Sara, founder of Gnarly Pepper is certainly the ‘crafty cook’ — and as she submitted her story of how her small kitchen creations turned into a business, Fundera Ledger picked it up. Annie Nelson, a contributing writer for Fundera Ledger had 7 simple questions she asked potential features about their journey, the moment they knew and any advice to share to others.
Sara is always plugging and reaching out and searching for outlets to promote Gnarly Pepper — She was very pleased with this write up for its more of the back end and heart within what the day to day may bring — aka celebrate the mini goals!
Here is the article link: https://www.fundera.com/blog/hobby-into-a-business
Thanks Annie!
3. The Crafty Cook
For Sara Gotch, the desire to start Gnarly Pepper, her custom spice blend company, went beyond her love for cooking. She also wanted to indulge another passion: travel.
“I decided at sunset at the Sun Cliff Resort in Thailand in 2015,” Gotch recalls of the moment she vowed to quit her job and become her own boss. “Best decision I’ve ever made.”
Once she returned home, the idea for Gnarly Pepper came to her while in the kitchen one day. She loved chicken and tuna salads, but hated how they were always drenched in calorie-laden mayonnaise. Instead, she began to experiment with plain Greek yogurt and spice blends, seeking healthy alternatives for traditional dips and condiments.
In the last year and a half alone, Gotch has taken her spices from three grocery stores to a whopping 26, landing in a total of 43 stores. She’s also gained the interest of a distribution company.
When asked if she had any advice for aspiring or new entrepreneurs, Gotch offered two pointers: say yes to new opportunities, and set mini goals for yourself.
“Climb the mountain or sprint out your frustrations,” she says, “because once you accomplish the mini goals—the larger ones don’t seem as scary.”
What You Can Learn
- Always say yes. Gotch credits much of her company’s initial success to her willingness to step beyond her comfort zone. For her, this meant speaking to large crowds and showing up to networking events. “After my first year, a lot of opportunities opened up just by searching, asking, and finding,” she says. “In the long run, people invest in you, not just the product.”
- Set mini goals. If you’re feeling defeated or tired, remember that starting a business is a huge endeavor. To keep herself motivated and on track, Gotch creates smaller, more manageable benchmarks—which allow her to celebrate even the littlest wins.
