We recently connected with Taylor Hicks and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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?
As a small, one-woman business, I have managed my own social media since I officially started in January 2022. I will say it was probably my least favorite part as I never thought of myself as a content creator and I was unfamiliar with the concept, but in this day and age it is essential to put yourself out there to grow any business. As I learn to navigate and keep up with trends in the charcuterie world I have learned so much about the creative aspects and how much work it goes into all the reels and posts you see every day. I have met so many amazing social media managers and business coaches who have really encouraged me and guided me. I only have more to learn and I am excited to see how this second year of my business will flourish.
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
Taylored Charcuterie started in the beginning of 2022 after a good friend reached out to me to make some boards for her friends and it took off from there! I met some really great people through a networking group and started my social media presence to really get my name out there. I have always loved hosting and creating charcuterie boards for friends and family with dreams of starting my own company and this was the push I needed. My menu consists of various sized cheese and charcuterie boards, letters, mini cups, crudités, and grazing tables. I can tay(i)lor any order to fit your vision. Need a dessert board? I got you! Need a vegetarian board? I got you! The sky is the limit. I offer private workshops where you get to learn how to curate your own board. Perfect for ladies nights, corporate events, networking events, etc. And I will say I think those are probably one of my favorite parts of my business. I will also be introducing some new menu items early this year as well, so stay tuned.
An item in particular that makes me stand out from the other charcuterie businesses is my customization aspect. If you have a specific theme or color scheme you are going for I will do my best to provide florals to match or add small toppers to really embrace what you are going for. Especially for my grazing tables, I offer an elevated option where I provide risers to give your table a multidimensional look and not only do I have that as an option, you can also customize it even more by choosing from 4 different riser options! I have boho risers, acrylic risers, farmhouse risers, and modern risers available to really tie in your theme.
I think I am the most proud of how I have connected with so many various people throughout this journey and I have become someone’s “charcuterie person”. It may sound silly but having repeat customers time and time again because they love the boards I create, is really something to feel accomplished about.
I feel like I have really found my brand/niche IN this industry and I hope to only grow more while providing edible art to your table.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Naturally I am a pretty extroverted person. “The girl who knows everyone”, as my friends like to say. So being outgoing and friendly has really helped me put myself out there. I had a client once tell me that she has reached out to various charcuterie businesses but she followed through with me because I was very personable. That statement really stuck with me. Let’s face it, we are all busy and it seems like everyone is just rushing to get from one place to the next. But, it’s really about taking the time to slow down and actually engage/show interest in your clients to give them that personal experience. They invest in our small businesses so why can’t we take a few minutes to invest in them? Going the extra step to answer that DM or reply to their comment makes that lasting impression. I have even become the “charcuterie girl” at a few of my local markets where every time I go in there’s always a friendly face to catch up with and they ask me to share my recent boards or grazing tables. It’s because I have built those relationships with the staff and people I have met along the way that I have this reputation people seem to be gravitating towards.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients at this time is really word of mouth and working with local vendors in the valley. When I first started out I had local influencers, party planners, photographers, etc. reaching out to me to do a collaboration and I was super wary but I figured I had to start somewhere so I said yes. And from there I started to grow. Now I am not saying you should say yes to every opportunity that comes your way as not everyone is going to have the best intentions, but if it fits your brand, your goals, and you find it to be beneficial then just say YES. Through these opportunities I have connected with many amazing vendors that are not only are awesome people in general, but they are super supportive of other small businesses whether you offer the same product or not. Being shared on social media, consistently working with the same vendors, and putting myself out there has gained me many new clients. It’s always nice to meet a customer who ordered with me because they know someone who raved about their board or attended one of my workshops. It’s a very humbling feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tayloredcharcuterie.com
- Instagram: @tayloredcharcuterie
- Facebook: facebook.com/tayloredcharcuterie