Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Laura Retavizca, owner of HOME Cocina Colombiana, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is sharing Colombian culture, traditions, and passion through food staples, like arepas and empanadas. We offer Colombians a taste that reminds them of HOME but attempts to give everyone a familiar feeling through our food.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Laura. I am proudly from the capital of Colombia, Bogotá. Since I’ve started this culinary journey, from when I was a little girl in my family’s kitchen to a young adult cooking in school to an independent woman creating dishes at many different restaurants around Colombia and North America, the dream was always to highlight Colombian food through a business of my own. Coming to Canada and witnessing what the general population thinks of Colombia is what motivates me to change that mindset and prove that Colombia is more than the negative stereotypes. The spirit of its people deserves better representation, and I want to show it through my food.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Doing what I love to do every day is an accomplishment, and it continues to grow bigger. As a small business owner, you take all accomplishments every day (even the little ones), and you use that as momentum for the next day, and the next day and the next day; before you know it, your accomplishments are larger than you though they can be.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part for me was feeling disappointed in my shortcomings. I’m too much of a perfectionist. It’s only natural to feel down when things don’t go right, so it’s a challenge to realize that it’s part of the process.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- START!!!!!!!!!! The regret of “what if” will outweigh the regret of failure every time.
- Consistency. No one goes from zero to a hundred. You get there by constantly pushing toward your goal.
- Love what you do. If you do what you do for money, there will never be enough money. If you do what you do for celebrities, there will never be enough recognition, but if you do what you do out of love, the people around you will grow, the community you create will grow, and there can never be enough love.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
As this has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, this vision would not be what it is today without the support of my family and the efforts of my husband.
Where can people find you and your business?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOME.yvr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/home.cocinacolombiana/
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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