Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Trent Beard, co-owner of Mr. Smith's Coffee House, located in Sandusky, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Mr. Smith's is the coffee shop where I always would have wanted to hang out... if I weren't already working here. It's an eclectic space in a building that was originally built as a silent movie theater located in the heart of downtown Sandusky, Ohio. We serve made-to-order espresso and coffee beverages of all kinds as well as fresh and quick breakfast and lunch items to the people who live and work in the area as well as the many tourists who visit Lake Erie and Cedar Point every year. We do our best to provide wonderful coffee and food in a cozy atmosphere.
Tell us about yourself
My wife Sara and I started working together at a little local coffee shop back in 1994. Over the years, we worked, both together and separately, at coffee shops in the local area, including 11 years managing a store that was part of a national chain. In 2008 we finally made our dream of owning our own coffee house come true and opened Mr. Smith's Coffee House in May of that year. The name "Mr. Smith's" comes from a small old fashioned general store in my mother's hometown of Green Springs, Ohio. It was owned and operated by a man named Bob Smith, and everyone called it Mr. Smith's. It was the center of town where everyone could enjoy time spent with friends and neighbors. That is what we want Mr. Smith's to be for Sandusky.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We are finishing our 14th year in business this May. This will be the longest job I've ever had. Combined with all the other coffee businesses we've worked for, Sara and I each have nearly 30 years of experience in the industry. We have also been voted favorite coffee shop by readers of the local newspaper The Sandusky Register about a dozen times over the years.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Time off is hard to come by. It's hard to schedule time off, but it's also hard to not think about your business, even if you do manage to scrape out some time away from it. It's just part of the cost of doing business. There are costs and trade-offs for anything worthwhile.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Estimate high on costs and be sure to have access to more capital than you think you will need.
- Be clear on the core values of your business. If you have clearly defined policies and practices, you can better handle problems and disappointments.
- Enjoy every little success.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Your local business, no matter what the product or service, is always the best choice.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mrsmithscoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrsmithscoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.smithscoffee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsmithscoffee
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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