Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Ostlund, owner of Sandy's Donuts & Coffee Shop, located in West Fargo, ND, USA.

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

We are a family-owned and operated business that started in 1983 after my father lost his job at a trucking company at 52 years old. He could not seem to find a new job. Taking a skill his mother taught him and that he had been doing for family and friends for years, he decided to make donuts. In September of 1983, after a summer of research, testing, finding a location, and buying equipment, Sanfred (Sandy) Ostlund opened Sandy's Donuts & Coffee Shop in West Fargo, North Dakota. It was an immediate hit in the community. Now three stores are strong and making 75 different kinds and a total of almost 10,000 donuts a day; I currently run the day-to-day operation of Sandy's.

However, in a few years, I will retire, and my son Jeff will take over, making it a 3rd generation family business. Sandy's is a staple in many homes and offices every morning in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo community. Sandy's delivers to many wholesale accounts every day, as well as deliveries to businesses for meetings and even dropping off donuts at your home. There are lots of donut shops, but there is just something special about Sandy's. Serving some of the best donuts and coffee a person can find. If you are 95 or 5, there is a donut you will love. Sour-cream, Nutella, Butterfinger, Espresso, Apple Fritters, and even Cookie Monster & Unicorn donuts for the little ones.

Tell us about yourself

After helping my dad get things set up during the summer, I headed back to college in the fall before he opened the store. I ended up coming home in the spring after learning they were so busy they were not always getting home and were spending time in sleeping bags at the store. My father was the donut maker. He loved making donuts. He used to make buttermilk donuts with nutmeg for us when we were growing up. Making donuts is not my thing, but I love marketing and making the business grow. I have a staff of about 110 now, including 3 of my own children.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say my biggest accomplishment was realizing that after I lost my dad in 2008, I needed to replace myself as well. I realized that the business would probably not survive if something happened to me. I started building a Leadership Team that is now a team of 5 amazing leaders and includes my son, who will be taking over for me soon. This allowed me the ability to work on the business and make it grow instead of just doing a job in the business daily.

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

It has been even harder since COVID, but staffing is really the hardest thing. I always say that my staff is the favorite part and the least favorite part of the business. When things are going well, it is so much fun working with all of them, but when it's not, it can be tough. I do have a wonderful staff, and they are the reason for the success of Sandy's. I am not very talented and probably a bit lazy, but I have been able to hire wonderful, hard-working people to work here.

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

Doing something you enjoy doing and doing it well is the first thing. Secondly, I would say is to hire a good team and remove yourself from the day-to-day operation so you can work on the business. You are not nearly as amazing as you think you are, and you can be replaced with someone probably better than you. Lastly, I would say, don't let the business consume you. Family is more important than business. Make sure you leave the office and spend time with them every day.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I have a quote I love from C.S. Lewis. It says, "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." My dad did just that. At 52 years old, he did not just give up after losing his job. He started a whole new career doing something he loved and left an amazing legacy.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sandysdonuts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandysdonuts/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandys.donuts/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandysdonuts

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.

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