What It's About
Foodie takes a bite out of the Philly food scene with her bite-sized French toast.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
Some advice Charisse offers to entrepreneurs wanting to get into the food vending arena: Never run out of product—it’s better to give left-overs away to employees at the end of the night than to disappoint your customers. Make your product affordable. Open in a timely manner—never keep your customers waiting. Word will spread if you fail to take your business seriously.
Fun Fact
It’s a myth that French toast originated in France. The dish now known as French toast existed in the age of the Roman Empire, according to a collection of recipes from the early 5th century AD.
Notes from Chris
Episode 900
Having worked in the hospitality industry for 16 years, Charisse McGill knows a thing or two about customer service. But it wasn’t until she witnessed her 13-year-old daughter make over $6,000 in four Saturdays selling lemonade that she knew she needed to start her own business. As the manager of the Lansdale Farmers Market, Charisse knew there was money to be made in being a food vendor. This is where her daughter sold her specialty lemonade infused with local fruits and herbs. Working there for the past seven years, Charisse had watched how selling food products could be a major source of income for many vendors. And she knew that someday she, too, would have a product of her own. Up until the end of 2018, Charisse not only managed the Farmers Market, she also worked as the full-time director of Special Events for Valley Forge Military Academy and College. She also taught classes on becoming a food vendor as an adjunct instructor at a local Community College. After seeing her daughter’s success selling lemonade, Charisse decided the time had come to sell her own concoction. She just needed to figure out what it would be! She knew that to be successful in an open-air food market, she had to have something unique, and something that smells good. It was thinking through different ideas that Charisse settled on French toast bites—a made-to-order treat that is simple, focused, and easy to replicate. Charisse’s French toast bites are made like traditional French toast, but in bite-size cubes and fried. Customers can pick from various toppings such as maple syrup, fresh strawberries, chocolate, whipped cream, or powdered sugar. The mouth-watering goodies are made on-site, so customers can watch the food being prepared. Charisse sells the bites in a sharable package, much like a serving of fries, for $7. She called her sweet endeavor Lokal Artisan Foods, and those French toast bites are her signature product. She also makes French toast seasoning, which is for sale both virtually and on local grocery store shelves. Within a few short months, Charisse was making 60% of her yearly salary (from her full-time job). It was after this that she realized she wanted to leave that job and go all-in with her own business. However, Charisse still believes the best time to start a company is when you are guaranteed a paycheck. She advises using that time to cut your personal bills and prepare for being a full-time business owner. You're welcome to chew it over, but we think it's some pretty sweet advice!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Lokal Artisan Foods: Learn more about this sweet, crunchy side hustle over on Charisse's website!
SEE ALSO:
- Southern Couple Rolls Out Sweet Profits With Family Side Hustle: A Mississippi husband-and-wife duo keeps things sweet and make $15,000/year on the side selling homemade cinnamon rolls
- Delicious Cookies Arrive at My Door in Portland, Oregon: A late night craving evolves into a cookie delivery service spreading chocolate chip goodness throughout the land
- Game of Cones: Two Women Make Architecturally-Inspired Ice Cream: A nouveau-cream wave of ice cream debuts at Coachella, and everyone freaks out
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Resources
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