We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristin Surowiec a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kristin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My passion for designing boards grew out of my love for bringing people together at events and parties. I started building charcuterie boards 5 years ago as the perfect appetizer for my gatherings with family and friends. Over the years, I’ve realized that boards add a level of luxury that creates a truly unique experience for hosts and guests alike. It is amazing that something as simple as meats, cheeses and produce can create such an engaging opportunity for connection, while elevating the look and feel of an event.
After moving to Florida from New England, I knew there was no better time to create Ancient City Charcuterie and engage in my community through custom charcuterie experiences. While I know there were other charcuterie companies in the area, I knew my attention to detail, focus on client customization and diverse offerings of products would set me apart.
Kristin , 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?
As I shared above, I started Ancient City Charcuterie because I love how a board full of delicious foods arranged perfectly can bring people together. People lead busy lives, and hosting or planning events can be stressful. Ancient City takes the stress off my clients when it comes to figuring out what food to serve and how much to buy. I also wanted Ancient City Charcuterie to be different, so I focused on ensuring whatever board/cup/table the client chooses, the food choices are customized to meet their needs or fit the theme of the event. There is no cookie cutter approach.
To expand beyond boards and grazing tables, I started creating customized holiday /event boxes. Examples include; Valentines boxes, teacher appreciation boxes, sport team boxes, snackleboxes, etc. These are each customized for the event, wrapped in a beautiful bow and given as gifts or fun surprises. They are unique, different and a huge hit. I partner with local vendors to incorporate some special touches like custom cookies. Lastly, I pride myself on the ability to meet last minute requests which some larger charcuterie companies cannot offer.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
For me, right now, this is a side business that I am continuing to grow. I do not have experience in starting a business so it has been a lot of learning and trial & error along the way. Establishing a legitimate business, networking, getting your name out there and social media are all very challenging when you have little to no cash up front. It is a lot of hustle, heart and determination to figure it out. It is worth it though to hear the amazing feedback that comes from clients when they first see a giant grazing table spread across a table or a beautiful board that was enjoyed by all of their guests.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
My first clients were friends and family placing orders but that can only take you so far. I leveraged them for help in spreading the word. Sharing on social media, telling their friends, etc. I also do a ton of vendor events and networking meetings. The vendor events are always hit or miss but if nothing else you are getting you face and name out there and that is what counts. I also work closely with other small business owners that can align to charcuterie (event venues, florists, picnic companies, magazines, boutiques) to create a tight partnership where they send me clients and I send them clients. Small business owners need to stick together so having a good group where everyone is helping each other is huge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.ancientcitycharcuterie.com
- Instagram: @anient_city_charcuterie
- Facebook: Ancient_city_charcuterie
Image Credits
Humble and Grace Photography