Today we’d like to introduce you to Amie Roberts.
Hi Amie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We are formally known as ‘Familylaser, LLC’. The same dad and three daughters and started and operated this business for 8 years. We laser engrave and sublimated home decor, gifts, kitchen products. Lake of the Woods Coffee Company will be two years old this July. Our dad planted the seed about us starting this new business. We live on the shoreline of this massive lake (14,000 islands) and have great passion for all things Lake of the Woods so our interest was peaked at the idea. As we started our research, we recognized the value of the lake name as it relates to locals and tourists so finding a physical location, sourcing top quality coffee and branding the name moved to the top of our list. So much so, that we merged Familylaser into Lake of the Woods Coffee Company and became one under that umbrella. Our goal was and has been to provide a unique, untraditional coffee shop, eating experience combined with a gift boutique shop that is unusual in a good way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been challenging today the least. Keeping in mind that us three girls who partner with dad, have 10 children all under the ages of 10 so opening, operating, branding, establishing a new business all the while maintaining the quality family time we have grown up with is always a balancing act. Add to that, that we finished our building at the onset of COVID, that we could only open our drive through for the same reason, that since or opening COVID has shut down sports, corporations, travel, etc all of which have given us curve balls left and right. We still face significant obstacles with accessing products, dry goods, food items and as with everywhere else in our country, prices fluctuate drastically, product availability is a daily obstacle, cost of goods change, our prices sometimes change but are impossible to keep up with the ongoing supply chain issues and costs, and as well….we are challenged by the tight labor market. Challenges? Obstacles? Yes….times 10! Having said all of that, we are optimists and given the hurdles we face, we just work harder and smarter knowing we can survive and that better days are coming!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lake of the Woods Coffee Company?
We are Lake of the Woods Coffee Company but by design, we are much more. We are as much a place to enjoy a quality meal or source quality gifts as we are a specialty coffee shop. We stock a merchandise area that features our laser engraved products, sublimated products and specialty food and kitchen items. Because Lake of the Woods features 14,000 islands and borders Manitoba, Minnesota and Ontario, our store serves as a destination allowing you to find that special gift before you travel back home. More than anything, we know what we are not. We are not a ‘coffee shop’ that fits the mold of specialty drinks and bagels. We are much more and we focus on marketing that point. Finally, we are well known for our friendly and high quality staff. They are awesome and the face of our business daily.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Keep family first. Protect those relationships. Create your business plan and revisit it often. It’s your roadmap and it will change. Map out your startup budget and add another 25%. Unexpected costs. Spend as much time on being untraditional as anything else. Know your target audience. What they need/want. A seasonal pop up shop is a great way to explore proof of concept. Don’t fit a cookie cutter mold. Finally…job shadow someone who owns their own business. See what it’s like to go to bed thinking business, waking up doing the same, fielding the unexpected and raising a family. Know what you are getting into.
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@lakeofthewoodscoffee.com
- Website: www.lakeofthewoodscoffee.com
- Instagram: @lakeofthewoodscoffeeco
- Facebook: lakeofthewoodscoffeecompany
