Could be. Christmas Village and Made South markets were going on at the same time last year. We had to take every single shelf out of our store to make both booths happen. We called in every family member to help. Being a father and entrepreneur with a family business is like that! With both, you get better with practice. When we first bought the business, we got to spend three days with Willa learning to make the shortbread, and that was it.
You talk to people who have kids. Running your own business is like that, too. I help coach new people. They ask questions like where do I get bags?
It does my heart good to see new people just starting their businesses at markets. They have enthusiasm and a level of excitement that is fun. We have two separate facilities—one for baking and one for packaging and the retail store. I start with going by the bakery. I do most of the cooking once we get home, too.
Our base recipe is so simple, it nicely compliments flavors. Our Nashville Hot Cheddar seasoning we get from J. Thompson seasoning out of Franklin, Tennessee. I had tried the flavor before before but it wasn't spicy enough and sat it aside. I went from not having anything to having a very good product in under 24 hours. How would your life be if you wouldn't have taken over Willa Shortbread?
I probably would've been better off financially and probably had more free time. What is the biggest struggle you've had to overcome as a business owner? We need to hire and consolidate our facilities. We bake in a different location than where we have our retail space, Willa's Mercantile, which is in Goodlettsville.
Equipment is another big challenge. It's expensive and I've had to figure out how to fix it on my own. Can you think of any qualities or skills you feel an entrepreneur needs to be successful? A little bit of crazy! You have to have a vision of where you want to be and set reasonable expectations for the short term and long term.
What is your best advice to a someone on the verge of starting a business? Why has Willa's Shortbread continued to grow when other small food companies in the area have vanished? We've outlasted everyone by knowing our limitations. A lot of people grow too fast and they pay the price for it. If you have a passion for the business and want to leave a legacy, then take it slow.
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