We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lee Bogle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lee below.
Lee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Southern Sideboard started in 2008 when I could not find the southern delicacies I grew up with in Georgia. My mother informed me they were homemade recipes that had been passed down from family through the generations. I began making cheese straws, caramel cakes, pecan sandies, ham biscuits, tomato aspic and my friends went nuts. During the holidays, I would sell them in pop up shops. In December 2020, I lost my job due to COVID-19 cutbacks. Having just gone through a personal and life-changing ordeal, I found myself broke with no job and two young boys to raise – who just happened to be in elementary school dealing with online learning. I freaked out for a day and decided to make Southern Sideboard a legitimate business the next day.
I started making weekly meals for families and delivering them to their door with reheating instructions. Demand grew and I found myself in a commissary kitchen to fulfill my orders. Two years later, I have my own shop (that is also a commissary kitchen), staff, a catering business, grab and go market, and online market for my southern staples (madeleines, cheese straws, and pecan sandies).
Lee, 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?
Southern Sideboard is truly unique as we offer family size meals as well as individual portions. Meals are fully cooked with fresh, seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced and come with simple reheating instructions. Our menu offers classic southern soul food as well as fresh salads and soups. The mission is simple: life is busy ~ let me do the cooking. Our society is pulled in so many directions that we have lost the art of sitting down as a family. You don’t need to slave in the kitchen after a hard day of work. And you certainly don’t need to go through another drive through after piano practice eating on the way to tutoring. Our reheat and eat meals offer fresh, healthy, and delicious food for the busiest of families to find 15 minutes to carve out and sit down together.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Starting my business was so scary because I literally had $500 in my bank account. I bought the groceries for my first client and took the net proceeds and went from there. Two years later it is still job to job to pay the bills – and that is the hardest part. Everyone is struggling so many times – people don’t honor commitments and pay on time. It has been the most stressful yet rewarding job. I still get goosebumps every time I drive by my shop and see my sign on the building. Every night I feel like Scarlet O’Hara and say “fida lee dee – tomorrow is another day.” My community has been so wonderful to me and it has worked so far – God has provided faithfully – but I would not recommend this funding path to budding start-ups.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I was discouraged by my husband to pursue catering as a career path. Rightfully so – he understood how hard the food and beverage business is, that I had no food and beverage experience, and he also understood certain health problems I suffer from that would hinder me from being successful. Shortly after he passed away i lost my job. Those that know me well know that I am a bit stubborn. I kept hearing this voice, “go for it – do it – now is the time.” So, i threw myself into my business and could not have been prouder looking back on what has been accomplished. I hired two amazing ladies who have helped me build my brand and kept me somewhat sane. We bicker like a family, and it has helped heal me in a way I didn’t realize I needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: southernsideboard.com
- Instagram: @thesouthernsideboard
- Facebook: thesouthernsideboard
Image Credits
Food: Lee Boge, Southern Sideboard Picture in Southern Sideboard Apron: Eye Pop Photo Picture in Pink Car: Aneris Photography in partnership with The Pink FIggy