Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meagan Young-Bibby, co-owner of The Lake Village Bakery, located in Osoyoos, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The Lake Village Bakery specializes in artisan sourdough bread and pastries. Each loaf takes three days to make, from mixing through baking. We bake with local, organic, and spray-free fruit and vegetables in season. We also stock up and process our favourites for mid-winter bursts of flavour in the form of galettes, berry tarts, shortcakes, and savoury treats.
Our goal is to create exceptional customer experiences with each person that walks through our door. At the Lake Village Bakery, you will always be greeted and treated like family!
Tell us about yourself
I began my career in the arts and entertainment industry and baked for enjoyment in my free time. After traveling in 2016, my now-husband and business partner, Ian, and I found ourselves in Osoyoos, where I pursued an Apprenticeship at The Lake Village Bakery while running my own baking company, The Ginger Baker, predominantly at farmers markets and events. Within a year of my journey at The LVB, Ian and I purchased the bakery. We continue to develop our recipes and methods, including creating new all-natural yeast sourdough breads and pastries, plant-based creations and cakes, and whatever else piques our interest!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Taking the leap from side-hustle independent baker to an employee and then full-time business owner of a brick-and-mortar store, particularly one with such a strong and passionate following, was a huge challenge and accomplishment. My partner Ian and I work side by side daily to meet the demand of our customer base while still finding time to explore new recipes, trial test things we dream up, and perfect items to put to market. Having a small core team that works well together and enjoys each other's company is a huge part of running a small business. We are very fortunate to have those people and each other.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Finding the balance between personal life and work life is a struggle for most small business owners. When you love what you do and you care about your team and your customers, the boundaries between work and home can get blurry. It's important to set boundaries early on and be kind to yourself when you can't accomplish everything you want in a workday. Leave time for fun!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be kind to yourself. You're going to make mistakes.
- Your gut feeling is always right.
- Take risks that you feel good about, but don't overextend yourself thinking the goodwill always be constant. Baby steps!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Being a business owner, particularly in the foodservice industry, is about more than making sales and keeping staff. There's an art to what we do, and if it's labour without love, it won't work. Baking is about making powerful connections to people's emotions and memories, and you can make a world of difference in someone's day with a perfect croissant or a warm loaf of bread. It's a real privilege to share that.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://thelakevillagebakery.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelakevillagebakery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelakevillagebakery/
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.