Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brenna Eicke-Spanjer, owner of Southern Dutch Artisan Eats, located in Georgetown, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are in the gourmet food business; we source all our cheese, charcuterie, produce, and more from right here in Central Texas! What we don't buy Chef Oliver makes in-house. All our condiments, dips, sauces, breads + crackers, and sweet treats are made fresh every week! Our customers are local foodies who want a true Texas artisan food experience! We offer Graze Tables + Catering, Celebration Gifts, and even Private Chef Services.

Tell us about yourself

I spent over 20 years in the corporate world as a Sales + Marketing Executive. It took me all over the world, and I actually met Chef Oliver (aka my husband) on the beautiful island of St. Maarten in 2013. We started dreaming almost immediately about owning a restaurant, gourmet market, or food brand. We definitely knew we would be in the food business in some way! We moved back to my native Texas in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, and I really didn't want to travel for work; we had a one-year-old at home, and I just wasn't ready. I really believed in our dream. I had an amazing Chef who could make our vision a reality. We really wanted to put our passion and time into a business that was ours. We took the leap of faith and opened in September of 2020 and haven't looked back! What continues to motivate us to put in long hours of work for days and days are two things. Our amazing loyal customers who keep coming back for more and our love for sharing artisan food that is made right here in Texas!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment by far is the community's growth and support we have experienced. People care more than ever how their food is sourced, how it's prepared, and its sustainability. People want to buy locally; we committed from day one to source our products and ingredients from right here in Central Texas. We are inspired every day by the passion that drives these local food artisans, and it's a dream to get to work with such amazing products!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

It's all hard! As a small business that only has two employees, we wear many hats on a daily basis! There is always something that needs to be done, and the "to do" list gets longer every day. There are so many overwhelming days, but somehow we get through them; we persevere and push through because we love what we do!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Do what you love! You have to have a deep passion for what you do to stay the course for the long term. Plug into a community of other entrepreneurs to learn from and share with. We are so grateful for the people and small businesses we have been able to connect with and learn from. Don't wait. Believe in yourself and your dream, and just go for it! You don't have to have all the answers; you can make mistakes, learn and grow along the way!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.southern-dutch.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefOliver86/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefoliver86/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenna-eicke-spanjer-651619b8/

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.