Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Almond. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
My third and final child was nearly a year old and I had decided I needed to go back to work in 2020. My career is in healthcare (nursing) and I had taken time off to be at home after having my baby. The pandemic was in its early stages but word of impending vaccine mandates were already a constant in the media. The state of healthcare was already a mess even before the pandemic. Nurses are over worked, underpaid, and under appreciated. I was faced with a choice. Return to healthcare or try something new.
I had previously made charcuterie boards for friends/family etc. My friend Megan encouraged me to start a business and I laughed at the thought. I have always considered myself to be a customer service queen! Always going above and beyond and being the face of other people’s businesses, but I had zero desire to own my own. It sounded too risky. The pandemic really put me in a position to reflect on how I wanted to live my life, spend my time, and ultimately what I wanted to model for my kids.
Word started to get out in my small town that this was something I was doing and essentially people just started offering me money for boards. I had recently received a $3,000 settlement from an accident which I used to buy myself an industrial fridge that I ended up getting for FREE. That’s a different story… but I took that miracle as a green light from God to keep going. The doors just continued to open for me as my business continued to grow. The risk paid off. I get to do things my way, on my own schedule, and show my kids that if you really want something and work hard you can achieve it. That sometimes taking a different path than you originally planned can be scary, but the potential journey could be life changing. Be afraid and do it anyway.
Not everyone supported my choice. It came with criticism. Even from friends and family. Now here I am. 3 years later. I knew NOTHING about business going into it and was turning a profit within the first year. Fast forward to today and I’m grossing 5 figures a year and the business continues to grow. I have had an immense amount of help to get to this point. Specifically, from other female entrepreneurs in my town. My dear friend Haley has been my consultant, florist, sounding board, graphic designer, and above all the most loyal friend. She has wanted nothing but to see me succeed and has championed me at every turn. As a multi business owner herself she has taken many risks. Being able to learn from her wisdom and advice has been monumental in this endeavor. She never once has doubted my ability to do this and it has given me the confidence to keep going.
Sarah, 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?
My name is Sarah and I am a wife, mother of 3, and a nurse turned entrepreneur. I live in a small town called Port Angeles, Wa. on the Olympic peninsula. At its core I am a caterer, but I guess you could call me a charcuterie artist. I create personal size boxes of artisan meats/cheeses all the way up to table long spreads worth of edible art using meat, cheese, produce, dips, flowers, etc. Any event that you might need food for we’ve got you covered!
I truly feel that social media has been a catalyst for the growth of my business. I strive to really keep my content relatable to the average person because that’s what I am. Sharing my struggles as a working mom of young kids or my small business woes in a humorous way has helped me to really connect with my following.
What sets me apart from others is my and artistic ability. Anyone can put meat and cheese on a board, but not many can make it as beautiful as I can. This business is just as much a creative outlet for me as it is a source of income. If not MORE!
I am most proud of the fact that I started this business on a hope and a prayer and have been able to experience it becoming successful and grow SO quickly. I never imagined it would be as big of a deal as it is. I also love that my kids have witnessed the entire journey. The highs, lows, failures, successes. This endeavor has been a true test of my perseverance.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Consistency, exemplary customer service, and growing up/living in a small town where everyone knows my name. Consistency in quality of product and customer service are immensely important to me. Using the BEST ingredients, staying as seasonal as possible, and also highlighting other local businesses by using their product. Word of mouth has brought me so much exposure and business. Early on I started networking with local vendors (most that are friends of mine) that work weddings and events. They drop my name to other vendors and those vendors pass on my name etc. When the new Field Arts hall was built here I was immediately put on their list for preferred vendors. This was due to a relationship connection within the organization which has given me even more reach. I have a friend that works for the Blackball Ferry line and was able to get an account doing wholesale boxes for them. This summer (Thanks to a friend) I will also have a wholesale account with the local little league making boxes for their concession stand. Being a small town girl has its perks.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Early on in my business journey I had an experience where I wrote down the wrong date for a wedding. I realized my mistake when I was checking out at a grocery store preparing for another grazing table I had on the same day. I immediately went into problem solving mode. I drove to my first event and called my husband on the way. I gave him a list of all the product I needed him to bring from my house and put in my car. Then I called my dear friend Haley and after a few tears I gave her a list of groceries to buy and how to prep each item for the table. I started on the first grazing table and I just kept telling myself I didn’t know how I was going to do this, but I would get it done. I finished the first graze and sped to the next venue. The wedding. I instructed Haley to meet me there and with her help (she had never done this work before) we accomplished a beautiful 50 person graze in an hour and the bride never knew there was a problem. If I am ever having a bad day I just remind myself of the one time I did 2 grazing tables in 4 hours. If I can do that I can get through anything haha!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.seatosummitcc.com
- Instagram: sea.to.summitcc
- Facebook: seatosummitCC
Image Credits
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