Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jon Oliver, co-founder, and CEO of Letterbox Doughnuts, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are Letterbox Doughnuts, and as the name suggests, we specialize in custom lettered donuts. When we look at our customers, they really are and can be anybody. That's the wonderful thing about Letterbox; our mission is to help people celebrate special moments. That means parents, co-workers, clients, friends, and significant others, to name a few. Whether it's a wedding anniversary, a child's birthday, a promotion, an event invitation, a party favour, our goal is to help people celebrate, by adding a little bit of sweetness to the celebration, literally.
Tell us about yourself
The pandemic is what got us started! My co-founder (and wife) and I run the business together now, but when we first started, it was an idea we had with a friend of ours who is a big doughnut lover. We were all trying to keep ourselves busy. We were distracted from all the doom and gloom we saw all over the news and social media and decided to focus on spreading some love (and sugar) to our family and friends. Early on, when we were only sending to family and friends, we saw just how happy everyone was to get a box of donuts that were specially for them. So to be a factor in bringing a smile to someone's face every day is what motivates us.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I look back, and when we started the business in August of 2020, we had absolutely no real kitchen or baking experience; in under two years, we have gone from learning how to turn on a stand mixer to have an amazing team working with us. Although I have to say, seeing how hyped a little five-year-old dressed up as spiderman is to get his spiderman themed donuts is right up there!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is finding the time to celebrate the wins. It's incredibly easy to spend all of your time problems solving, growing, etc. It can be very easy to forget to look back and see how far you have come.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- The most important thing to remember is that anybody can accomplish anything. I didn't know how to operate a stand mixer less than two years ago; need I say more! Just start!
- You have to put yourself into the mindset of a problem solver be ok with constantly solving problems. Acknowledge that you will constantly be failing, saying "I don't know," and learning, and that's not only ok, that's the gig.
- You really have to be motivated and have some form of support system for when you aren't motivated. For us, the motivation comes from reminding ourselves of the smiles that we played a part in, and luckily enough, we have an amazing support system through friends, family, and our co-workers.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Anything is possible; you just have to solve the problem.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.letterboxdoughnuts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letterboxdoughnuts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letterboxdoughnuts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/letterbox-doughnuts/
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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