Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristin Nelson, Founder of The Ardent Homesteader Inc., located in Arden, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The core of my business is my handmade salted caramel sauce, but we also offer caramel-y baked goods, pork shares, and farm-fresh eggs, depending on the season. My customers are folks that are interested in great-tasting food that is crafted (or raised) with care and minimal ingredients.
Tell us about yourself
Hi, my name is Kristin. I live in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley with my husband, Dave, and our three boys. Shortly after I gave up my 9-5 job to raise our youngest children, we began our homesteading journey with a modest flock of chickens (which we like to call the gateway animal). Over the years, we have expanded to raise a small herd of Milking Devon Cattle, heritage breed pigs, and yes, more poultry. We consume most of the meat we produce and vegetables we grow ourselves, but we do offer pork shares. Being home with the kids gave me time to develop my other passions (when I wasn't chasing them around): I love to cook, bake, and experiment in the kitchen. So when I made my first batch of caramel and found it to be not quite what I was looking for, I started playing around on a quest to find my caramel ideal. It took a few tries to get there, but when I did...WOW.
Jars of caramel sauce became my signature gift, and my friends and family often requested it. After I gave some to the wonderful farmer who runs a CSA I belong to, he suggested I sell it at the farm. The timing was auspicious, as my youngest was preparing for Kindergarten, and I was for the outside-the-home workforce. I figured if there was ever a time to give entrepreneurship a go, it was then. It took me a year of planning, research, and a lot of hard work to get my business, The Ardent Homesteader, off the ground. Reflecting back on the last eight years, working for myself has been both incredibly hard and extremely gratifying. I am motivated each day by my family. Being able to help provide for them while doing what I love is a privilege I don't take lightly.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is the steady growth I have achieved. Anytime I feel discouraged, I try to remember that this business didn't exist until I created it. Now I have a robust wholesale business, with many retail partners selling my product and, more personally, direct (online and in-person) customers who tell me how much they love what I make. Their feedback really keeps me going.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Time management! One of the reasons I began this journey was to have income but be my own boss, so I could be flexible and have more time for my family. Well, the joke's on me...the job sometimes feels like it is 24/7.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Ask for help. There are many great (free!) programs that can assist with business plans, etc. Check out your area SCORE and SBDC offices.
- Take time for self-care (easier said than done, I know) to avoid burnout.
- Beware of imposter syndrome. In this age of social media, it is very easy to fall into that trap. Just be yourself and go with your gut.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.ardenthomesteader.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ardenthomesteader
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ardenthomesteader/
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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