We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Samuels Minichiello a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Angela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
It is impossible to nail down the perfect recipe for success in every industry and for every person. But the things that have been the most important for me over the last eight years are passion, resiliency and gratitude.
If you are not passionate about what you are creating, selling or serving, success will always be a struggle. Narrow in on what lights you up and chase that. Serving and feeding people brings me absolute joy so our business and its success are built around that defining passion.
No matter how well you plan, challenges will come in any business. Being mentally prepared that MANY curveballs will come is crucial. Instead of dwelling when things don’t go as planned shake it off and start pivoting to plan B, C or D.
Probably most important to remember is gratitude for the struggles and the successes. When you get caught up in the grind of business ownership and growth, it’s hard to remember to appreciate how far you have come. Just by taking the leap to go after your dreams, you have set yourself apart from most people and it’s important to take time to remember the wins, big or small along the way.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am the co owner and creative director of The Hardware House Kitchen and co owner of Sweet Sage Baking Company.
After another career in wholesale fashion and 10 years of food blogging, I started over in 2016 to chase my dreams of being a chef and business owner. These days, I manage the teams, food and creative direction of the luxury catering and events company I own with my husband Wes Minichiello and the bespoke baking company I own with my long time friend, Lindsey Johnston.
In my old career I felt pigeon holed into a very business path. I always felt creative and that I had art to share, but no one wanted to listen to the sales, customer service or branding manager roles I was holding.
In creating our companies, we have spent time curating teams of people who have multiple passions and who love a collaborative work environment. Our employees don’t work for us, they work with us and we try to show them that through culture and compensation.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In September 2015, three months before our wedding, I was let go from my company in a restructure. Wholesale fashion was the only industry I had ever known and while I had been food blogging for 4 years at that point, I had no real plans to start over in a new industry where I had no formal training and no network.
Despite my lack of plan, I knew in the moment I was losing my job, that this was the push I needed to start something new. At the time, I wasn’t naturally a risk taker and I was loyal to a fault. That company letting me go was exactly what I needed to go chase my dreams.
The next week, I signed up for yoga teacher training and started working for another caterer and NEVER looked back. I was unfulfilled in my former life, and now I get to teach mindfulness and movement to people and celebrate people on their most special days through food and service.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I actually have two partners.
Wes is my partner in The Hardware House Kitchen and in life. Thirteen years ago, we were both out with friends at a local bar for live band karaoke. His friend was hitting on my friend so we chatted on the side. Now we have two kids and a catering company.
Lindsey is my partner in Sweet Sage Baking Co and we met in middle school! For 25 years we have been close friends. Neither of us would have had any clue we would be baking and business buddies back in the day, but we are the perfect match!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehardwarehousekitchen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newfoodtuesdayz?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-samuels-a593903b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
Candice Dartez Photography
https://www.instagram.com/candicedartezphotography?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==