Over quarantine, I discovered a newfound love for dipping strawberries and creating chocolate breakable hearts along with many other sweets. I have always had a passion for creating sweets, and chocolate-covered strawberries quickly became a favourite of mine. As a result, I started up my own small business, “Dipped with Love” (@dippedwithlove.to on Instagram!), a GTA-based business specializing in chocolate-covered strawberry arrangements. It’s been nearly two months since I started, and I have learned a lot of things I wish I knew before I started. Here are some tips to help you if you’re deciding to open your own small business.
1. Orders Are Not Consistent
As much as I hate it, orders are never consistent. During February, I had 30-35 orders in a span of four weeks, but as soon as March came around, my number of orders dropped to around 10-12 orders thus far. As February had Valentine’s Day, it was busier, but I’m still grateful for all the support I have received. The slower month has given me an opportunity to focus on school and myself, as well as restocking my supplies. As much as I miss dipping berries daily, this break is much appreciated.
2. Photos Are Everything
When I first started my business, the pictures I took of my products were ugly AF and not appealing. However, I quickly learned the importance of good lighting and a pretty backdrop for my products. For less than $10 I made my own backdrop using Bristol board as my base and trifold cardboard as my walls. I then glued on white satin I bought from a local fabric store to the boards for a stunning and clean look. This was such a game-changer for my photos and brought in orders immediately. A good background created a very professional look on my Instagram, and I can’t believe I didn’t do it earlier.
3. Collect a Deposit Fee
I’ve heard too many stories about small business owners spending hours on an order and then the customer never picking it up. As a result, I have a 50% non-refundable deposit fee in case anyone decides to not show up the day of. I have made the mistake of forgetting to collect the other half of the payment before the order gets picked up, but luckily, I learned to stop forgetting quickly. This deposit is a form of security for the customer as they secured their order spot, as well as for a small business owner as they secure a form of payment. The 50% deposit fee is a great method to secure your customer’s spots, as well as prevent any form of loss for your business as well.
4. Understand Your Pricing
There is a lot to consider when deciding the pricing for your product, such as cost of supply and what you charge for your cost of labour. I personally took into consideration the cost of supplies (strawberries, chocolate and packaging) and how long I spend making the order (usually 1-2 hours). With the help of my business major friends and Microsoft excel, I was able to determine the total cost to make my orders and the total profit I would make. Setting aside a good hour or two to really understand how much you charge is essential. I spent a good chunk of time on charging because I underestimated the amount of time I personally was putting in to make quality products. I also underestimated how much I really spend on my supplies because everything adds up quickly. It took me a while to realize that my products were worth more than I assumed and I’m glad I made that realization, otherwise I doubt I would have been making much of a profit.
5. Make Your Business Visually Pleasing
For the first month of Dipped with Love, my logo was angry red with bold thick letters. I assumed a logo that caught attention fast was the best way to go, but NO! The logo was honestly ugly and way too aggressive. As a result, I decided to rebrand and utilize colours and fonts to make an aesthetic that was easy on the eyes and pretty to look at. Using websites like Canva can help you design a cute logo that you like, as well as help with designing Instagram highlights, posts and more. Using Canva has helped me keep a uniform and organized look to my Instagram page and it was FREE. It makes me look more put together and professional as a business. From bold angry red to soft lavender, these changes helped me improve the look and aesthetics of my business.
Starting a small business is an excellent way to develop skills as an entrepreneur and an even better side hustle. I love having a small business, and I’m grateful for all the growth and learning I have been able to do. However, I wish I knew everything I do now before I started, but better late than never! I hope these tips help you whether you’re deciding to start your own small business or just happy to support one!