As a young entrepreneur, I’ve always had a passion for art, food, and business. I remember going to the mall and skipping the toy stores and clothing shops to head straight to the food court. I would study the food business, observing how different companies marketed and branded their products and how they would upsell. And one day, I noticed something – many specialty sweets shops were selling their treats for exorbitant prices. That’s when I had an idea – what if I could make these delicious treats myself and sell them for a more affordable price?
At just 13 years old, I started my own business – Zac’s Sweet Shop. It began with a simple 12-ounce chocolate melting pot, and I would dip strawberries and cookies to sell to my friends. But soon, my friends’ orders turned into orders from my entire school. I was catering events like birthdays, communions, and graduations, and my business was growing. However, when I moved to a new city for college, my customer base disappeared, and I had to put my business on hold.
But the entrepreneurial spirit within me never faded. I wanted to build the next iconic American chocolate shop, and I knew I had to make it happen. So I revisited my dream of opening a shop in Los Angeles, but the costs were just too high. That’s when I turned to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, inspired by successful bakeries like Milk Bar and Baked By Melissa. Not only would it allow my friends and family back home to order from me, but it also had the potential for nationwide reach.
I spent every day outside of class researching and preparing for my business, and with the help of a small Kickstarter campaign, I raised $27,000 to set up a commercial kitchen and acquire the necessary licenses and packaging. But the real challenge came with scaling my business from making a few dozen sweets to hundreds and thousands at a time. It was a steep learning curve, but I was determined to make it work.
In October of 2019, Zac’s Sweet Shop officially opened for business, and in just a few short months, we were doing $1,000 in monthly sales. But then, something incredible happened – Beyoncé gave us a shoutout, and our sales skyrocketed to $20,000 in just two weeks. It was a dream come true, but it also meant it was time to figure out how to scale even further. My community rallied around me, and with their help, we were able to fulfill all the orders and keep up with the demand.
Now, I am proud to say that Zac’s Sweet Shop is a full-time business, and we have landed major corporate clients like Google, Disney, and Netflix. But the journey hasn’t been easy, and it’s been my unwavering passion for my business and my determination to succeed that has gotten me here. And now, as we prepare for a brand relaunch, I am excited to grow my team and invest in branded packaging, thanks to the success of my bootstrapped business.
Through it all, I’ve learned that being adopted has given me a strong sense of self-sufficiency and the drive to prove my worth and value to others and myself. And as I continue to grow my business, I hope to be a role model for other young entrepreneurs who may not have seen themselves represented in the business world. As I always say, do what you’re passionate about, and the money will come. It may take some time, but staying true to yourself and your vision will lead you to success.
Article based on His Side Hustle Made $20,000 in 2 Weeks After Catching Beyoncé’s Attention — Now This 26-Year-Old Is Aiming for $1 Million Revenue by Amanda Breen: https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/zacs-sweet-shop-side-hustle-to-business-projecting-1m/473999
