Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brianne Taylor, Sales & Marketing Manager of Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, located in Arcata, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate. A small batch bean to bar craft chocolate maker from Northern California. My business partner Adam Dick & I (Dustin Taylor) started making chocolate 11 years ago out of curiosity to understand how chocolate is made. We use only the finest flavor-grade organic cacao along with the best organic sugar. We are proud to make some of the best chocolate you can find, starting with the fermented cocoa bean and processing it entirely in our factory from bean to finished chocolate bar.
Tell us about yourself
What motivates me is the unknown challenge of what will come up that day. The competitiveness of being more and more efficient is exciting. Every day we're trying to hone our craft more and more.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I feel like the biggest is creating a business that supports 25 people's livelihoods. It's chugging along, and we're all a big family. After 11 years in, we're still growing and employing more and more people. Oh, and continuing to win awards in our 11th year doesn't hurt.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the best and worst parts is that every day is completely different. Keeping you light on your toes can be discouraging, machines break, and issues happen. It is very rewarding to be able to fix something and know how it works, but it can be really hard.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Delegate to elevate. Hire employees sooner than later. It was really scary to hire our first employee, but it was the greatest thing we ever did.
- Keep a positive attitude each day - you never know what will come up but keeping a positive attitude is key.
- Collaborate with others, don't be afraid to ask other local business leaders who've been at it a long time. They have so much to offer. Find someone who is willing to share and make friends with them.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://dicktaylorchocolate.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dicktaylorchocolate/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dicktaylorchocolate/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/craftchocolate
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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