Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Goutermont.
Hi Katelyn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Since the age of 12, I knew I wanted to own my own business, I married into a family logging operation and spent 6 years operating logging equipment and helping grow Goutermont Logging alongside my husband Casey.
On the back burner was my dream of opening a coffee shop in our hometown of Silver Bay. As small towns go, commercial space here is limited. But spring of 2020 a space previously occupied by the local print shop became available. With I’ll admit, very little optimism I made an appointment with the owner to take a look. We walked into 1,600 square feet of rough and outdated but promising space. I like to say “the natural light was good, so I knew we could make it work”
It was our now or never moment and in September 2020 I signed the lease and the journey to Timber Coffee Company began. Concrete floors, 70’s wallpaper, drop ceilings, no plumbing or electrical where we needed it. We are “do it yourself” by nature and every new bid from a contractor had me saying “we can definitely do that ourselves”
Contractor delays, supply chain issues, and covid hit us hard and the project dragged on longer than we could have possibly imagined. Slowly but surely and with my then 3 and 6-year-old in tow, my dad and I would tackle projects like sheetrock, hanging FRP, mounting sinks and shelves, building furniture, painting, and installing shiplap, and custom woodwork. When Casey could take time away from logging we poured concrete countertops, self-performed the bulk of the plumbing work, laid tile, built walls, epoxied floors, hung stainless steel, and installed a 10-foot exhaust hood. From the roof to under the slab we touched every surface.
It was tedious, exhausting, expensive, and not always very inspiring. But the vision of what we were trying to create kept me at it. Timber Coffee was launched with a passion for quality coffee and a strong desire to create a welcoming space where community connection could grow and thrive. And on October 15th, 2022 we finally opened our doors!
It’s been 4 months so far and I’m extremely proud of what we are accomplishing. Our team consists of my parents Dennis and Debbie “bakery crew” my sister-in-law Samara “barista manager” and my brother, Sam “chief custodian”
and Casey “the guy we call when anything goes wrong”
We brew locally roasted Fika coffee and craft espresso drinks, we bake daily from scratch, cinnamon rolls, muffins, scones, artisan bread, biscuits, bagels, and cookies. We offer fresh soup and bread on the weekends and plan on continuing to expand our food and drink options as we go.
I feel very blessed and can honestly say I love what I do and consider it a privilege to operate Timber Coffee in our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Personal discipline was a challenge during the 2 years this project was in the works. There are obvious construction obstacles but there’s also a great deal of research and communication that goes into absolutely every detail and decision you need to make. I worked as my own general contractor and that meant educating myself on everything from plumbing and health codes to types of exhaust hoods.
Starting a business is very unforgiving, your personal drive and dedication are often the only thing keeping the momentum going. Also, as the mom of two young kids, I often had to be really creative, flexible, and determined to accomplish what needed to get done every day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The creative aspect of opening a coffee shop has been the most exciting for me. I have a passion for bringing people together and providing a quality experience through food, ambiance, and little details. I’m proud of my ability to go above and beyond what’s expected and give people a fulfilling experience. I look for little ways to brighten and enhance the ordinary.
I think that strength came through in the feeling you experience walking into the coffee shop. It’s bright and welcoming with just the right amount of coziness. Every detail was considered from the artwork on the walls to our seating arrangements. I strive to create a sense of unique quality in everything we do.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
This is such a great question! I believe the ability to take calculated risks is essential to business and life in general. I see people avoiding risk in an attempt to try and create stability and safety. My viewpoint is, you can play it safe and end up with nothing or take a risk, the worst-case scenario ends up with nothing.
There really are no guarantees, to work hard at your own vision is a completely different way of living.
Opening a coffee shop was a complete departure from what we knew, when I decided to open I had zero experience in the coffee industry or owning a retail business. I’ve learned it’s really not about what you know to start with, it’s about what you are willing to learn and how you apply yourself that most profoundly affects the outcome.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @timbercoffee_company
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timbercoffeecompany
