Cheese All That: WindUp 2018 Winner Sarah Barrette Talks Success of The Cheese Bar
Like a good cheese, businesses get better with time and patience.
Okay, that was a little cheesy—and totally appropriate. Back in 2018, Generator Cares, our annual contest to provide a nonprofit organization or charity with a brand refresh, shifted gears to help a registered, local businesses in Windsor-Essex. In light of the challenges brought on by the pandemic we followed up with our WindUp 2018 winner Sarah Barrette, owner of The Cheese Bar, in a Generator-style interview to talk success following the custom website we designed and developed.
Hi Sarah! Since winning WindUp 2018, change has happened for everyone, with business owners especially having to think outside the box. How have you seen business transform for The Cheese Bar?
We’ve really grown: we started with one staff member and now we’re at nine. Plus, our store space has gone from 1,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet. Best of all: we’re now able to ship Canada-wide!
That’s excellent to hear, Sarah! Do you find that your website has positioned you to meet demands and help your business succeed?
Absolutely! The website has been an asset to growing our Cheese Club and making it possible to ship our cheeses throughout Canada. It’s also been fabulous for offering pre-orders of exclusive products to our customers.
Speaking of exclusive products, what can customers expect to order online?
Currently, we’re able to offer 60% of our in-store products online. It’s been a challenge to continue to stock product online with our new shop open as well, and we’re working hard to stock all of our in-store products online. Stay tuned!
There’s no such thing as too much cheese—we’re certainly looking forward to more product. What other growth and improvements have The Cheese Bar reached since WindUp2018?
We’ve been able to continue to grow and expand our offerings even during the pandemic. Our customer base has expanded across the Country; it’s been growth year after year!
What did you appreciate most from working with Generator?
Their team’s ability to interpret my vision and offer suggestions that assisted with the growth of the business. Generator’s quick turnaround when I have any issues or concerns is always appreciated.
Thanks, Sarah—we aim to please! Where do you see The Cheese Bar in five years?
Our goal is to possibly have another location to serve our growing customer base across Canada—with a warehouse to handle our monthly Cheese Club sales! Our dream is to be the largest retailer of Canadian-made cheese for people to access across Canada.
It’s such a rewarding feeling to see the success of our clients’ businesses, especially past winners of our Generator Cares WindUp contests. We encourage you to visit Sarah’s website to peruse her unique and delectable assortment of cheese, meats, wines, and much more at www.thecheesebar.ca.
