Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Goldberg, CEO of Michelle's Maccs, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

Mich's Maccs, LLC started in 2009. 4 picky kids, gluten intolerant, and well learned in nutrition and health. I had been making The Maccs for Family and friends since the beginning of time – being told: “you have to go into business with your Maccs”.
Maccs = chocolate + coconut + LOVE, now available in 14 flavors. The Maccs are an indulgent treat that makes you proud to eat!

So, one hot July day back in 2009, my friend Denise Goldberg and I, (no relation) packed the back of her yellow Mustang convertible out in East Hampton, NY, with coconut and chocolate and headed over to Goldberg's Bagels. With the bagel day done, Denise unlocked the bagel store for me, and I started to make and sell The Maccs.

Moving to a commercial level was quite the challenge! 1.5 years later, from that one very memorable day delivering The Maccs out of my car, they were selling out all over The Hamptons, and 31 locations in New York City.

I was an Amateur Triathlete. Tragically, while training for a triathlon in 2011, I got hit by a car while running. The accident put me down and out; I could not walk and subsequently had to have seven surgeries over 7/8 years.

As soon as I was completely rehabilitated, what did I do? Of course, I launched Michellesmaccs.com, which was in 2019. Then, on our first 200 order day, The COVID Quarantine hit NYC, and the landlord closed the doors on us. That same afternoon I found a bakery that is still home to The Maccs today. The current space completely augmented what The Maccs have evolved to be today.

The Maccs represent intentional eating and what we put into our bodies. Maccs represent what we can do - not what we can't do. Treat yourself to the guiltless indulgence of experiencing a Macc. Everyone should definitely have a pack of Maccs in their freezer!! Yum! A low-calorie treat, full of flavor, completely satisfying with the highest quality and freshest ingredients.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The biggest accomplishment is my perseverance, my belief in The Maccs and the ability to keep pushing through. It is amazing that our customers call to thank me and to tell me how The Maccs have changed their lives. I always wanted to make a mark in our world and contribute to the world. I am honored to be able to share The Maccs with everyone. Maccs spread love and joy one small bite of sunshine at a time.

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

To believe in your passion and to keep going and going and fight all the odds because most businesses fail and so many times you want to give up, and when that thought comes, you must push through and believe in yourself. The other challenging part of being a business owner is controlling the anxiety about getting things done. Believe that all things work out,  take it one step at a time and ensure that you take care of yourself. Without a healthy you, there is nothing, and the demands of being a business owner are enormous.

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

  1. Have enough money and then have more. The number 1 reason new businesses fail is that they run out of money before they are able to get funded. Plan properly, be realistic about expectations and projections.
  2. Take care of yourself.
  3. Believe wholeheartedly - like you would die for it - in your business and product and wake up every day with the thought: "today is going to be a good day."

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

One huge mistake business owner makes, I think, is that it is not about what they want or what they like. So often, business owners are insistent on doing it their way, and their way is not the right way to drive revenue and sales. It takes time to learn what the customers really want and react to.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://michellesmaccs.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellesmaccs/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-g-4732a818b/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.