastry and chocolate in France at 16 years old; by age 20, I was one of the best young chocolate makers in the country. At 21, I moved to New York City and stayed where I worked for a renowned Chef in the City. After two years, I started my own business. By the 26-year old, I had six businesses where each business was in the food industry. I was offering different services through a different company. From wholesale distribution to luxury custom chocolates and desserts, I was shipping chocolate in over 100 different countries. After traveling worldwide for my job, my wife and I settled in Greenville. We opened Le Petit Croissant and managed everything from Greenville. Not easy every day, but we enjoy the South while doing great business.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Keeping my employees. The hardest part of being a business owner, CEO is to surround yourself with trustworthy people. Having people who can trust on the job and build a relationship where you can leave and know it will be handled properly is the hardest. So I always take care of my employees first, so they know they can rely on me. Good businesses come from good employees. It also pushes them to do more and take care of the business itself.

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

What's next? You can keep the same items forever. So the hardest is always to think about the future. What can you create that will be the next "hot item of the season.

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

First: Get your hands dirty first! Start at a low level, grow in your field. Once you have a better understanding of every position within the business you want to create, it will save you thousands down the line.

The Second: Don't be afraid, it can be scary, uncertain, but if you know what you are doing (in your field), it will only depend on how much you actually want it.

Third: Diversify. The key to a long-lasting, prosperous business is only on how much you can diversify your activity. So if anything happens to one business activity, you still can rely on another.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.lepetitcroissantgreenville.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lepetitcroissantgreenville
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lepetitcroissantgreenville/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-caradonna-a8474794/

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.