Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Phill Pappas, Co- Founder of Pantry Pigeons, located in Oakland, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Pantry Pigeons, we provide third-party logistics and white-labeled fulfillment services for virtual event platforms that focus on online cooking classes and events. We operate largely in the background, procuring products, sourcing, branding, packaging, and shipping recipe kits for our clients, who range from large virtual event platforms to small, independent chefs with a strong online presence. We also offer our services to various corporate entities looking to gather with their remote workers in a fun and meaningful way, as well as small businesses that need help with streamlining the storage and fulfillment aspects of their operations.
Tell us about yourself
The business came about as a direct result of the pandemic in 2020. As the virtual cooking world essentially grew overnight, having worked in professional kitchens for the majority of our lives, we found ourselves in a unique position to provide a niche service in a growing sector. We've brought the same ethos to Pantry Pigeons that we held with us throughout decades of work in kitchens across the country. We strive for efficiency and honesty and look to provide our clients and customers with the best service possible.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
First and foremost, on a personal level, I think the team that we've assembled has proven to be the single most important factor in our success. Understanding that, at a foundational level, the business has grown from these core elements of trust, respect, and a willingness to go above and beyond for each other, and how that informs everything that we do, how we carry ourselves, and, in the end, how we do business.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
How relentless it can feel at times.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Understanding that your role(s) as an owner, or partner in my case, involves learning every aspect of your business so that you can wear whatever hat you need to at any given moment. If you don't know it yet, you will come soon, and if you still don't know it, then it's probably a question for your lawyer. Surround yourself with good people.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pantrypigeons.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pantrypigeons/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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