Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy York. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amy , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
My classic training and education is in construction management. I was literally the only woman on many job sites for most of the years in the field. I went from the bottom to the top (as a woman) pretty quickly. I believe the way I was able to do this was by tapping into the very things that made me different than all the men- my abilites to multitask, to communicate effectively and make decisions.
The same traits allowed me to make the leap to leave my corporate job and pursue opening The Dirty Apron.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
We (my husband and I) opened The Dirty Apron to foster a community around food and sharing togetherness in a beautifully curated space. I call us a culinary boutique because we do cooking classes/events and we also have a selection of gourmet cookware. I love heirloom pieces and I find that people are willing to buy more expensive quality items when they know they get to pass down the stories that were shared with the item. My kids will not get fancy jewelry when I pass- but they will have some great knives and memories around the handmade cutting boards and rolling pins they remember using with me as we could end together all those years. The. Stories matter.
You can think you’re different from someone, but once you cook together and then sit down to eat together like we do here at The Dirty Apron, you will find something in common. Food is a connection in that way- we are here to foster that connection.
I feel so lucky to get to do this everyday- I think about PINK and Taylor Swift (just a couple of awesome ladies I love) knowing that they are getting to do their calling- I don’t have their fame but I feel like we are in a special club of women who did the scary thing to pursue our dreams and its amazing.
We have made it through our fist year of business and so now we know were the ebbs and flows are. I think to be successful in small business you have to be willing to pivot. Our slow season is the summer (in Alaska everyone gets out during the summer and camps/fish) so we started doing prepped meals for people to buy every week. We started the program in our winter season, our busiest part of the year, so we could use that visibility. We are also hoping people will want to buy our meals to take camping and fishing with them. We are also renovating a horse trailer into a pizza trailer. Our pizza class was the most popular by a long shot this last year so the trailer was a natural fit for us. It will be available to rent for events.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I am a born project manager and I think that has helped me in many ways through my life- starting a business is something I knew nothing about but I treated it like a project and went through the process.
Being a good decision maker. Because I think of myself as a good decision maker doesn’t mean I always make the right one- but I know that if I make the decision, I will deal with whatever comes from that decision.
I know how to create a welcoming space. I think I must’ve learned this from my mom who always made the house a home. I look forward to decorating houses when we move, it was always my favorite part of our construction projects too. I love the way a space can make you feel something. I wanted people to feel like they were coming into my home (a safe space) when they come to The Dirty Apron, and I have be told many times that the energy is amazing. We definitely have a vibe.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
This question along with the obstacle one are the same for me. Cash flow. Just because I opened a business and we are doing well doesn’t mean we don’t have challenges. I learn something new everyday about business and I like learning that way. Cash flow brings me sleepless nights and the more I learn (I have been binge watching the profit on CNBC) and talk with others- it’s a common struggle.
The way I am overcoming it- well I haven’t figured that out yet but what I am learning from this is that so many are suffering in silence. I think we really need to circle up and help one another even if it’s just a conversation to let each other we are not alone.
I am working on a way to get women business owners together so we can share ideas, wins/losses and encouragement in a safe space so we can all have thriving small businesses. We are all in this together!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thedirtyapron.com
- Instagram: @thedirtyapronak
- Facebook: @thedirtyapronak
