Cindy Kroske, My Favorite Things
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Name:Â Cindy Porter Kroske
Hometown: Ballentine, SC
Current Residence (City, State): Chapin, SC
Education: Associates & Bachelors from The University of South Carolina; also CLASS certified (*Christian Leaders, Authors, Speakers Seminar)
Professional Background (brief, please):
Prior to creating my own store, I did everything from managing display for Davidson’s Department Store, to being an Avon lady, and later a Mary Kay Sales Director.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: Everything! An artist, teacher, and horse trainer! Oh, and twirl a baton, too!
What you are: All of the above! I use my art background to surround my family and customers with beauty, both at home, and in the shop! I teach and hope to install a lifelong love of learning in all I meet! I’m a trainer for our mischievous registered paint horse, whom I love dearly! Keeping him in my life is often my “reason†for working!
But sometimes dreams change, and that’s ok, too. I traded my “majorette†boots for work boots for the farm, and the closest I get to twirling batons is knitting needles!
Brief Summary of your Start Up: In ‘91, we bought a mill, mixer and pail of grain. The nice sales lady said she needed a rep in Columbia, SC so I joined. (*I thought she was a representative for a big company – much like being a Mary Kay lady or a Pampered Chef presenter. I figured, “How hard can it be? They probably have everything lined up for me – step 1, step 2, step 3 towards success.)
Before I could sell anything, the expensive mixer broke, repeatedly. In the course of getting it fixed, I learned I’d misunderstood her. There was no big company backing me, no step 1, 2 or 3. I was on my own, with a business I knew almost nothing about.
It was from that odd beginning that our store, My Favorite Things, began. My retail license says we began in ‘97, but I actually spent 6 years prior trying to figure what to do with this odd opportunity that had fallen into my lap! Needless to say, the first order of business was finding a better mixer!
Company Website? www.grainlady.com & www.my-favoritethings.com
What inspired you? Our children! My husband would often drop hints that life would be better if I’d consider working. I didn’t want to work a 9 to 5 j-o-b and leave the raising of our children to someone else so I was always searching for ways to work from home. I’d been intrigued with whole grain cooking since my sister-in-law introduced it to me when I was in college, plus my major was retail, so it seemed a good fit.
How long have you been in business? Technically 10 years, but we spent 6 years prior creating it.
How did you fund it? The “hard†way! There was no rich uncle to beg from, no great stash of savings to pull from! We just did it ourselves, one dollar at a time! I started by selling only products that could be drop-shipped directly to the customer, therefore not requiring me to stock inventory. When I needed a steady source of clean grain, I ploughed every dollar back into the business so we could eventually afford a grain order!
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? Several…My sister-in-law was my “whole food†mentor! My mom was my “follow your passion†mentor! She became an interpreter and minister to the deaf early in my childhood!
My grandfather was a true entrepreneur, repairing bicycles, selling refrigerators, even going to Nigeria to teach in the mills. When he couldn’t work after 2 open heart surgeries, my grandmother inspired me as she went back to school, completed her education, and became the medical ward secretary for the intensive care unit of a local hospital. She impressed upon me that I could do anything I set my mind to, and especially if it would better me for the Lord’s work!
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? No, but my husband belongs to one.
Current Business Challenge? Learning how to use new technology to better my company (*i.e. computers, internet, websites, blogs, forums, selling online, etc.) and learning how to increase traffic to my online and physical store – all on a budget!
What are you doing about it? Finding those who have done what I hope to do and asking them how they did it! Continuing to give my customers the best service possible in hopes they’ll continue to send referrals!
Favorite motivational quote: 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.â€
Family? Yes! Twenty-eight years ago I married my college sweetheart – also an entrepreneur – and we have 4 beautiful children, ages 8 to 22! We’ve also home schooled 18 years!
If so, how do you balance family and business? Hmm… with late nights at the computer, keeping my store hours manageable, and creating independent children! My number one suggestion is include your family in the work and in the pay! People tend to support that which they help create!
Favorite book? “Legacy of a Pack Rat†by Ruth Bell Graham!
What do you do to relax? Laugh with family & friends, spend time on the lake, in the neighbor’s pool or with our horse!
What do you want to change most about your world? It is my dream to one day build a shop that is more “custom†tailored to our specific needs.
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of our children because they won’t grow up just looking for a “j-o-b†that pays well and has good benefits. After watching us survive several corporate downsizings, they’ve learned to seek their passion in life hopefully a career that’s fulfilling will follow!
What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Find something you are so passionate about that you’d be willing to do it for no pay at all and you just might have a career you’ll possibly enjoy! Especially when it does pay!
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? My computer! Email!
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Diamonds because you have to sparkle and shine, but be tough enough to cut glass to survive the hard times of being self-employed.
Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother to another woman entrepreneur? Possibly
What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in? Writing a newsletter
Would you be interested in going to lunch with other women entrepreneurs for a “networking tea party� Possibly
Would you be willing to be a facilitator of such an event? Possibly
