Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elizabeth Scheeler, Owner of Platter to Plate, located in Saint Paul, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I make very custom charcuterie and full meals for any occasion! If you eat, you're my customer! Lol.
Tell us about yourself
I started Platter to Plate with my need to be creative and to share my love for cooking and feeding people with everyone! Before building Platter to Plate, I was contemplating opening a soul food restaurant in the Mpls Skyway but decided to give it some time. Then COVID hit! When COVID came into play and transformed all of our worlds, I found myself, like a lot of parents, thrown into a teacher's role. I was suddenly at home with my two kids and was racking my brain for ideas of things I could do during this pandemic! Charcuterie was popular at the time and seemed like a good fit. I've always been creative but lost it during a hard time in my life. This woke that girl back up, and Platter to Plate became a reality. Looking at my two beautiful kids, I knew I needed to recreate myself and show them who their mom really was. They are who wake me up, push me to go harder, and remind me of why I'm working countless hours.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner to date is preparing to open my first brick-and-mortar location! This is HUGE for me, and it has taken so much work, mistakes, and tears, but also resilience. I'm so excited to open our doors!!!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I would say one of the hardest things that comes with being a small business owner is realizing there is no such thing as a one-stop shop for opening a small business. There were days I spent the entire day calling number after number, person after person, only to realize I didn't get the answers I needed and I still had two small souls I had to love and feed and do homework with and went to bed feeling like I wasn't giving them the best version of their mom. It's tough… I am doing it for them, but at the same time, do they understand that? Do they know why I can't always be there with them?
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Oooh, top three tips. Number one -Don't give up. Follow your passion, and stick with it! Even when it's all going wrong, when you can't find the answers, stay true, and it will work out.
Number two- I cannot emphasize this enough! Connect, connect, connect with other small business entrepreneurs. Ask them questions! They know better than any Google search or pamphlet you could read. They have been there and done that and know what to do and not do. This will save you a lot of time and heartache! Plus, from my experience, they love to share their journey.
Number three - involve your community! People love to be included, asked questions, and involved in the dream! That's been huge for me and really just beginning!!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.plattertoplatellc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plattertoplatellc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plattertoplatellc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-scheeler-323ba51b5/
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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