Charcuterie Extraordinaire - Smallgoods Cheese Shop & Cafe
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mike Eastwood, owner, and vice-president of Smallgoods Cheese Shop & Cafe, located in La Jolla, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are devout believers and supporters of American-made craft foods and Farmer's Market foods. Our shop, Smallgoods, is a cheese shop that specializes exclusively in American small-batch regional and seasonal cheeses and cured meats, and locally-made products. To the best of our knowledge, we are the only cheese shop in the USA that works exclusively with American makers. We have nothing against European cheeses, but it's time that our US makers take the spotlight.
Tell us about yourself
We were looking for a change and wanted to open our own small business. And, we love cheese! We started as a husband-and-wife business in the San Diego Farmer's Markets. From there, we grew to open the flagship shop that we opened just three weeks before the pandemic started. Great timing, right? We're true pandemic small-business survivors. We are motivated to succeed in small business - a big part of that comes from the praise we receive from our community and from the fantastic cheesemakers and cured meats artisans across the USA that respect and encourage us.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We opened our shop three weeks before the pandemic. While 60% of the business was closed in San Diego, we remained open by positioning ourselves as an Essential Service Provider. We provided space for our local Farmer Market farmers (which were shut down) to set up out front of our shop to sell their produce - and at no charge to them. From there, we added other Farmer Market products and vendors. We set out to become a Farmer Market resource and provider for our local community during some pretty bleak times. We fought for our little shop and survived by leaning into what we knew best. To this day, we have held over 300 Farmer Market popups out front of our shop and have become a neighborhood favorite. In fact, we still have a farmer set up a stand in front of our shop every Tuesday And Thursday - and still at no charge to them whatsoever.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Managing the day-to-day and constantly having to have a social media presence.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Known your market, your customers, and your location.
- Have a product that people want.
- Have fun with what you do.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Believe in what you do!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.smallgoodsusa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallgoodsUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallgoods_/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallgoodsusa
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.