In celebration of Small Business Saturday we are continuing our series of local small business success stories - today’s spotlight is on Caroline Griffith, owner of FreshFitCHQ, a meal prep business that launched earlier this year offering “always fresh, local-first, sustainable food for people on the move. “
Tell us about FreshFitCHQ and how you got your start.
Before I started FreshFitCHQ, I actually considered driving to Buffalo to pick up my meal prep for the week. Between working, the gym, errands, household chores, and an attempt at a social life, there weren’t many extra hours in the day for meal prep. Something had to be outsourced and I – like a lot of other people – went looking for something more reasonably priced than a personal chef. Meal prep is the obvious solution to a busy schedule that needs a little breathing room. After realizing that the drive to Buffalo was further than I wanted in the winter, I decided to leave my job as a Project Director in January 2018 to pursue my own business. It has been a rewarding year.
What do you love most about owning a small business?
I enjoy the freedom of owning my own business. While I spend more time working than ever, it’s exciting to be able to make new things work. Many items on our menu or special offerings like holiday treats come directly from customer requests. It’s fun to be able to really cater to what people are looking for – whether it’s our regular menu or our custom meal prep. We try to have something for everyone.
What is the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner? How did the SBDC help?
One of the biggest challenges is simply being a self-funded, young business. SBDC is a great resource for someone who doesn’t have a ton of startup capital to work with and needs to make sure they are taking the right steps forward. They also connected us with additional local resources that have helped along the way.
Would you like to share how you are spreading holiday cheer during this season?
We are currently partnering with several local businesses for our 1st annual Donation Drive for CASA of Chautauqua County. We are collecting hats, gloves, scarves, and play packs for our local foster care families. Donations can be dropped off during open hours on Small Business Saturday, November 24th, at our local donation hubs.
To connect with Caroline or learn more about her small business, visit her online at FreshFitCHQ .
