I was just scooping out cookies and thinking, I really do love my job. But it sure is hard to make money at this job that I love. So many things to think about. Are the product costs in line? Labor is hard to control. I don't take a paycheck but I want to. My team members work so hard for so little money. But here I am getting specific before setting the stage.
I own and operate BaklaJava, a coffee bar/cafe/bakery. We've been here 4 and a half years on Main Street in the Village of Pawling, NY. I'd like to share what it's like to own and operate this business so I'll start telling you about it, hopefully every day. Sometimes I can't share what I WANT to share, like who's driving me crazy, for fear of offending a customer or a team member. But I'll try to be as honest as I can.
Today is Friday and I started the day exhausted. I only get one day off, Sunday, right now. And this past Sunday I came into work because it was Mother's Day, one of our busiest days of the year. Our hours are 6:30 am to 6 pm weekdays, til 7:30 on Fridays. I work every day between 10 and 13 hours. So by Friday, I'm pretty darn tired, yet the week winds up, not down.
I'm working with Elizabeth, one of my talented bakers in the kitchen. She has 3 cakes to decorate. I have two batches of cookies and one batch of muffin mix to make. I've already stocked the freezer with ready-to-bake (made from scratch) biscuits and scones to get us through the weekend. In between I'll be answering the phone, taking cake orders, backing up the floor team, and I'll tell you whatever else pops up. Hope you'll enjoy sharing the ride with me!
I'm Betsy and this is BaklaJava!