Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rico Mandel, Founder of Miz En Place, located in Woodland Hills, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Miz En Place is an eCommerce site and culinary community that immerses people in the culture of artisan food and drink: the makers, the history, and the stories behind the products we sell.
Our customers are people who love food, travel, and new life experiences. We are looking to create a connection between culinary products and experiences made by people who are passionate about what they are making. Whether it be a small cheese maker in Wisconsin making amazing gouda, the oldest family-run balsamic vinegar maker from Modena, Italy, a chef teaching virtual cooking classes for Spanish food, or a Romesco sauce maker who started out making it for her friends and then started to sell it commercially - this is an example of what we are bringing to our customers and what keeps us going every day.
Tell us about yourself
I began in business with my marketing company. After the dot.com crash and subsequent 9/11, I went to culinary school to develop my passion for cooking and become a chef. I came up with the idea for Miz En Place back around 2012 and began to develop it and tried a few different things to bring it to life; finally, after all that time, we launched in May of 2021. Luckily since I'd had my own marketing business for so many years, I had a lot of business experience to bring to the table.
My motivation is knowing that my business is helping both small businesses expand their reach and get better known and also creating a connection for my customers to the people behind the food and experiences that are available in our world. This world is full of so much to see and experience for me, and I want to bring that to as many people as possible.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being a business owner for over 30 years and not giving up.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Staying relevant and having faith and patience that the work I put in today will yield the results I'm looking for in the future. Trusting my vision and my gut that deep down, things will be ok.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have patience and be in it for the long haul.
- Be comfortable being uncomfortable and taking risks, and trying new things.
- Only do the things you do best and leave the other stuff for other people to do who are great at those things. It'll give you more peace of mind and allow your business to grow faster.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mizenplace.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MizEnPlace
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizenplace/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mizenplace
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricomandel/
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.
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