Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nanci Gelb and Terri Tsagaris, co-founders of Off Our Rocker Cookies, located in Boston, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Off Our Rocker Cookies is a plant-based baked goods company powered by women and Seniorpreneurs that specializes in sweet potato cookies and granola. Our cookies and granola are made with real, clean, and gluten-free ingredients and are the perfect breakfast replacement, grab-and-go, or any time-of-day satisfying and delicious snack. Our customers are busy Herbivores and Carnivores who are looking for an all-natural product that will sustain them and their families throughout their busy days!
Tell us about yourself
The genesis of Off Our Rocker Cookies began with two women, a friendship, and a desire to reinvent and challenge ourselves. We were motivated to create a business that utilized our skills, one as a marketer and the other as a lawyer, our creativity, and our humor. While exploring ideas and soul-searching, we baked and ate, realizing that food was part of our connection. As Seniorpreneurs, we set out to build a business with a snack that we enjoyed ourselves, not compromising on ingredients or flavor, and one that would bring customers to the table. We are inspired by our foodpreneur kin who rock it every day, the customers who love our product, and our children, who are our biggest supporters.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Immersing ourselves into a business where we had no background, going beyond our comfort level, and creating a brand that makes us proud, all while continuing to laugh and have fun.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest part is saying “no.” (It’s a metaphor for our lives.) As business owners, we must make the strategic decision not to take on every opportunity that comes our way and to ask ourselves, “will this lead us on a path of growth and sustainability,” and “does it make sense.” Another challenge is being able to change course when necessary and acknowledge when a specific path is not working while staying true to ourselves and our vision.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Articulate your vision and goals, revisit them to energize and remind you of your purpose, but don’t be afraid to question the feasibility of your model. Plotting a new or different course is difficult and challenging, but it may be necessary to accomplish your goals. Sometimes you have to dance.
- Mentors: These are the individuals who will help guide you in the right direction, and each serves a purpose, whether it’s to help you grow, provide resources, offer advice or a different perspective, or someone who can give it to you straight, good, bad, and ugly – we all need that.
- Pause: We often want to hit the ground running and answer the emails and questions right away, but we’ve learned that hitting the pause button can help us regroup, reinvigorate and see things more clearly. So take the time to make decisions, take a break when you need it and take the time to reevaluate. Pausing doesn’t mean stopping; it’s simply a deep breath to think through the issues.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://offourrockercookies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offourrockercookies/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offourrockercookies/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/off-our-rocker-cookies/
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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