Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jean Blacklock, Owner of Sticky, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sticky Bakery makes nostalgic baked goods that make people happy. Our customers are people of all ages who love sharing great food with friends and family.
Tell us about yourself
I am a lawyer by profession and also have worked in financial services. My first business was Prairie Girl Bakery which I owned for ten years. PGB closed during the pandemic, but I learned so much from it that I just really wanted to take all that education and apply it again in a fresh way. I love my new business and how it teaches me things I didn't learn in my first business.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am really good at building great teams, and I'm also skilled in customer service. I have had my share of "misses" in both of these areas, but overall, these are my strengths. In my opinion, team building and exceptional customer service must be part of every solid business.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
You know, there is tough stuff in every line of work, and I don't think the challenges of being a business owner are much different than those of being, say, a lawyer or a bank executive. The beauty of being a business owner, though, is the flexibility and autonomy - as your own boss, you must work very hard, but no one is telling you what to do.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- There is no overnight success - every single business out there is the result of a lot of creativity and hard work.
- You will want to quit, and you just have to keep going because tomorrow will be better.
- You will never regret treating people well, whether they are team members or customers.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://stickybuns.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sticky.bakery.toronto/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-blacklock-61955461/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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