{"id":45257,"date":"2026-01-26T09:16:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T09:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&p=45257"},"modified":"2026-04-10T13:56:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T13:56:07","slug":"eat-by-amy-business-journey","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/eat-by-amy-business-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"How loving my work helped me to survive in business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Running your own business can be full of setbacks \u2013 but Amy Gastman, owner of Eat by Amy and Crumb, has found a way to keep going when things get tough.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From mindset shifts to practical steps you can take when it all seems like too much, Amy\u2019s journey from journalist to meal prep provider to cookie shop owner shows how you can keep going \u2013 if you remember one thing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When people look at my businesses now \u2013 Eat by Amy<\/a> and Crumb<\/a> \u2013 it can seem like a neat, intentional journey. But the truth is, none of this was planned in a straight line. It grew out of uncertainty, messy decisions, and a lot of setbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve worked in food for over 11 years. I started out as a food journalist, before taking what was meant to be a career break to study an MA in the Anthropology of Food. I finished that degree right as Covid hit \u2013 and suddenly the path I thought I was on no longer existed in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of my parents have been self-employed, but I never imagined that for myself. It took a global pandemic to push me into starting something of my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat by Amy began as an online vegan meal prep service, run from my mum\u2019s kitchen. In January 2021, it expanded into a bricks-and-mortar wholesale bakery. Years later, Crumb was born, which has just turned one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The early years were messy, heavy, full of setbacks and unknowns. But there was one thing that stayed consistent throughout all of it \u2013 I loved the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s everything I\u2019ve learnt about building a food business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Be honest about the reality of running a business<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Loving your craft can carry you through the hard parts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
      \n
    1. Reconnect with why you started<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. If you\u2019re starting out, focus on small wins<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Know that something small can make a big difference<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Tip 1: Be honest about the reality of running a business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Running a business isn\u2019t glamorous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s constant problem-solving, high-stress moments, and carrying emotional weight that doesn\u2019t always get talked about. There are days when everything feels like it needs fixing at once, and the pressure of being responsible for every decision can feel overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here\u2019s a secret: Crumb opened because Eat by Amy wasn\u2019t making a profit. Making money when you\u2019re working for yourself can feel like a distant dream. In fact, this is the first year I\u2019m earning more than I did as an entry-level journalist \u2013 after years of building, adapting, and taking risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      My first year of trading created a false sense of security. It looked like success on paper, but every year after that, I was simply breaking even. When you\u2019re putting everything you have into a business, that reality can be hard to sit with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I\u2019m very fortunate that my mum has let me overstay my welcome in her house \u2013 which has let me survive earning very little for the last few years. Thanks mum \u2013 I know many others aren\u2019t as fortunate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tip 2: Loving your craft can carry you through the hard parts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      What stopped me from quitting wasn\u2019t confidence or certainty \u2013 it was loving what I was creating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Caring deeply about your product or idea gives you direction when things feel bleak. On bad days, passion becomes the thing that keeps you moving forward \u2013 even when the rewards feel far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Breaking even isn\u2019t a reflection of personal failure. It\u2019s often just the reality of running a business. There are countless expenses<\/a> and responsibilities to cover before you can pay yourself \u2013 and that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re doing it wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Loving the work made it possible to keep showing up, even when the financial side lagged behind the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here’s a video where I speak about getting through the hard days of running a small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      @simplybusiness<\/a>

      One mindset shift can change everything for your small business \ud83d\udca1 \u2b06\ufe0f Click the link in our bio to read Amy\u2019s full story and enter for your chance to win \u00a3500 to start or grow your business. #SmallBusinessOwner<\/a> #SmallBusinessTips<\/a> #SmallBusinessGrant<\/a> #SmallBusinessuk<\/a> #fyp<\/a> <\/p> \u266c Cozy Lofi Beat – The Machinist Beats<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>