We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julissa Vogel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julissa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?

When it comes to social media and small businesses people typically want to see the face(s) behind the product. At least I know I do. I run my own social media because I am the sole person in the business. I have all the behind the scenes information. I have all the product pictures. I know what I want my content to look like, and it looks different from others, but it’s genuine and it’s me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I don’t feel as though I do anything groundbreaking. I make charcuterie boards. Not the physical board, but I put the meat and cheese on the trays, or boxes, or boards, etc.

Building a business from this was never on my mind, far from it. I make it a part-time business. I love my life as a homemaker and stay at home mom. I homeschool my kids, and they are my priority. However, I kind of just fell into this and I fell in love with it. It’s my own tiny slice of life that is just mine.

Honestly, anyone can throw meat and cheese on a board and people will eat it. However, I put a lot of work and thought into putting together something that is not only delicious, but also visually appealing for my customers. Everyone has their own style, too.

I also provide workshops where I teach people how to build their own charcuterie boards. I also try to provide as much education as I can. We play games, I answer any questions people may have, and just try to have a fun night out.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first started, I cried many tears trying to get my small kitchen open and operating. I was only there for three months before I had to leave due to issues with the building. In two weeks I had found someplace new, moved out, and then moved in on a day I had a huge order. It was a difficult and stressful time. I cried a lot, almost gave up, but I’m glad I hung in there.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

There have been a few times when I’ve had unexpected expenses arise. I remember once just looking at my business account wondering how I was going to get products for upcoming orders. They were already paid for, but because of those expenses, I took a hit. I never relied on any loans. However, sometimes you just have to take a risk, luckily this was low risk. I took a small loan to help cover expenses and was able to pay it back quickly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://seguincharcuterie.wixsite.com/seguincharcuterie
• Instagram: @seguincharcuterie
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/seguincharcuterie