Behind the Scenes at The Farmhouse- Great Design and Amazing Donuts!
What is your background?
Nancie and Steve Sheardown..Steve- I was a Florida State trooper when I met Nancie and she is an acupuncture physician. We stared a company called SDS Designs that Designs and makes custom tables for clients all over the country.
What moved you to start this business? How did you find this career?
We decided to open a home decor store to sell our furniture along with home decor and gifts. We thought it would be a great idea to add mini donuts to the mix. I mean everyone loves donuts! It gave the kids something to do while the parents shop. Not to mention, we kept going back and forth on whether we would do the donuts or not. Our daughter just graduated from High school and Nancie’s Dad said you need to do donuts! He said, Taylor, our daughter, should learn how a business works while she was going to college. He contributed money to the donut portion of the store so she could learn how to start a business and learn good business values.
Three signature doughnuts at The Farmhouse-
We have many favorite donuts at The Farm House. Not to mention the fun “Farm” names we have like the Cow Patti, the Sweet Squealing Pig, Betty Lou Pie, Strawberry Patch, Hay Stack, The Hoe Down, Fancy Cowboy, Grandma Myers Oatmeal Cookie. Not sure I can give you just 3 top favorites. I think the most popular, though is the Sweet Squealing Pig. It’s maple icing, chopped bacon with a dash of salt. Doesn’t that just make your mouth water? We have others like the Cow Patti that is chocolate icing, peanut butter drizzle with a chunk of a Reese’s peanut butter cup on top. The Strawberry Patch is also a very well-loved donut. Strawberry icing, whip cream with a fresh strawberry on top. We also have for a limited time.. Pumpkin pie and Apple pie. That pumpkin on a warm donut taste like a fresh out of the oven pumpkin pie with whip cream on top. Yum!
- Biggest challenge or rewards of being a business owner here.
The biggest challenge we have come across so far was dealing with the hurricane. We were opened for only 1 month when Irma decided to put a damper on things. We didn’t lose power and consequently opened our doors Monday evening so people could come out and enjoy some donuts. We have really been blessed by having the community behind us and supporting us through our new adventure.
The most challenging part was the fact we had no restaurant experience and just did our best, by showing southern hospitality while we figured it out. People have forgotten that small town community idea of going somewhere with their family and friends and enjoy people’s company. People tell us that they feel that way when step into the Farm house. Our motto at the Farm House “Give God your weakness and He will give you his strength.”
