Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shyan Heldman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shyan , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I developed my ability to take risk by believing that what is meant for me will be. If I never took risks, I would not be where I am today.
One lesson I have learned in this life is that you have to put yourself in unfamiliar positions. The positions that are scary, unknown of the outcome, and elusive. You will never grow as a person if you stay comfortable. Being vulnerable is a beautiful skill to achieve.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the owner of Shy’s Vegan Goodies.
When I was a little girl, I always dreamt of owning my own bakery. Baking was very foreign to me until the year 2018 when I first started practicing baking.
One thing about me is that I love to spoil the people I love with food. My friend was vegan and of course I was up for the challenge! The first baked item I had ever made were brownies made with black beans… Yes, it tasted just as bad as it sounds.
I did not let the black bean brownies discourage me from coming up with something good that was vegan. Eventually my bakery items tasted exactly how they should… Delicious!
I shared my treats with friends and family. They persuaded me to start my own business, which there wasn’t much persuading needing to be done!
From then on, I started attending local farmer’s markets, even if it was just me that showed up in the rain.
There, I met Heidi Wyn. She is the owner of Curiosi-Tea House. She was looking for a vegan baker for her vegan tea shop. That’s when her and I started working together weekly! I have been using her commercial kitchen for 5 years now and I would say that we make a pretty great team! Without Heidi, I would not be where I am today with my baking business. She has helped me so much along the way and has brought amazing connections my way to grow and succeed.
I have worked with other local businesses in the area. I have learned that community is everything when you’re a small business. My community is amazing at working together! It’s important to help out your community, as much as you can. I have worked with some amazing organizations to help feed young adults, the homeless, and women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Not only that… I have learned how much my community needs dairy free options.
When I first started my vegan business, I never thought about those who didn’t have access to dairy free, vegan and gluten free options. I am so happy that I am able to provide treats for those who haven’t been able to have a sweet treat during gatherings, holidays and even birthdays. It is so rewarding when I get messages from parents who are ecstatic because their child can indulge in a birthday cake decorated like their favorite animal or game. Those are the moments that I feel most proud of myself.
I bake through my home and for two local businesses. I am hoping to expand to more local businesses in the future! I still have markets, where I am starting to sell out items of 150+, which is something I never imagined would happen back in 2018 when I had 20 items.
My business is continuously growing. I now have quite a few clientele in the Minneapolis/Cities area. Some of those clients even travel to Mankato (1.5/2 hours) to come to my markets! Now THAT is something I never expected when I first began my journey.
I am incredibly grateful for those who have supported me along the way. I am so excited to see what the future holds for me and my business. I can only imagine good things.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) I never gave up.
2) I took risks.
3) The support from my friends, family and community.
When I first started my baking journey, I was a new mom who worked multiple jobs on top of practicing and perfecting my baking skills. It was extremely difficult and honestly disheartening at times. When I couldn’t get a recipe to work out, or simply just being tired from having a new child I always pushed myself to do the hard things. I believed in myself, which has brought me to where I am today.
I put myself in situations that I was terrified to do for my business! When I first started my business, I was a very shy person. (I know, it’s in the name) I threw myself into the farmers markets, terrified of people trying my treats and being disappointed. I also attended meetings with people I never met before. I even went on the local news! Without putting myself in those formidable experiences I never would have met the amazing people of my community who want to help me succeed!
Having a supportive group of people in your life is crucial. You have to have people in your life who build you up when you need it the most. Those who aren’t afraid to show you that they’re proud of you. Those are the people that you turn to when you feel like you’re not growing and when you’re feeling stuck. Those people are there to remind you that you’re doing a great job, even when it feels like you’re not!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes! I am always looking to work together with another person or business. I would really love to expand my business, whether that is continuing to partner with local businesses to get more dairy free, vegan and gluten free options to my community or if it is an investor looking to open up shop!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shysvegangoodies/profilecard/?igsh=MTVzcW1hcWw5NTd5dA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19SiadCJ3y/
Image Credits
Takes By Taylor
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