Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rachel Salim, Owner of Sweet Charli Girl, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

Our motto is "You Won't Believe It's Gluten Free." I discovered early on at the markets that "gluten-free" would scare people away. We do not advertise ourselves as gluten-free at the markets. We have "gluten-free options available" on our sign, and those that cannot eat gluten are THRILLED when they find out they can eat everything. So many of our customers CAN eat gluten, and I am so proud that they keep coming back for our baked goods because they love them so much - gluten-free and all! They are shocked at how much they love our gluten-free products!

Tell us about yourself

I started baking with my mom and my grandmother, Mimi, in the big oven in the beginning. Cooking and baking were the centers of all family functions. The biggest question at each holiday and birthday celebration was what we were making for the meal and, most importantly, what we were serving for dessert. And no, we could not have just one dessert.

For years, I had a dream of a bakery filled with every sweet you could imagine. But after I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance, I thought those dreams were gone. After a few months of sulking, I decided to start gluten-free recipe testing. What I discovered was that gluten-free baked goods could be just as yummy as what I used to eat. Just like that, my bakery dream was rejuvenated!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I started Sweet Charli Girl in December 2018. I have grown the business significantly, increasing our annual sales by 589% since then, and increased our team from zero employees to four part-time employees. Throughout all of this, I have still had my full-time corporate job. Being able to balance both has been very hard, but I am so proud of the tremendous growth I have accomplished over the past ~4 years. One of the things I am actually the proudest of is our 80 5-star reviews on Google! I cannot believe that when you Google "gluten-free bakery Austin" we pop up first!

Giving back to the community has always been important to me, both through volunteering and financial donations. In June 2021, I created "Cookie Cake for a Cause" to give back to my community. We sell cookie cakes every week at the Farmer's market and donate 100% of the sale to the nonprofit we have selected that month. In 2021, we donated $1,250 across seven different nonprofits in Austin. In 2022, we donated $2,560 across 12 different nonprofits in Austin. Being able to support causes that are important to me through my business has been incredibly rewarding.

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

Not undervaluing yourself! When I started out, I was charging $3 for a 2-pack of cookies and felt BAD about it. One of my friends at the market had to tell me, you NEED to charge more - your products are worth more, and you need to get over the fact that it didn't cost you $3 to make them! It is still hard for me to believe sometimes that someone will spend $60 on a cheesecake - but they do, and that is what it is WORTH. And come back again and again and tell me it's the best cheesecake that they have ever had. The confidence to charge what our goods are worth is something that I still struggle with.

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

  1. Do your research! Researching what was out there and how other people priced was very helpful for my business. So much is on Google these days - most of my questions I answered through a simple internet search!
  2. Don't underprice yourself! The hardest thing, especially for women, is undervaluing ourselves and how much are goods are worth. Factor in all of your costs, and make sure to include your labor!
  3. Take the time to post on Instagram, upgrade your website and just show your customers what you're up to. Ask their opinion on social media - it's huge to get them involved.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sweetcharligirl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetcharligirl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetcharligirl/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.