We were lucky to catch up with Katie Webb recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.
Coming from an entrepreneurial household, I am a big proponent of family businesses! There is something special about sharing the small business journey with those who are closest to you. When family businesses are structured well, they can provide a tangible sense of unity and a common goal. That being said, I’ve found that the most important piece of blending business and family is an ability to release expectations. Your family members will always have different viewpoints and unique ways of operating. Don’t expect them to do things exactly the way you do! Sit back, offer support, and let the magic happen. It is so rewarding to watch your loved ones flourish. My own children have both been taken by the entrepreneurial spirit. Currently, one is diving into a family business, while the other is busily forming her own business path. We’re excited for them both!
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.
Hello! I’m Katie, owner of charcuterie catering company Tasteful Table Boards. At TTB, we strive to create beautiful charcuterie arrangements that create memorable experiences. There is truly something special about watching your guests gather around the table, mixing ingredients and blending ideas! I really realized the importance of shared experiences one day when watching my entire family gather around one of the first boards I had ever created. Conversation sparked, and generations of family came together as they traded bites and flavors. I knew right away that I wanted to create that feeling for others. Later (and with much prompting from friends and family) Tasteful Table Boards was born. I truly believe that’s what sets TTB apart. We create each and every one of our arrangements as a lived experience and future memory – not just a cheese board!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
When I first started Tasteful Table Boards, I thought social media was going to be my bread and butter. In my mind, I pictured a string of posts and messages, and really envisioned it as a flurry of activity! What has been most surprising to me is that the bulk of my clients come by word of mouth. As we strive to create top-shelf experiences on our end, our clients have always been generous enough to share our products and services with their loved ones. We are so thankful for our amazing clientele!
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
Ecommerce through large platforms is a fascinating new facet to the charcuterie industry. Individually packaging ingredients and shipping them across the country is extremely innovative and has recently caught a lot of attention! Personally, I can see allure – a supplied charcuterie box ordered and left right at your door. The fallback, though, is that these products still usually require time from the client. Time to unpack, time to arrange the ingredients, and time to try to preserve or store it before their guests arrive – and this is time that not all clients have. There is also still something to be said about hand-crafted and hand-delivered charcuterie arrangements. There’s a sweetness, ease, and personability to it that is lost in the commercial shipping process. For the moment, TTB’s clients still prefer the hand-to-table experience of ordering directly from our website, but ecommerce expansion is something we will be keeping our eye on!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tastefultableboards.com
- Instagram: @tastefultableboards
- Facebook: @tastefultableboards