Diary of a Small Business: 'You must be crazy!'
by James CanedyFirst in a six-part series
When we first met James Canedy – and discovered his talent as a writer – it occurred to us that he was very qualified to articulate the thoughts, emotions, dreams and experiences of all our small business readers.
We immediately identified with his story – it is ours as well. So we asked James to develop a diary in 2008. A chapter will appear in each of our editions this year.
We begin with his and wife Stacey Canedy’s vision; in upcoming issues, we will feature chapters on the reality of owning and running of a retail shop as the road twists and turns – touched by and influencing the new Cape Cod.
“You must be crazy!” “Aren’t you afraid of failing? Aren’t you afraid of having all this inventory and nobody shopping? Aren’t you afraid of winters on the Cape?”
These are comments often heard when a person embarks into the wild world of small business. In fact, the phrase “You must be crazy” should be included in the official definition of entrepreneur:
“An entrepreneur is a person who operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks, and then must also be crazy.”
My name is James Canedy, and together with my wife, Stacey, we own and run Main Street Gourmet, an elegant and resourceful retail kitchen shop for the aspiring and weathered chef alike. Located at 42 Main Street in Orleans, the shop is a cross between a home cook’s destination store for that essential kitchen gadget and a culinary inspired gift shop with specialty foods, table top décor, hostess gifts, gift baskets, wedding registry and more.
While entering its third year, the vision of our kitchen shop continues to evolve. Our dream to be our own bosses and abide by our own rules began on the beautiful island of Maui when Stacey and I decided to return to my hometown of Orleans, leaving behind the grueling and often unforgiving battlefield of restaurant and resort hospitality management.
Enticing yet shaky corporate ladders, where one boss infinitely leads to another, 401(k) plans, health-care packages, incentive bonuses, and other strategic comforts (“golden handcuffs”) were not enough to curb our true passions: enjoying good food, good drink and sharing conversation with our friends and families. This all begins in the kitchen.
Getting started
Ideas that lead to the creation of a business come from all directions – frustration with a current lifestyle or products, recognition of a gap in the current marketplace.
The conceptualization of Main Street Gourmet began as a conversation on a beach over a glass of wine. As with many startup businesses, the question for us was, “How could we do what we love, and make a living at the same time?”
The idea to open a simple small retail business rapidly took on a life of its own, and transformed into a monster in its own right. The difference between this monster, however, and the ones we were previously employed by was that now we are doing what we love. The long stressful hours of nourishing Main Street Gourmet have been worth the adventure.
Now with more than 6,000 products in the store, we have barely scratched the surface of today’s booming home-kitchen industry. Information offered by our customers, industry publications and the Food Network allow us to adjust, improve and build on the foundation of Main Street Gourmet while focusing on our goals for the future.
Cape Cod made a great home for our kitchen shop, and the decision to be here was the compilation of many elements. The fact I was born and raised in Orleans eased the fear of not surviving the winter doldrums, a common concern among businesses here.
I had a general understanding of the Cape Cod cycle before we even started. The excellent location of our building (many remember it as the old Head and Foot Shop), the ability to fill a niche, and the promising continued growth and future of the Cape are just a few other concepts that supported our “crazy” decision.
Cape Cod is changing, as are its customers and their expectations. There is a revitalization of the home, the kitchen and the way we perceive food. Main Street Gourmet welcomes the challenges facing the future of Cape Cod business and will embrace the new marketplace as it develops.
Being on the cutting edge of a changing business environment is what drives us and gives us the opportunity to expand on our vision.
Risk is what ultimately challenges every decision to “be your own boss.” As many investors in the world of finance already know, risk can equal reward. And when it comes to entrepreneurship, that risk is more than just a monetary one. The freedom to even have this decision at all is the beauty of capitalism, the heartbeat of the nation.
We tend measure our success in terms of money or wealth, but like entrepreneurs before us – and those who are currently following their own dreams to marketplace independence – success is measured by being able to actually live your dream, the way you want.
Dream big … and then wake up and make it happen.
James Canedy and his wife Stacey are owners of Main Street Gourmet, located on Main Street in Orleans.
Published in Cape Business January/February 2008
Cape Business Newsletters
Keep up with the latest issues affecting your business and your life! To sign up for any of the Cape Business newsletters, click here.