Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Carm, owner of Small Bites!
Carm considers herself to be very intuitive–if the energy is great, she will appear to be an extrovert, but she also loves snuggling in PJs at home! Prior to the pandemic, she never wanted to be an entrepreneur. Creating Small Bites has been a means to express creativity and has catapulted into something she is in awe of. Carm has a niche for finding local gems; shopping locally and Black-owned has become a priority for her!
We asked Carm to share a little bit more about her business with us. Get to know Carm and her business, Small Bites, below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“I was sitting in a restaurant with my husband and annoyed because I did not want a large portion of a dish, but just a small bite. I told him we should create a business of just small bites of things. The pandemic happened, and my daughter was born, and I said to myself, “Why not?” I started Small Bites with guidance from a good friend. She had recently started a business of her own. There is so much to learn in my industry, so I began to research the basics. I am still and always learning being a #momprenuer.”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“I would invest more in myself sooner, [and] I wouldn’t play it so safe. I would also network more. There is something to be said about showing up in places and being able to connect with people.”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“You will never be someone else. You are what sells your business. Lean more into what feels good for you.”
Have you faced adversity in business due to being a woman? How did you navigate that?
“The biggest adversity I face in business is myself. This shows up as Imposter Syndrome, me feeling inadequate, or feeling as if someone challenges or doesn’t believe in my offering. I am still learning how to turn this off and be confident in my journey.”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“Besides whining to my husband and friends (who have been top tier supporters), I breathe, then try to find the lesson in [the] challenge. What can I learn and how can I respond?”
What impact do you want your business to have?
“Food connects people. I want to be able to connect in a meaningful way through food. I want to be accessible. To offer a sense of beauty in food. I want to be a pillar for women-owned, Black-owned business.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2023?
“Pros: the community you create, sustain, and build is mind-blowing! Cons: it may be an unpopular opinion, but the pressure that social media puts on woman-owned business. The pressure that women put on each other is also a con! Fake support is real.”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“Just start! And trust the journey.”
What do you do for personal and professional development?
“I am a part of the @retreattoreclaim family that has changed my life. I have also done PD with The Boarding School, Foodtography, and wisdom from my dear cousin who is a prominent chef in Indiana.”
What mantra or quote do you live by?
“Interrupt anxiety with gratitude.”
What’s your favorite place in Detroit or Michigan?
“[My] favorite place to visit is Rust Belt Market. It hosts so many vendors and also hosted my wedding!”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow Small Bites on TikTok, Instagram (@small.bites.by.carm or @carmwithatwist), and on their website!
