Small business: Flat Craft Breads is wrapping up Charlotte’s food scene
Darcy Everett owns Flat Craft Breads. She opened the business last year at a pop-up at the end of July. She hand-makes wraps and flat breads using locally sourced ingredients from farmers markets and small shops in Charlotte and North Carolina.
In January 2016, Everett, 33, quit her full-time job with the City of Charlotte to prepare her new business.
“I’ve always had this itch to own my own business,” said Everett.
The idea for Flat Craft Breads came from wanting to be more conscious of the foods that she was eating.
“I was paying attention to what was on the labels,” she said. “On the back of the tortilla (package) that you buy at the store, there are products that I cannot pronounce and words that I don’t know what they mean. So I started thinking that maybe I can start making some on my own.”
Everett began experimenting with hand-made tortillas. Family and friends gave her great feedback, and she realized that there might be an opportunity for her to sell locally made wraps.
Flat Craft Breads is one of the regular vendors at the NoDa Farmers Market. You may also find them at pop-ups around the city. This summer, Everett is expanding to the Matthews Community Farmers’ Market.
Flat Craft Breads come in five flavors of wraps: plain, spinach, roasted red pepper, sweet potato and barbecue. A package of six is $7-$8.
The naan comes in plain or garlic. Expect fresh garlic and Charnushka seeds in the garlic naan. Naan comes in packages of two for $6.
Everett answers questions for C5’s Small Business Series:
How did you cover your start-up costs?
“I was working full-time when I decided to start my own business so I saved extra money for start-up costs. I saved $2,500 to cover mixing bowls, cup measures, containers, pop-up display, labels and packaging.
“Cottage Food Laws allowed me to cook in an approved residential kitchen, which cut down on my initial costs. I did this at a friend’s house until this past February when I moved into a commercial kitchen.”
What programs have you used to get your business started?
“I used SCORE. It is through the Small Business Association. I was paired up with two retired business folks that are my mentors. I met with them when I was first coming up with the concept. They helped walk me through spreadsheets on calculating the business costs, profit and loss statements, and things that I had never thought about.”
Where do you get most of your customer base?
“Right now, it’s people who live in NoDa or that come to the farmers market. I do have a Facebook page and Instagram page and (am) hoping additional customers are following me there.
“I also participated in a couple of the Front Porch Sunday pop-ups in South End last year. I got a little bit of a customer base from there.
“When I open an online store this summer, I hope to expand that as well.”
Why do you think being a small business owner is enticing to many people?
“I think for me it is the challenge of it. It is starting something from the ground up and really making it your own. Being able to see where it goes. Every time a new customer samples my product and comes back the next week and wants to buy more of it, that makes it all worthwhile.”
What was your pick for the Academy Awards, Best Picture?
“I only saw one of the nominated films, but I loved it and it was ‘La La Land.’ That would probably be my pick. I was really excited when they fake-won, and sad when they actually did not win.”
Photos: Ken Jones, Flat Craft Breads
Family history and my own fascination with people and their motivations prompted me to begin this series about Charlotte’s small business owners. Industry, situation and questions will vary. Have a suggestion for a small business owner or entrepreneur to interview? Email it to vanessainfanzon@gmail.com with the subject line “Small Business Series.”
This story was originally published March 21, 2017 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Small business: Flat Craft Breads is wrapping up Charlotte’s food scene."