Sustainability Spotlights have spoken about the promotion of one major area of significance, local businesses! While the shops downtown are unique to Laramie, the origins of their creation are just as spectacular. Structurally, many local store owners can be separated into two categories: someone who makes their hobby a business and those who use their business to support their hobbies. So how does one start a business?
A lot can be learned from Laramie’s business owners, Ruth Williams, is a prime example of turning a past-time into a full-time endeavor. Though she is the current owner of The Sugar Mouse Cupcake House, she began by baking cupcakes at the Laramie Farmer’s Market with all of the proceeds going towards victims of sex-trafficking in Cambodia. Following a recipe representative of her British roots, her cupcakes sold rapidly. Thus, her original fundraiser eventually led to her buying out Sweets Bakery about three years ago. This was due to rapid growth, the need for more space, equipment, and people. Today, The Sugar Mouse Cupcake House has relocated to the corner of Second and Garfield with tentative plans to incorporate the upstairs floor as an event space. The bakery boasts 22 flavors following Ruth’s original basic recipe with a now 16-person staff. Sugar Mouse’s secret ingredients revolve around English cream and a good cause. The pastel pink business has expanded to tea parties, Italian brewed coffee, and candied sweets—all the while raising thousands of dollars for much needed resources in Cambodia.
Ruth was not a businesswoman, until her cupcakes began to be savored by the masses that reside in the Gem City of the Plains. She learned by necessary action and building hands-on experience. If you want to begin your own personal business Ruth provides golden advice,
“Don’t be afraid. Find people who are good at what you’re not,”
Shopping locally is not possible without those brave enough to embark on a journey towards opening up a storefront. Ultimately, in connection with sustainability and shopping local, sustainability wouldn’t be possible without the locals.
So,
“You have to jump in to get started”