ByClio: Baking, Business, and Balance
byclionyc
Clio invites aspiring culinary entrepreneurs to discover the essentials of building a successful food business through her Knowledge Series. Drawing on her experiences as the founder of Puddin' by Clio and ByClio Bakery in Brooklyn, Clio offers a behind-the-scenes look at her journey from a passionate baker to a thriving business owner. With a focus on practical advice and personal insights, Clio shares her approach to starting a business on a budget, fostering a strong community, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Her series provides invaluable guidance for those looking to create a meaningful and successful presence in the culinary world.
Episode 1: Passion for Baking
Clio explains how her love for sweets led her to pursue a career in baking. She highlights the importance of truly loving what you do, emphasizing that it’s this passion that helps her push through the daily stresses of running a bakery. Clio shares how finding joy in your work is key to long-term success, especially in the demanding culinary industry.
Episode 2: Culinary Roots
Clio reflects on how her culinary journey evolved, starting with her time at the Culinary Institute of America. She discusses how attending culinary school helped her understand what parts of the food industry she did and didn’t enjoy, despite initially thinking she would specialize in wedding cakes. Clio emphasizes that while culinary school can offer valuable connections, true creativity and work ethic come from hands-on experience. She also shares how her family shaped her passion for global cuisine, from her mother’s love for cooking to family trips exploring authentic foods from different cultures. Clio’s appreciation for understanding and honoring the origins of the dishes she makes has become a core part of her culinary philosophy, allowing her to connect with diverse communities through her work.
Episode 3: Starting a Business on a Budget
Clio shares her journey of starting a food business on a modest budget of $5,000, focusing on cost-saving strategies and practical steps. She emphasizes delaying expenses like licensing, LLC registration, and custom packaging until there is sufficient demand, advising new entrepreneurs to leverage social media, pop-ups, and farmers' markets to build a customer base. Clio details her initial investment, prioritizing essentials like a tent, communal kitchen space, and basic packaging, expanding only as her business grew. Her approach echoes the themes of resourcefulness and gradual scaling seen in other Knowledge Series, encouraging entrepreneurs to grow thoughtfully and avoid overspending.
Real stories behind the line
Konstantin explores the challenges restaurants face with new technology adoption, highlighting how Tabmeal simplifies the process by handling menu transfers for operators. He discusses common barriers like time constraints and steep learning curves and how Tabmeal’s easy-to-use platform helps streamline operations. Konstantin shares insights on how the platform optimizes communication around menu updates and inventory management, reducing the workload for restaurant staff. He also predicts future digital trends in areas like guest loyalty programs, inventory management, and staff scheduling. This episode focuses on helping restaurants adopt technology with minimal disruption.