Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lauren Warmke, owner of Simply Sweets By Lauren, located in Hillsborough, NJ.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My shop is Simply Sweets By Lauren. It's a specialty bakeshop & cake studio located in Central, NJ. The shop has become a destination and Saturday ritual for my community. I always dreamt of creating a shop that people would have to see when they visit our town. Making the treats from scratch right here in our 600 square foot space definitely helps draw them in. Our business model has always kept customers scratching their heads, we are only open Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm each week. This concept works wonderfully for a one-woman show, not that I want to continue being solo, it just keeps ending this way.
Tell us about yourself
I was a stay-at-home mom and wanted to continue to be one, so I started baking for friends and friends of friends. Word of mouth spreads faster than any advertising I know and I quickly found myself with a full-blown cake & treat business. I knew I wanted to continue to be 100% available to my children, so when it came time to open my brick & mortar, I made sure it worked around my life. That's where the Saturday's only came into play. Balance is hard and not always perfect, but my family is what motivates me to do my best each day so it's easier with their support.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Biggest accomplishment, yikes. That's a tricky question. I think my shop has to be my biggest accomplishment. I put my mind to it, I wanted to be the first, still the only, bakeshop in my hometown. It was a long road but the hard work, tears, and late nights are totally worth it in the end!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
No one tells you how to be a Boss or that hiring would be so difficult. I think it's the hardest thing about owning a small business. I mean small business owners do all the things, bookkeeper, accountant, baker, decorator, scheduling, HR, marketing, janitor etc. so that's tough. Building a team, managing them and keeping them is much hard than I ever imagined. Coming off the penny isn't making it any easier on me. I'll make it through though, promise!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I think one of the top 3 tips I've learned owning a small business are:
1. Building a support system of like-minded business owners is so important. I am so lucky to have an incredible tribe of entrepreneur, geez hate that word, besties. These people support and help me through the toughest times. Some are fellow bakers, some are mentors I've met along the way, and some are my family.
2. Do your homework!! It's not enough to build it and think the people will come. You have to understand you customers and how you can help serve them.
3. My last tip is to give yourself grace, you are stronger than you think you are, you cannot and will not please everyone all the time, so please cut yourself some slack.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Loving what you do is no joke, I always heard people say that when I was growing up. "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." While not entirely true, I love what I do and creating each day something new brings me so much joy. Find something that you have a passion for and figure out a way to monetize it, and it will make all the hard days well worth it.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.simplysweetsbylauren.com
https://www.instagram.com/simplysweetsbylauren/
https://www.facebook.com/SSbyLauren
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.
