Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rob Lalonde, founder of Home Appliances Food Co., located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a nostalgic food truck serving up smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and hand-rolled donuts. Our customers are people who appreciate the perfect ratio burger bite and who know that a toasted bun is always the way to go.
Tell us about yourself
We got our start after losing our jobs due to the pandemic. Pretty much everyone in the restaurant industry was out of luck. So we decided to take a big risk and take our collective experience as Chef and GM and apply it to our own thing. We have two major motivating factors as business owners now. The first being our community - they've shown up for us in ways unimaginable this past year. Their support has been overwhelming, and so we show up for them. The second biggest motivating factor is everything is on us! There's not too many things greater than the knowing; the rise or fall lies on our shoulders only.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Becoming a neighborhood staple. Although we feel like we're just getting started, it's comforting when customers (now friends) worry about us when they don't see the truck. We like to believe that all the hard work that went into transforming "The Lot" (where we are located) has paid off, because when the truck is not there, people express their concern. It's heartwarming really.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Never having a day off. It's non-stop. There's an ongoing joke between entrepreneurs that we traded in the 9-5 for 24/7, and it's true. Every minute is spent towards the growth of our business. If we're not physically working, we're thinking about the next day - what's has to get done? Where do we need to be? It's a constant thought.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just start. Start with where you are and with what you have. It doesn't matter if you don't have every detail ironed out yet. Just get going.
- Surround yourself with supportive people. They don't have to believe in your dream; that's your job. But you do want to be around people who believe in you.
- Get to know your community. And not in the "get to know who your target market is." Really get to know your customers. Learn their names. Learn their stories. Build relationships.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Running your own business is not easy. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline and hard work. Much more than working for someone else because everything is on you. BUT, it's so worth it!!!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.homeappliancesfoodco.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeappliancesfoodco/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.