Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kari Guhl, Co-Owner of Sally's Nuts LLC., located in Highland Park, IL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Sally's Nuts is a manufacturer of Sweet & Salty Pecans, Cashews, and Almonds. Our customers are everyone who likes delicious snacks....with a great story!

Tell us about yourself

I am the daughter of an exceptionally creative artist in every facet of life. Sally is my mom; she started making her sweet & salty pecans in 1990 and gifted them to friends during the holidays. People would actually come back to her before New Year's Eve with empty jars asking for refills. She was told by friends to start a business so they wouldn't have to wait until the end of the year to get the nuts. By 2017 I asked her if she wanted to start a business....our deal was she would make the nuts, and I would try to figure everything else out! Coming from a sales, marketing, and branding background of 30+ years, I thought I could 'give it a go' as a fun side hustle and a way to spend more time with my mom. The business took off fast through our website, almost faster than we could keep up with...each time we got to a plateau of deciding to stay where we were or grow, Sally always picked the growth path. She is my mentor and motivator; she is 88 years young, living with dementia, and lives the mantra of 'just keep moving.' We opened a retail shop in Highland Park during the pandemic - in November 2020, where we also manufacture and package the nuts for wholesale. We are currently growing again through our wholesale portion of the business. Each day brings new challenges for me as the business is now more focused on the financials, logistics, learning the grocery store system, and certifications. For sure, the business kicks my behind regularly, and I make mistakes, but my inspiration to pick myself up and stay with it is I truly believe in our product being one of the best snacks out there and the ability to work with my mom on a daily basis, yes, she comes into work at the shop five days a week!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would have to say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is staying sane.....and learning a new industry. There are many places in business to get stuck in the weeds and feel justified to give up; so many aspects present obstacles that you could never foresee...perseverance is everything.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Forgiving yourself the mistakes you make along the way. The long hours, the tears, the terror, the financial commitment, the setbacks....everyone tells you stories about the difficulties of those parts of business ownership, and they are right. What you do not hear is how you will most likely internalize every mistake as yours, and maybe this was not a good decision, so you should just shut it down. Forgive yourself the mistakes and move on....as Sally says, just keep moving!!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Determine your 'why'.....you will have to come back to your 'why' on a daily basis to stay focused, to continue moving ahead in whatever manner that is for you, and give you inspiration.
  2. There are so many great books/podcasts out there now for starting businesses; read up on your industry to find out what is trending, ask questions of people in your industry, and listen to Guy Raz....he has a lot of insight and inspiration for new businesses!
  3. Trust your gut....if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If it feels icky, it probably is. Get everything in writing....always. Remember, you started this adventure for a reason, and even if the reason shifts (which is okay!), you should feel good about it in your gut.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sallysnuts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sallysnuts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallys_nuts/

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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