Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joanna Benkowski-Santiago, Founder of The Cheese Maven, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own and operate a small but mighty cheese and charcuterie catering company. I prepare trays for gifts and events, as well as install large-scale grazing tables for large events. My customers are a broad range of food-loving people who like to share with others.
Tell us about yourself
I've been enamored with food my entire life and started cooking professionally in 2008 during culinary school. The restaurant industry was absolutely riveting but also a bit heartbreaking, so I left it behind to do my own version of what I do best. These are extremely challenging times, but my customers and even my friends who support my business are the reason I try so hard to keep it going! Whole-hearted compliments stay with me for weeks and years on end. I just want to make people happy! Lastly, the amazing and talented people who source and create the cheese that I sell and use are a huge source of inspiration for me. I can't believe how delicious these creations are, And how lucky I am to work with cheese as a medium.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Thus far, our biggest accomplishment is being booked for an entire season ahead of time. I can't express the overwhelming joy. I felt like looking at my calendar for the first time and knowing that I was completely booked up and sold out.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think for me, it's definitely the work-life balance since so much of what I do bleeds into personal time or takes over personal time completely. I could work 200 hours a week if I let myself, but it's not for the best.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Ask for as much help as you can possibly get to get things started. Don't let other people's opinions get in your way too much, but let them be a gentle guide, especially when there is an expert to be considered. Trust your gut, and go with what you know. Do what you do best, and you cannot fail.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thecheesemavenchicago.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannathecheesemaven/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecheesemavenchicago/
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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