Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Janina McCue, founder of Red Poppy Cakery LLC., located in Waterbury, VT, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Red Poppy Cakery specializes in celebration through custom cakes and desserts and baking experiences through virtual workshops and soon-to-be in-person events. We love partnering with families and small businesses for their celebrations and gatherings, big and small, that make people feel special, seen, and loved.
Tell us about yourself
I decided I wanted to open my own cake business when I was 14 years old. The cake design was a hobby that accidentally grew into a business around that time. By 16 years old, I made my first wedding cake for a friend of a friend of a friend. Deciding this was my path so young allowed me to be very intentional in the academics and jobs I pursued over the next decade-plus. I studied entrepreneurship for my undergrad at Babson College. I worked in bakeries, cafes, and a cooking school all over New England while still operating my small, at-home custom cake business. I opened Red Poppy Cakery in April 2018 in a shared commercial kitchen space currently in Burlington, Vermont. I love that I get to be part of peoples' special moments and that every week is filled with new projects where I can be creative in the flavors, techniques, and designs I create.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It is not a secret that being in the celebrations industry during a pandemic was not ideal. I was just shy of 1 year into my business when the pandemic shut me down completely for two full months. I needed a way to work and keep the business going, so I pivoted to offer virtual baking classes via Zoom. This allowed me to connect with my clients in a new way by spending time teaching them, and it allowed my outreach to geographically grow far beyond the boundaries of how far I would be willing to deliver a cake. This pivot, along with getting back into the kitchen after that two-month closure, allowed me to triple my business in its second year open. That pivot was the best decision I ever made and influenced the direction we would take in the future. Year 3 has been another incredible year of growth for both business models. We are going to be jumping into year 4 in a brand new brick and mortar business where we will make custom confections and have a teaching space for in person workshops and events. We are currently under construction in downtown Waterbury. Navigating these changes and this growth as a one-woman show has challenged me, pushed me to grow, and blessed me with an incredible community of support.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of being a business owner is navigating boundaries, especially through the pandemic. It is sometimes hard to separate Janina, the human being, from Janina, the business owner. I am not saying this part of me isn't authentic or that I don't enjoy it being part of my identity. Just that it can be hard to remember, I am most creative when I have the time to rest, reflect, and be present in the world outside of work. Rest is an important ingredient of productivity and creativity.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be very clear to yourself about your "why" so that you can lean on it when you are tired or when things get hard. Surround yourself with a network and community that believe in YOUR vision and want to help you see it through. Trust your gut and intuition. It is far more informed than you think.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Let them eat cake!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://redpoppycakery.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedPoppyCakeryVT/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redpoppycakeryvt/
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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