Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Greg Miller, CEO of MagicKitchen.com, located in Lenexa, KS, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
MagicKitchen.com provides frozen prepared meals to individuals that want to eat and be healthy. Focused on seniors in their homes or people requiring special diets, our meals are great for quick and simple meal preparation. Nearly all are precooked and only require reheating in the oven or microwave. We have an a-la-carte menu where you mix and match items you want, and then we also have a full line of complete meals. We have many customers that have been with us for over ten years, getting regular orders on our menus!!
Another part of our business is meal gifts for individuals or families with a new baby, death in the family, illness, etc., that help them out at a time of need. Our meals are a simple way to help out from afar. Lastly, we also provide meals for insurance companies and government agencies across the country.
Tell us about yourself
My wife, Michelle, and I started the business in late 2005. At that time, our offices were located in Northern California, and we wanted to serve the Northern California marketplace. Within six months of starting our business, we had more orders being shipped East of the Mississippi River than in Northern California. With this occurring, we decided to put our distribution center into the greater Kansas City area in 2008. Since that time, we have been sending all of our orders out from this area. We moved our offices to Kansas in 2017 after our youngest daughter went to University, so our office and warehouse were co-located. We have worked on all operations from a single location since that time.
Prior to MagicKitchen.com, both of us had time in the food business, and then we were in high tech. Well paid but not personally gratifying, we decided to start MagicKitchen.com to help people be and stay healthy in their homes.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
In our case, it feels good that we are truly helping people in many ways. We have people who say their health has never been better, and others we are able to extend their life significantly by having them eat properly.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Never lose sight of what you are trying to do. Make sure you are fully committed to being a success in the field of your choice and constantly work towards the goal.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a good plan but be somewhat flexible to changes and opportunities as they arise.
- For the first 4-5 years, work your butt off to see what results you can accomplish. Then continue on the same after that!
- Never give up!!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.magickitchen.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/magickitchen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/magickitchen
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.