After being laid off from my job in financial services, I seriously considered starting a food business. Although I had several products I wanted to make and sell, my research around LA led to a sobering realization: I was going to fail. Not because my ideas weren’t good enough, but because I couldn’t find a decent kitchen to work from or anyone to show me the ropes. That’s precisely why I built Crafted Kitchen. My origin story is simple—I created exactly what I needed when I was starting out: a kitchen with real support for beginners.
Likewise, your origin story as a food maker is pure gold. Unfortunately, most of us either brush it off or try too hard to make it fancy. As a result, we miss a crucial opportunity to connect with customers.
To understand why stories matter so much, think about your favorite local food brands. Chances are, you know something about the people behind them. Perhaps it’s the mom who started selling her family’s secret sauce, or maybe it’s the guy who quit his office job to make the snacks he couldn’t find anywhere else. Above all, we remember these stories because they’re real.
In fact, your origin story is your secret sauce—the one thing your competitors can’t copy. While big brands spend crazy money trying to seem authentic, you naturally are authentic.
Need help figuring out how to tell your story? Start here:
- What pushed you to start making your product?
- What moment made you think, “I could turn this into a real business”?
- What matters most to you when making your product?
- How do customers see these values in what you make?
Share your origin story everywhere—your website, social media, and packaging. Just keep it real. There is no need for fancy words or dramatic flair.
Consider this: People don’t just buy food anymore. Instead, they buy the story behind it. At Crafted Kitchen, I see it every day—the businesses that share their genuine stories are consistently the ones that build a real following.
Your origin story isn’t just about your past. It’s about letting customers be part of your future. Please don’t sell yourself short by keeping it to yourself.
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Crafted Kitchen operates as an incubator-style shared-use kitchen in the Arts District of Los Angeles. We offer foodpreneurs the access, tools and resources to take their side hustle to a success story. Do you have your own small food business? Looking for kitchen space? Just want some help? Let’s talk! Schedule a call today.
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