Sunday, August 18, 2013

Introducing - Sun Spot Mini Donuts

Sun Spot sells mini donuts at fairs, festivals and farmers markets in the greater Seattle area.  I've been in the mini donut business for three years, with lots of help from the family and many wonderful customers.  Now it is time to shrink and move on to other things, or grow.  Working one event a week does not provide enough of an income.  This blog will give me a chance to round out my thinking about where Sun Spot is going, as well as provide an opportunity for input from others.

You can find us most Saturdays April through September at the Issaquah Farmers Market.  It is a wonderful market with a variety of fresh produce, hand crafted items, and food booths.  And of course, Sun Spot mini donuts.


This picture is from the market last Saturday  It was a busy day with both mini donuts and fresh squeezed lemonade.  This is our booth set up.

The decision part, though I think I've basically made it, is to go get a 'real job' with a steady income and benefits, or work the mini donut business even more.  More days.  More events.  Do it more like a regular food truck.  The benefit would be more flexibility in the schedule.  To make that happen I'll need to move to a food trailer for most events.  While a food truck would be nice, it is just too expensive.  I can, almost, afford to outfit a trailer if I do most of the work with help from others.

I bought a 1965 Aristocrat trailer that leaks and has some internal rot.  We (a friend is helping greatly) are gutting it.  Everything comes out.  Then construction and sealing up the leaks can start.  Hopefully we'll have the leaks sealed before the rains start here in the Northwest.  Following is a picture of my idea of what the trailer could look like.

This is what it looks like today.  Doesn't this trailer have a fine looking line?  I think it will be distinctive.  Once it is out there, people will know to look for it, the same way they look for our orange canopy at festivals now.
One of the joys of business is doing the books. Which I need to do.  So goodnight for now.