Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Makenzie Marzluff, founder of Delighted by + Requestbar, located in Bozeman, Montana, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur with several businesses - all currently in the food space. DELIGHTED BY is home to the original dessert hummus - as seen on ABC's shark tank and hundreds of other media outlets. DELIGHTED BY now sells high-vibe desserts out of our own manufacturing facility in Montana, including allergen-free brownies and various flavors of blondies.
REQUESTbar is a protein bar company with a mission to inspire people to pursue their wildest dreams - and to take courageous leaps of faith in doing so. We infuse all of our products with sound, color, art, dance, and energy technology that is scientifically proven to impact the mind, body, and spirit positively.
Tell us about yourself
For me, it's about service and offering my creativity to the world in a way that will have a positive impact. Certain visions present themselves to me, and if I have the passion and drive to pursue those visions, I do so. DELIGHTED BY and REQUESTbar is two visions that effortlessly presented themselves to me. I then decided to take courageous action to make them a physical reality. I am driven by letting something bigger than me move through me in hopes of benefiting the planet and humanity - and of course, to experience a ton of fun and personal growth along the way!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Pivoting my business from the retail model to an e-commerce model based out of our own food manufacturing facility.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Hiring the right team. It has taken a lot of personal growth in terms of my leadership to learn how to hire the right people and to collaborate with them in a way that allows them to grow + make mistakes while also being clear in the expectations of the business. I never want to be the 'bad guy,' but sometimes, that has hurt me in the past. I have been challenged a lot by learning to speak my full truth and trust my intuition when someone doesn't feel right for my business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know that your genuine creativity and heart-centered business WILL be supported by the Universe. Sometimes it can feel scary because you're jumping into the unknown - but it's worth it, and you will be required to take leaps of faith. Trust, surrender, and keep believing in yourself.
- Know when to ask for support and hire help - stay in YOUR zone of genius and call on the right people to contribute their complementary skill sets and gifts.
- Just because it's been done before in a certain way doesn't mean that YOU need to do it that way. Be brave enough to pioneer new ways, to think differently, to push the edges of what has been possible in the past.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
My book on conscious business is a great place for people to learn more about my core principles and operating manuals when it comes to entrepreneurship + leadership. How To Lead A Badass Business From Your Heart - available on Amazon and all online book retailers. (check it out, makenziemarzluff.com)
Where can people find you and your business?
Website:
https://www.delightedby.co/
https://www.requestbar.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/requestbarofficial/
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.