Please, introduce yourself and your business.
My name is Jason Van Houten and I own Grandma's Candy Kitchen in Lake Ozark Missouri.
Do you ship candy or is all your business local?
Our store front relies heavily on tourism and foot traffic. We're very fortunate that our season continues to get longer and longer.
Typically though, there is a 4 month span that provides most of the financial windfall that takes care of the rest of the year. We break even about 6 months a year and close for January and February. We have built our online operation a ton in the last year.
We ship out to whoever wants it. That is where the business is going to continue to grow over the next decade.
When did you notice traction when building your business? The “Oh S**t!” moment, what did that feel like?
We definitely pick up traction each and every year. I can say confidently that the summer of 2020 when lots of places were shut down, our city stayed open and it brought new customers and visitors. That is when the business took a nice turn. It's always been a tourist stop but it's grown the most in the last 4 years. I like that our business is like the turtle. It's steady and holds its path quite nicely.
What has been your best marketing marketing channel?
Our biggest marketing is Facebook. It seems to yield the biggest return. However, we are in local magazines that tourists grab at the front door of a restaurant, shop, etc. when they are in town. The city does a nice job of highlighting the shopping district in their promotional blitzes.
How many attempts at building something did you make before you found what you’re working on now? Did you always have an entrepreneurial drive?
I'm actually a PGA teaching professional by trade. So I've always had my own hustles and ways of making a buck. I've always had a good sense of how to make a dollar. I'm not really scared of taking chances.
What is your biggest overhead expense?
My biggest overhead expense is ingredients/resale items and payroll.
What’s the most important skill you’ve learned?
The most important thing I've learned about entrepreneurship is patience. It's pretty easy to get stressed over the small stuff. You need to be strong in your decisions yet flexible enough to change course when you need to. I've also learned that employees are the greatest asset you have.
It's hard for people in your life to sometimes understand that you have more than just them to worry about. I have a lot of people that depend on me for their livelihood and I take that responsibility very seriously.
I want to give as much to employees as makes sense financially.
What do you spend the majority of your time doing, in a given week? (I think a lot of people hear entrepreneurs “work,” but may not understand what that means on a day-to-day basis.
My day to day is spent in the truck a bunch! There are a lot of pieces that go into a store and all its needs. You can't just order everything to be delivered in our area.
So, I make runs for ingredients, supplies and equipment daily. I also do financial forecasting a few times a week for the coming days and weeks. I do my books daily along with bank runs. I'm constantly trying to make sure we are properly staffed and as efficient as possible.
I spend a lot of time working on other endeavors I'm currently in the process of starting as well. I make sure to spend a few minutes a day with each employee to make sure they are having their needs met and feel heard.
On top of that, I still teach golf about 15 hours a week.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when first starting your business?
I wish I knew that stressing over the small stuff is not going to change it. I find myself going with the flow much more these days.
You can't make anyone do anything. What is going to happen is going to happen.
The best you can do is try your hardest everyday and put in the effort. A positive attitude goes a long way. Be available as often as you can.
The world of entrepreneurship can be misleading. Many people think it’s always easy and always glamorous. What’s a big problem you’ve faced as a business owner and what were the emotions behind it?
Owning a business is not easy and glamorous. There are days that you really want to go play golf with some friends or you would like to see a partner or your kid(s). The buck stops with you.
Even your most dedicated employee doesn't care as much as you do. You are on your own island and no one is going to come hop on it with you. You have to be solid in your desire to be the main person.
Because when something goes wrong, and it will, you are the person who is going to sink or swim with it. You don't get to put the phone away and turn off, ever.
Many people don’t know where to start in the business world, they feel stuck. They may want to start a business to become their own boss and create their hours. What is your best advice for someone who feels completely stuck?
If you want to start your own business, I can tell you that however much work you are thinking it's going to take, add a little more. It's hard work. But at the end of the day, I don't have to answer anybody.
I can do as I please and that is very freeing. I like to joke that the worst that can happen is, I go broke. And if I do, I can make something else work. If you don't have the confidence that you can make it work, make sure you have someone who does. Lastly, however much money you think you need to start, double it!
