We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alicia Starks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alicia below.

Alicia , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

If I could go back in time, I still do not wish to have started my business sooner. I started my business in September of 2021, during the pandemic. At that time I worked full-time from home due to the Pandemic’s Quarantine. I worked as an Sr. Account Executive, for a Logistics company. My love for food and charcuterie was always there, but the pandemic quarantine gave me an extra push to really tap into my love for food and food styling. I went back and forth in my mind, trying to figure what is next for me, business venture wise?! Quarantined in the house and not having access to our everyday resources and essentials was a major eye opener for me.

I am a single parent of boy/girl twins, and I refuse to not be able to provide them with the essentials they need, a roof over their heads, safe/reliable transportation and food. When we were able to return to the grocery stores, I went to two of my favorite stores Trader Joe’s and Mariano’s. As I stood in the cheese aisle, looking for a cheese I’d like to make a charcuterie board for myself as I’d always do – ding! The lightbulb in my head went off. I said to myself, I am going to start making charcuterie boards and posting them on my social media. I rushed home, to make one and I texted me sister a picture and told her, I am going to start making charcuterie! She had no idea what it was but was in full support lol.

Now fast forward, that same year, I moved into a new house! At first I was afraid because I felt it was a lot on plate, so maybe I should wait to do charcuterie, but my bestfriend said “why can’t you do both?” So I did just that both! Had I started sooner, I may have flopped on put my business on hold because we got hit with the pandemic. Had I started later, I may have never started, due to life’s curve balls or I may have just gotten started due to procrastination! My plan and Gods plan is just what it’s supposed to be!

Alicia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Alicia Starks, a 36 year-old mother of twins, born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. I earned my B.A. in Corporate Communications from Northern Illinois University in 2012 and began my career in banking, working my way from intern to personal banker. After college, I juggled two jobs working full-time as a server while also serving as a hotel front desk supervisor and executive administrative assistant for four years.

In April 2023, at 34 years old, I took a leap of faith, leaving my full-time logistics job of five years to pursue my dream of running a charcuterie business. All A’Board Cheese & Charcuterie was born in September 2021 during the pandemic, what started as a passionate hobby quickly grew into a thriving business. My love for food, flavors, and aesthetics naturally led me to charcuterie, an art form that combines cured and smoked meats with cheeses, fruits, pickles, and condiments to create visually stunning and delicious spreads.

While I appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted charcuterie board, quality is my top priority. I want my food to transport people to make them feel like they’re somewhere they wish they could be. That’s the experience I strive to create for every customer. My attention to detail is a major part of what makes me different. The ability to customize your order to your liking and elevate your event with the ultimate graze, means everything to me.

Looking ahead, my goal is to secure funding to expand my business and build the dream team that will take All A’Board to the next level.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A major lesson I learned is to minimize and/or be more selective with the information I share with others. We all have opinions, we all want support and maybe even some sort of validation at a point, well I know I did. I had to unlearn, all that! I was told “you have kids, you need your job. You need full benefits. Etc etc. “ I don’t think that advice was malicious of any sort because it is true! But it did begin to make me think twice, as to if I should pursue charcuterie full time or not. Pick one or two people to talk to and that is it! Do what works for you! Have a plan and execute. Also you never know who isn’t rooting for you!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Post and promote! Now days anything is content! I am not the most shabby content girlie myself, but it is crucial. I started with Instagram, then I’d share it to my personal Facebook and Instagram. Then I got a website. Give people an easy, clear and efficient way to order and contact you. Take pictures and videos of all your and try to record the process or ask someone to record and capture pictures for you. Reply to people’s comments & it’s ok to show love to others as well. Videos like TikTok’s and reels are so important, daily.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://allaboardcheeseandcharcuterie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/all_a_board.llc?igsh=MWlydXNreXZjbHBkMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allaboardllc?_t=ZT-8uGtmodMV2s&_r=1

Image Credits

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