Sweet Fairy - Sarah Rochacewich
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah Rochacewich, co-founder of Aunt Sarah's Chocolate Shop and Sweet Rock Ice Cream, located in Trinity, NL, Canada
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are an artisanal chocolate and ice cream company based in Trinity, a designated historical town in rural (Outport) Newfoundland, Canada - Aunt Sarah's Chocolate Shop and Sweet Rock Ice Cream. Our products and company are inspired by Newfoundland's beauty, ruggedness, and quaintness. The island is truly a unique place to live and run a business! Our chocolate and ice cream appeals to a wide range of customers - a mix of both locals and tourists, young and mature...or anyone that has a sweet tooth:) We offer a wide range of flavours, including many classics and also flavours/ingredients unique to Newfoundland.
Tell us about yourself
My husband Adam and I started our business ten years ago! At the time, we both had corporate careers but had always wanted to start our own business. After a lot of thought, we decided to open a business where we would enjoy living and have an adventure! We had visited Newfoundland for a vacation a few times and had fallen in love with its beauty and unique culture. Once we figured out where we wanted to live, we built the business idea that would allow us to live out this dream. Trinity, Newfoundland, is a designated historical town and a major tourism draw in the province. A chocolate and sweet shop could be a perfect fit! Luckily, my family's business is chocolate, so we were able to hit the ground running and learn some of the fundamentals from my father and complement this with our own research and self-education. Four years after starting the chocolate side of the business, we expanded to include made from scratch ice cream. Each day is always different! But the motivation to continue each day and work hard comes from our desire to see the business succeed.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that, along with my husband, we have been able to achieve consistent year-over-year growth (with COVID19 in 2020 being the exception!) for the past ten years. We have grown our business from a four-month chocolate operation with one shop and zero employees to a year-round business with both chocolate and ice cream, four retail locations across the island, and 30 employees....all while living and working in a remote location.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is to keep your energy and health up! There is always something to do or something to think about. It can be very easy to put the needs of the business ahead of your own health. Finding the right balance can be tricky!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top 3 tips I can offer to someone looking to start their own business are: do your research to try and limit surprises, have a financial plan, and make sure you are doing something that you are passionate about.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our team (both past and present!) and all of our customers for helping to make our business a reality and a success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website:
https://sweetrockicecream.ca/
https://auntsarahschocolate.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuntSarahs/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auntsarahschocolate/
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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