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Connecting with other small business owners in your community can go beyond just networking and referrals. Forming meaningful relationships with other entrepreneurs It can also lead to securing valuable local vendors who can help grow your business. This very strategy became a crucial part of being based in Cincinnati Cream + Sugar Coffee HouseThe business structure of
As a business co-owner and a black woman, Taren Killebrew is very thoughtful when it comes to choosing her business partners, making sure their practices and values align with her, coffee house’s vision of love and inclusion.
“Anything we can get specifically from a small business owner, we’ll do it. We really specifically look for women. All of our artwork in the shop is by one artist, and she’s a woman. And we know her. We’ve seen a lot of her. All the art has sold, so we’re very intentional that way,” Taren said.
“Some of our teas are also woman-owned. It’s called our Healing Tea. People love it [it]. We were thinking about health—because we’re getting older, we’re in our fifties—and we wanted to make sure that as we’re progressing in life, everyone else is progressing in life.”
Care and concern for the community is a central principle for Cream + Sugar, demonstrating that they support the people of Cincinnati in many ways, including the quality of the food.
“We want to make sure with our food, because we love food, people feel good about what they’re eating. We care about women’s health in particular — diabetes, high blood pressure. And especially for the black community, We want to just let people know, ‘Hey, you don’t have to have meat with every meal.’
While gently educating her neighbors about healthy food options, Taren also prepares the next generation for business success with an active internship program at the coffee house to help young people discover their entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, the location of the shop was chosen in part because Taren’s business partner lived in the neighborhood and still had family there.
Familiarity, in this case, sets the tone for the store. To keep that spirit alive, Teren makes sure to create a welcoming environment, starting with his employees, some of whom are students from nearby Xavier University.
“It’s all about camaraderie and making sure people can be the essence of who we are,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of turnover. And we realize that this isn’t anybody’s career. So most of the time, we can keep people for a year, which is great. And then if we keep them longer, that’s always. Great.”
The atmosphere is captivating Bailey DixonYelp’s Cincinnati Community Manager, for the first time cream + sugar. “The coffee was fabulous, but any place can serve good coffee,” Bailey said. “There’s just no place that makes you feel welcome, like someone’s been invited and can experience this and enjoy something while being there. So that was my first time. Ever since then, I’ve been staying there. Love working. Because the wifi is fast and the food is delicious.”
Currently with a 5-star rating, Cream + Sugar is popular with reviewers. As a small business owner, Taren understands the importance of reviews but tries to keep positive and critical feedback in perspective.
“I think reviews are important. They can make or break a business. I’ve experienced bad reviews, but I knew where they were coming from. And at the end of the day, if I see one or two stars, the no. is very minimal,” said Taren, adding that even if she gets a 1- or 2-star review, there are dozens more who praise her business.
According to Bailey, taking criticism in online reviews with a grain of salt is a healthy strategy. “I work with business owners every day. I’ve heard stories like, ‘Oh, I got a 1-star review,'” she said. “And I say [them], see all these positive reviews. Look at all these amazing examples of what you’re doing and the people you’ve touched through your products and your services and your food and your story.”
As many entrepreneurs know, Starting a business It comes with its ups and downs, but overcoming each challenge can lead to new opportunities for growth.
More lessons you share that may be useful for your small business include:
- Put your hiring practices in perspective. When hiring, it helps to remember that this may not be the career for your employees. Hire and train accordingly and be prepared for turnover.
- Share positive reviews with employees. Boosting morale can be as simple as letting staff know their work is being recognised. Make sure employees know they are valued by sharing positive reviews and other customer feedback with them.
- It is perfectly acceptable to keep things simple. A streamlined menu allows Terrain to focus on quality ingredients and be cost-efficient.
- Share what you learn with others. As a Black woman, Taryn wants to mentor other Black women entrepreneurs and pass on the things she’s learned over the years. Mentoring others and being a positive influence can create a lasting legacy.
Listen to the episode below to hear directly from Taren and Bailey and To register candidacy Back to the review Every Thursday for more from new business owners and reviewers.
Available on: Spotify, The Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, StitcherAnd Soundcloud.
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