Fresh Bagels With Great Taste - The Bagel House
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Satnam Chouhan, founder of The Bagel House, located in Toronto, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a conglomerate of bagel bakeries located in the north end of Toronto. We focus on providing the best Montreal-style bagels Toronto has to offer, ranging from hot sesame seed bagels to fresh pastries baked in-house. All our bakeries are fitted with a wood-burning oven that allows us to make fresh bagels all day long. We have customers of all types, ranging from students to locals and up-and-coming professionals. We are the first bagel bakery in Ontario to be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Tell us about yourself
When I first arrived in Canada, I started my career as a cleaner at local bakeries located in Montreal. I didn't come from a wealthy family, forcing me to make ends meet with the resources I had available to me. I have always had a passion for food as I used to be the head chef for a restaurant in Germany. During my free time as a cleaner here in Canada, I would learn the art of making bagels. From there, I would become a full-time baker, and shortly after, I would be promoted to General Manager. After mastering my craft, I decided to come to Toronto to pursue my own bagel venture, now called The Bagel House.
They say when you love something, you will never work a day in your life, and that's true. My motivation derives from the love of making high-quality bagels. Ever since our inception, one of my biggest motivators has been the community. The amount of love and support the community has shown over the years has pushed us to create more locations and products. That is the true root of our motivation and the catalyst for our companies growth.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is the ability to provide for my community. As I stated, the community is what helped our business grow so quickly, and I am quick to give that love and support back. Ranging from donations to local organizations to giving free food to those in need. Indeed, opening multiple locations was a great achievement, but it was only possible because the people believed in us, and that's why I believe supporting your community is the most important thing you can do as a business owner.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a business owner is a very challenging venture, especially at the beginning of your career. When opening my first location, managing finances and making free time for my family was a huge hurdle. However, as time goes on, you learn to optimize your workflow and business model, making it easier to have more time for the things that are most important, like family and friends.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The top 3 tips I would give to those looking to start their entrepreneurial career would be to have patience, commitment, and the ability to deal with adversity. Having a strong dedication to your craft, coupled with the ability to stay committed, is a key aspect of dealing with the problems you will face in your career as an entrepreneur. If you can master these skills, the heights that you can achieve are never-ending.
Anything else you'd like to share?
With hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn, anything is possible. If you truly believe in your dreams and goals, don't stop for anything to make them a reality.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/thebagelhouse/
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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