Bianca Wolfe is the owner and creative director of Sweet As Honey. At 28 years old she has big dreams and hopes to inspire others to chase their dreams. She wants Sweet As Honey to become a household name and a symbol of what having faith in yourself can do. Read our interview with the lovely Bianca below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I’ve always wanted to start my own business. I would make fruit trays and chocolate covered strawberries for my friends, but lacked the confidence to actually put myself out there and try to turn my talent into a business. After hitting a rough patch in my life, I reached a point where I not only needed a change but I felt like I had nothing to lose at the time, so I took the last bit of money I had to my name and used it to start Sweet As Honey.
Tell us about your business.
Sweet As Honey is a Michigan based small business that provides dessert catering for any event! From our decadent chocolate covered treats to our mouthwatering cheesecake dessert shooters, we have everything you need to satisfy your sweet tooth! We also pride ourselves on being able to match any color or theme to help turn your ideas into reality.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
I’m in the process of working on a contest for Instagram, details and rules should be up shortly on our Instagram page.
Where is your business based?
Southfield, Michigan.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
After deciding on a name, which literally came to me while I was driving one day! I made a few chocolate covered strawberries to take some pictures of, made an Instagram page, and ordered some business cards.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
One of the most effective ways of getting new customers for me has been word of mouth. I have had so many people reach out to me who either saw my work at an event or were referred by a client of mine.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Being a woman, a young woman at that, it can be hard at times to get people to take you and what you are doing as a business woman seriously. It also doesn’t help that I look much younger than I actually am so a lot of times people see me as this young kid.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I focus on letting my work speak for me. I try to keep in mind that I am a reflection of my business and my brand so I always present myself and my products in a very professional way so that people who are looking to do business with me can see how serious I am about my brand.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I try to remind myself that anything I’m going through is only temporary. It’s so easy to allow difficult times to get you down or discourage you, but if you just keep in mind that even the harshest storms will eventually come to an end, you can keep yourself centered and focused on what you’re trying to accomplish.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
My main goal is to not only provide my clients with an exceptional product for a reasonable price, but to create a relationship with them. I want Sweet As Honey to be there for the birthdays, baby showers, graduations, and any other celebrations of life and happiness. I focus on staying in my own lane and try not to worry too much about the “competition”. There are so many talented people in this field that I think the most important thing for me is creating lasting relationships with my clients.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
“Don’t be afraid to charge what you’re worth” I think this is a struggle for all new business owners. It’s so hard to not only establish yourself but also gain the confidence to charge appropriately for your products or services. This was something I struggled with in the beginning but when it’s all said and done you are running a business and part of that is producing a profit, so if you’re spending money for quality products, advertising, etc don’t be afraid to let your prices reflect what you put into your brand.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Always have faith! There will be times when you feel discouraged or when you feel like you aren’t progressing as fast as you would like and it will make you want to give up. Trust me, I’ve been there. But if you dedicate yourself to making your brand successful and have faith that everything will fall into place, you can make it through those hard times. I want myself and my brand to serve as a testimony of what having faith can do in your life and the things you can accomplish. I wasn’t in a good position financially, mentally, or emotionally when I started this business, but I look at how far I’ve come and the things I’ve accomplished and I’m just so proud of myself for having the faith to start this journey.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
Social media. Social media is an excellent way to promote yourself to a large scope of people and also it helps you to connect with people you may not have ever crossed paths with ordinarily.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @sweetashoneyent
Email sweetashoneyent@gmail.com
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’m looking to learn more about cake pops. For them to be as small as they are they’re very challenging to make! I’ve been watching tutorials, doing research and practicing as much as I can to help me perfect them.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
Expanding my menu and the products I offer is definitely one of my main goals right now. I’ve been doing a lot of research to learn new techniques and products that I can put my personal touch on.
Sheri Kaye Hoff, PhD says
I love the advice on pricing. Many business owners have fear around asking for a higher price even when it is well-deserved.
Bianca Wolfe says
Thank you all so much for your comments!
Francesca says
Such great advice! Businesses often sell themselves short. Determine your worth not just in overhead but in time. Consider the value-added model: how are you adding to a person’s joy?