Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Sasser.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Hurley House began as a vision statement I wrote in response to the question, “If you could do anything, what would it be?” I imagined a place where people could come in and feel at home. I imagined the homemade baked goods, the delicious food available for pick up, and the celebrations that would take place in the space.
Once the vision statement was written, I knew I had to do something, anything, to get started. So I decided to start baking and catering for people. I created a website and social media platforms, announced the business, and started saying yes.
It wasn’t difficult to know what to prepare… I had been cooking for my family for thirteen years. I had a trove of trusted recipes and methods, and I loved being in the kitchen as a way to facilitate time around the table. So I dove in and began to make food in mass quantities to fill a growing demand.
As things took off, I ached for more space. A bigger oven. A bigger sink. Anything more than the tiny home kitchen and the endless racks of supplies that had consumed every room in our house. Meanwhile, I decided to take another step forward and turn my home into a “storefront” and my dining room table into a bakery case. I announced Store Hours, and every Wednesday, people walked into my unlocked front door and began picking up baked goods. It was unconventional, but it worked.
Finally, after three years of operating the business out of our home, we found a commercial location, raised the money needed to renovate it, and moved in. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I do not regret any of the processes, but it was excruciating and put my resolve and strength to the test on a daily basis.
We have been in our current location for eighteen months, and I still get excited every morning when I come to work. I love our space, I love our team, and I love the people who come in and enjoy what we have created.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. But it has been a good road.
I had several people tell me my vision would never work. Most people wanted me to commit to being something that already existed, but I wanted to create something new. It was a struggle to hear such negative feedback and still maintain my confidence in my vision. I had to move forward on my own at times, in spite of harsh criticism.
I wanted to move into a commercial space sooner than we did, and the time spent at home was hard. But along the way, I learned valuable lessons in efficiency and a better understanding of products I enjoyed providing and other products that were not my specialty. It was helpful to hone my skills and narrow my focus.
It took a long time to find the perfect spot. We walked away from several okay options because they weren’t exactly right. I am so thankful we waited. The right location was worth it.
Our first year in business was a whirlwind. We learned a lot of lessons the hard way…by failing. I cried a lot. My body ached a lot from standing on my feet for hours on end. My family missed me, and I missed them.
I struggled to know how to manage and prioritize where to focus my efforts. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was to delegate and elevate. If I am the only person who knows how to do something, then I cannot move on to work on other areas that need my attention. The first year was full of me training and passing off vital tasks so that I could cast vision and plan for where we needed to head next.
Hurley House – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in baked goods, take away meals, and special occasions. We also serve lunch, teach classes, and host private events. Some of our best sellers are our Sparkle Sandwich Cookie, our Whiskey Soaked Carrot Cake, and our Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas. I am most proud of our staff. They make everyone feel welcome and at home. Our attention to detail, our small batch production, and our commitment to excellence set us apart.
The thing that makes Hurley House different and special is that even though we sell a lot of products, our real goal is to make you feel at home. We want the food to be delicious, and we work hard to ensure that every bite exceeds your expectations, but even more than the taste of the cake or cookies, we want you to feel cared for, nurtured, and known. We want you to want to come back, and we make this our goal.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
When I think of success, I look only inward. Relying on other people to determine whether or not I have succeeded is a slippery slope that involves me handing over my sense of purpose and identity to outsiders instead of being solely responsible for knowing who I am and how I live. My goal in my life and in my business is to bring all of my talent, all of my creativity, every ounce of any resource I have been given, and to pour it out in the pursuit of doing the best I can at what is in front of me. This is success. That at the end of my day, at the end of my week, at the end of my life, I would be able to say, “I used up everything I had to give.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 5512 Bellaire Drive South, Suite A
Fort Worth, TX 76109 - Website: hurley-house.com
- Phone: 817.349.8934
- Email: hurleyhouse.orders@gmail.com
- Instagram: @hurleyhouse
- Facebook: facebook.com/thehurleyhouse
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