Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nicole Liu, founder of VESTER, located in Cambridge, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
VESTER is a cafe and lifestyle brand. We're located in the heart of Kendall Square, Cambridge, serving upscale cafe fare and internationally inspired eclectic coffee and tea beverages. We also offer luxury catering and event services. In 2020 we expanded our brand into the lifestyle category with take-home meal kits, clothing, swag, and fragrance.
Kendall Square is a global crossroads of science, MIT, and biotech. We are so privileged to serve an eclectic community that embraces our concept. VESTER's inspiration originated in my travels abroad, and it's inspiring and rewarding to see people from around the world connect through food and beverage of various cuisines and cultures.
Tell us about yourself
My parents opened one of Boston's first gourmet Chinese fine dining restaurants in Boston in the 1980s. Sally Ling's was their expression of upscale Asian cuisine and served well-renowned guests, including Julia Child and Yo-Yo Ma. Traveling and dining were cornerstones of my upbringing and have always been a passion. VESTER fuels this passion for connecting and exciting communities through food and beverage. The VESTER experience and vibe is an energy and inspiration that encourages me to dive deeper into our concept and community every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
VESTER is not only female and minority-owned but also operated by a team of strong women! By chance, we've always had a dominantly female staff, and it's been my greatest pleasure to advise, mentor, and guide young women from all walks of life. It is incredibly rewarding to watch these girls flourish into strong, confident, entrepreneurial bosses!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, it is and will always be difficult to remove myself from the business. A business is like a child, and every detail is birthed and nurtured by my vision and standard of excellence. However, it is critical to train the team and allow them to grow. By doing so, I try my best to set my leadership team up for success and cultivate them into ambassadors of the brand.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Think outside the box, get creative, be wild, be different, and believe in your work.
- Remember your priorities; you are a business.
- If something isn't working, change it immediately. When you do establish yourself, don't forget to stay in your lane and give the customers what they want.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.vestercafe.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestercafe/
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.