LAFA Interviews: Rock'n Style

Today was no ordinary day for me...it was one in a million.
You see - I am a klutz.  A natural magnet for disasters and accidents...and it just so happens I fell down two steps while taking my dog out (while inside my building) and completely rolled over my left ankle...so for the first time in my life - I had actually sprained something.  I have come close many times but this involved a trip to the ER and some X-Rays and a couple hours waiting in the hospital...so yeah.  It's official - I badly sprained my ankle and came close to rupturing stuff in my foot the doctor said...but anyway...I am alive!

It also happened to be the day I had a hair appointment with Olli Teelmäki - owner of Rock'n Style hair salon and the interview was held afterward over some wings.

So needless to say - I was going to do this interview regardless of my ankle's condition!
I guess you can say I am fairly stubborn or determined!


I arrived quite early to Rock'n Style and was immediately warmly greeted by the other two hairstylists (whom I've never met before) and Olli.
I hobbled over to the bench and sat down while taking in the scenery...you see, I have only been inside once or twice to say hi to Olli but never really took in the environment or the vibes of the place.

Of course there was rock music playing, customers were engaged in conversation with their stylists and the place was clean and bright with the clear contrasting colour scheme of black, red and white.

My hair cut was simple - clear off the dead ends, leave it long enough for me to put up neatly for work and maybe add a bit of layers.  We skipped the washing since I did it in the morning and we chatted about my incident with my stairs in the morning and saved the interview bit for dinner afterward.



"What are your credentials as a hair stylist?
In Finland some of the older barbers will have their certifications up on the wall and framed but I don't.  I graduated from ammattikoulu in Loimaa and I have done some extra courses of course but I did not go to business school for the entrepreneurship part of owning Rock'n Style.
Of course there are some lessons in barber school about how to be an entrepreneur.

Is this something you had always dreamed of doing?
Actually - no.  I have never had any kind of "dream job" ever.  When I was a very small kid my grandparents said that I wanted to be a gardener and grow sunflowers and vegetables.

Olli living the dream at 5-years old with those sunflowers!

In elementary school my favourite subjects were art and wood-crafting class.  I am a person who learns by doing - not from studying via books.

So when it was time to decide what I wanted to study for my post-secondary education - my first choice was being a barber.  The second choice was carpentry.

Have you always been a hair stylist - or have you changed professions before Rock'n Style?
I have always been a barber/hair stylist.

What makes Rock'n Style different than all the other hair salons around?
The first thing that the customers seem to say is that "Rock'n Style looks like a 'man cave' and for me I think it represents or looks like me or my home.
The next thing is that the theme colours are my favourite colours: black, white and red - so there is quite a bit of contrast.  I like pure colours and I like having vivid bright colours with something contrasting - same with dying hair too!

Would you like to expand yourself as a franchise some day if given the opourtunity?
No because I feel that Rock'n Style is me and my place and that is why they come here and it would never be the same as the original.  So I think one place is enough and it is not my ambition to open many places or create a franchise or brand of Rock'n Style like that.

Metallica CD cover art

And the matching CD!

Could this be a Finnish cultural thing - not wanting to show off or have too many ambitious ideas?
I never thought of it this way but I feel having only one location is more relaxed and mellow.

What is the challenge of being an entrepreneur/hair stylist given the competition around?
I actually don't think about the competition because I am not a competitive person by nature.
I mainly think about if the customers are happy and that they go home happy after visiting us.
That is my main focus.

What is Finnish education like in terms of hair stylist school?  What is required to graduate?
Hair styling school is technically a 3-years long program but because I went to Lukio for 3 years - I was able to shorten my hair-styling education by a year and only did 2 years program.

We learned only the basics of hair cutting and styling - colouring hair, cutting it, washing it and perms...we also had to do some reading of course like about micro-chemistry.  But working with customers hair is the best teacher of course!

Were you able to experience working with different cultures' hair types?
No unfortunately not because Loimaa is a small place and our customers we worked with were mostly elderly Finnish people.

Later I have learned how to handle different cultured/styles of hair by just doing it.

What is something you wish people knew about being a hair stylist?
I wish people knew more about what it was like to be an entrepreneur.
Sometimes people are checking if I raised the prices a bit and then they get upset but there are so many factors and reasons why entrepreneurs have to do this.

What is something you wish people would STOP doing to their hair?
I wish customers would stop going from one extreme colour to another - or bleaching it at home then expecting a miracle from a hair stylist to correct it and make it the colour they wanted.
Going from extreme hair colour to another takes time and steps to do it successfully.

What is something you wish people WOULD do more of with their hair?
I think using appropriate products to maintain their hair especially after a new cut or style!

What are the pros and cons of your job?

PROS

• I have a very flexible time table and work schedule!
• I have weekends off!
• Being an entrepreneur gives me the freedom to make my own shifts
• Quite regular customer base so I have a comfortable work relationship with those customers.
• I get to socialize with people!

• I am very lucky with my co-workers as well.  
• Linda has been working with me for ten years or so.
• Petra rents a chair and has been working with me for about a year.
• Nelli has also worked many years with me but is currently away.

CONS

• I tend to work longer evening shifts.
• Because I am an entrepreneur I don't get:
• sick leave
• official holidays

But this is normal for an entrepreneur.

What are your earliest memories of cutting or playing with hair as a child that you remember?

Immediately Olli laughs and says loudly: "MY POOR SISTER!"

I was about 2nd or 3rd grade (about age 8-9) and my sister was as young as kindergarten or first grade (6-7 years old) and our mom was on the phone and we asked if we could "go play barber".  She was busy on the phone and said okay!

So I tried cutting my sister's bangs to create a new parting line in the middle because I was so young I didn't know you just needed a comb for that!😆

Of course, she had her school photos the next week...

If you ever made a mistake while doing someone's hair - what was the best mistake you ever made?  Did the customer notice it and how did they react?!

The customer wanted to have her bangs dyed bright purple from ear to ear and leave the rest a very white-blonde.
Well, during washing after dying it - the purple leaked and her white-blonde hair went to a pastel purple instead.

I was very worried she wouldn't like it but I showed her and she was really happy thankfully!

What is Rock'n Style's specialty - if any?

We have been told that customers say "We have a bold way to cut and dye hair."

But my method is - "If the customer want it - we do it."

Whatever could be considered "radical or extreme" hair cut to someone else is just a normal day for me.

What was your targeted age group when coming up with the Rock'n Style concept?

Actually - none.  We did not have a targeted age group - of course we don't get many kids but some of our customers are having children and now bringing them to us - so we do get some children in for their hair cuts.  We have hardly any grandpa customers - which is a real shame!  Because they are so fun!

We actually have some older women clients and they tend to be more open-minded, have a bit more attitude (in a good way!) and are more young at heart.

It's actually interesting that older people question if they are allowed to come inside because the company name is "ROCK'n Style"...and of course they can!

Do you find first-time customers come in knowing exactly what they want or is there a bit of a guessing game - or is it totally spontaneous with what they're willing to do with their hair?

All of it.  It can be all of those above and then I mix in my own spice to it and we together mix it up to get a hair cut or style the customer likes!

Can someone who is interested in donating their hair to cancer patients for wigs go to you?
What is the process that goes into this?

We can measure off and cut the hair off in pig-tails and also cut and style the hair afterward - but we are not providing the donating service.  

Customers can come with their washed already that day or we will wash the hair if it's dirty.

Customers have to mail their ponytail donations themselves.  One place is Little Princess Trust. 

There is no fixed price for this service - it is based on time spent washing the hair, cutting the ponytails then properly cutting and styling it.

How do new customers find you usually?  
Usually by word of mouth - which is the best and worst way because anything (both positive and negative) can be said - it is an extremely powerful way for new customers to find Rock'n Style.
Sometimes people just walking by and dropping in and also via Instagram & Facebook.

Some customers have said that random people sometimes stop them and give a compliment about their hair.  That kind of information feels good and let's us know we have done a good job! 😀

How big is your team at Rock'n Style?
We are a team of four altogether but one is studying another field so she may leave Rock'n Style for that career path after graduating.


It is clear that rock music has defined you and your business...do you think it has made any kind of impact on your job or career choice?
Well, for me - rock music is my own way of living.  In 2005 I worked at Funky Star (a hair salon and fashion clothing shop) and the music was everything I did not like - too much pop, rap, shit music - ALL DAY.
So I already thought to myself, 'If I ever have my own place - it will play rock music!!'

All trimmed! 😁

What did it take to go from hair styling school to where you are now?  Did you "rent a chair" right after graduation and what does that even mean?
I went straight to a salon after graduating.
So after I graduated from Loimaa in 2002 I went to work at a hair salon called "Hiusstudio Teija" in Ikaalinen, where I am from, and I moved to Turku in 2003.
I then went to ammattikorkeakoulu to study estenomi for about 12 months and then I quit.  It was like a play-school - I didn't learn anything I didn't already know.

Rent a chair means you rent a chair in a salon somewhere and you usually bring your own scissors.
Normally all the other products like capes, machines, dyes, water, electricity etc. - is covered by the owner of the salon.
For example, deducted from your pay is 40% to be paid to the owner to cover those expenses and then the worker gets 60% and from that is the regular expenses like your taxes and pension etc are deducted.
With rent a chair employees - you just do your job and it is less risk for the owner of the salon because they do not have to pay your sick leave or official holidays.

What do you want people to know about Rock'n Style?
Our customer base is primarily 20-50+ years old with more women than men.  And we really do welcome everyone of every age and gender.
We can also do big hair makeovers to little ones!
People are so fixated on the shop title name that they think they can only come in if they have that "rock star" look or personality - and that is not true.  Perhaps some people think "Rock Music" is for "really old people" and they're scared of the name and style of music - but we can do a variety of styles for a variety of ages.

We have an easygoing environment and attitude!

Where do you see Rock'n Style in 12 months, 5 and 10 years?  When did Rock'n Style open?
I don't think much will change in a 1, 5 or 10 years.  And we opened about 11 years ago.

Are you ever bored of your job?
No - sometimes maybe a teeny-tiny bit but really everyday is so different.  There's always different customers and different stories and many of our customers are like friends - so it's nice to see them at work!
I really like my job and after having a holiday break - I am totally fine going back to work whereas many people dread it.

If you could style any celebrity's hair - who would it be?
Michael Monroe for sure!! He is a rock dude.
He actually lives nearby and every time I see him walk by I hope he will come inside but it hasn't happened yet!

Did you design the inside of Rock'n Style?
Yes mostly and I built some of the interior as well.  Before Rock'n Style it was a painting/art and poster shop.

What product line does Rock'n Style sell?
We primarily carry Four Reasons."

You can find Rock'n Style on Facebook, Instagram and book an appointment on their website here.
And if you are a student - with a valid student ID card you get -10% off your hair cut (excludes colouring, perming etc - only the cut) and if you have the "Slice" student card app - you get 10% off the hair cut too.
But as a first time customer, using the Slice app - then you get 20% off everything - colouring included.
You can be served in English and Finnish.

I want to thank Olli and his team at Rock'n Style for meeting with me to have this interview and for the fantastic service for my quick trim too!

LAFA

If you're interested in being featured in my blog - please don't hesitate to contact me at:

learningaboutFinland (a) gmail.com

LAFA Interviews: Cup & Pint

It took awhile to plan this interview due to both of our schedules but luckily, I was able to sit down with Casper - manager of Cup & Pint in Turku for about half an hour and we sped through this interview!
The reason for it going so quickly is primarily based on the fact it was a student night and there was an estimated 10,000 students planning on touring Turku's pubs!

"When was Cup & Pint born?
Autumn 2009

Why is it called 'Cup & Pint'?
It is a mix of a coffee house and bar with a mainly British Royals theme.

What kind of food does Cup & Pint serve?
We have appetizers, snacks, pancakes, pizza and salad.  Pizza is our most popular seller - especially the "Brexit" one!

How often does the menu change?
It hasn't changed in about 1.5 years but we aim to change it about once a year.

Do you change the alcohol menu just as often?
We change it all the time because we will get new wines and beers almost every week.

What is Cup & Pint best known for?
Well, we have the British Royal theme, good pizzas and a good selection of beers as well.  We are an easygoing bistro pub!
We also have a very popular Pub Quiz night every Thursday from 6-9pm in Finnish.




Who runs Cup & Pint?
Ravantit Oy runs Cup & Pint along with 7 other restaurants/pubs.
There is:

• Pippurimylly
• Hugo
• Hunsvotti
• Kerttu
• Rantakerttu
• Ravintola Teini
• Gastro Pub Löytö

They are a family-run business.

Is Cup & Pint a local or franchised business?

It is local - there is only one location in Turku and only one Cup & Pint!

Are your ingredients locally sourced?

Some are - yes.  We do try our best to get local products and we do have some local beers available as well.

What is the busiest time of the week?

A great selection of board games for you to play!

Usually whenever we have a Pub Quiz, weekends and Fridays are especially busy.

Do you offer delivery of meals directly or via Wolt or Foodora?

We offer delivery via Wolt only.

Do you find the competition tough with so many pizzerias nearby or with so many pubs & bars around?  What makes Cup & Pint stand out and rise above all of the competition?

Yes.  We have different kinds of pizzas, we make our sour dough pizza dough on site and fresh, we are a small family-owned company and we offer friendly service.

I saw there is an extensive alcohol-free (and recently updated) menu online.  Does Cup & Pint sell equal amounts of alcohol-free and regular alcohol-based beverages?

Primarily I think alcohol-based beverages sell the best.

Where do you see Cup & Pint in 12 months, 5 and 10 years from now?

Hopefully in 12 months we are doing a little better on the business side of things and have more customers.

In 5 and 10 years - hopefully we are still around!

Would you say majority of your customers are Finns or expats?

Mostly Finns.

Has Cup & Pint always been at this location? (Across from the train station at Humalistonkatu 17b)

Yes

Up close and personal 

Even the toilets are royally themed!

Do all the staff speak English - seeing as this is a British/Royal themed gastro pub?

Almost!

Will there be another Cup & Pint location in Turku or elsewhere in Finland?

Not as of yet but who knows!"

After our interview was done Casper kindly shared information about the Pub Quiz nights and how they work as I had never been to one.

Nearly every night at a variety of pubs and bars throughout Turku (and other cities in Finland) there are these Pub Quiz nights.
In Cup & Pint alone there are about 100 customers participating in both floors of this pub!
The bottom floor houses a couple fooseball tables and some comfortable seating - but is much smaller than the upper floor.

To reach all (approximately) 100 participants of the Pub Quiz - they post the questions on the TV screens and participants in teams of 1-5 people.

Prizes at Cup & Pint are:

1st: 35€ gift card

2nd: 25€ gift card

3rd: 15€ gift card

Also there is a lottery throughout the night for a variety of prizes.

The ages for the Pub Quiz nights range from 20-80 years old!
There are different levels of finals as well:

Restaurant Finals - Prizes are a little bigger

Area Finals - Prizes are bigger than Restaurant Finals.
National Finals - Prizes are usually holiday-related and this is only held once a year.

So 6 months is 1 season in the Pub Quiz world and in the Spring and Fall they count up the ranking points (if I understood correctly) because every Pub Quiz night you go to - you/your team collect points that go toward the Restaurant Finals and help you possibly advance.
Pub Quiz nights are held only in Finnish in Cup & Pint with the questions covering a variety of topics every week!

I loved how bright it was inside (of course it helps when the sun is shining 😁)  - the furniture was comfortable and I love the large windows to people watch!

I also thoroughly enjoyed the decor with all these wonderful old photos of the Royal family!

It was also shared - since I inquired about lunch buffets or special deals available - that they are not open until 14:00 on Friday and Saturdays and only 16:00 from Monday to Thursday (closed on Sunday).
I asked why so late and Casper had said that there wasn't enough business to be open earlier in the day and he remembered before where they did have lunch offers and even breakfast as well!

Considering the location is quite near the bus station and directly across from the train station - I was very surprised!

Downstairs

Downstairs

I would like to thank the staff of Cup & Pint for allowing me to roam around and take photos during a very busy evening in progress and also to Casper for accommodating some time for me to squeeze in an interview!

You can find Cup & Pint's website here and on Facebook and Instagram here.

I had heard of Cup & Pint and seen friends' photos of their pizza but had never actually ventured inside before!
But thanks to this friendly and quick interview and seeing the customers being in a very bright and relaxed atmosphere - I may have to give it a try sometime!
AND I JUST SAW IT IS A DOG-FRIENDLY LOCATION ON THEIR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT!!! So now I DEFINITELY have to bring my side kick Loki with me!! 

Loki is my 12-year old husky mix gentledoggo!
If you ever see us around - please feel free to say hello as he is SUPER friendly and loves everyone and all doggies too!

LAFA

If you are interested in an interview and being featured in my blog - please contact me at:

LearningaboutFinland(a)gmail.com

LAFA Interviews: Sigma Freelancing

I got to sit down with Tara Malay of Sigma Freelancing the other night and while Tara and I have a bit of history back when we lived in Jyväskylä - we did not get to see each other often until I moved to Turku for work a few months afterward!
I had moved here in August 2018 and did not know anyone really other than my workmates and at the time partner that I dated - so it was wonderful to see a familiar face!

Now - over a year later, I sat down with her to discuss what brings her to Finland and what IS "Sigma Freelancing".

"What brought you to Finland and when did you move here from the USA?
I moved here in August 2016 to study my masters abroad.  I had other expat friends living in Finland already and also some I had met from Germany while studying there abroad.

What did you study?
I was doing my Masters in Applied Linguistics.

Do you plan to study more here and if so - would it be a continuation of your current study field or something entirely different?
After I obtain Finnish citizenship I would like to go to the police school in Tampere.
They offer their education program in Swedish, which would mean smaller classes as there are less Swedish speakers and I am fluent in Swedish!

Why the police force?
I have always had an interest in the law and law enforcement and as a foreigner - I believe we should know the local laws.
I feel that foreigners that require police assistance or are involved with a police matter somehow - would prefer to have someone they can communicate easily with in English.  And if they do not speak Finnish or Swedish - then they would be able to express themselves in English in an emergency situation.

Where are you from in the USA?
I am from Dallas, Texas.

Other than language differences - what was a major culture shock for you moving to Finland?
How extremely introverted Finns can be and they really can keep to themselves - and I myself am an introvert!

What cities did you live in other than Turku?
I have lived in Dallas of course, New Orleans (Louisiana), Dortmund (Germany), Jyväskylä (Finland) and I have spend a lot of time in Stockholm (Sweden).

What are your hobbies?
Reading, nature photography, watching Youtube videos, reading fashion magazines and I love cooking!

When did Sigma Freelancing come about?
Around November 2019 I was incredibly frustrated because I did not have a job and I couldn't find one at all - so I decided to make my own job and I have filled paperwork and am just getting started.

What does "Sigma" represent?
Sigma is my favourite Greek letter! I did a semester in Ancient Greek Literature and I also really like the look of it.  It is used a lot in math and it means it is the sum of something.
In physics it has to do with a term called "self-energy" in condensed matter physics.  Basically self energy is the energy that a particle has - as a result of changes it itself caused in its own environment.

Sigma's core values are offering services to small business companies who need help with social media platforms and help these businesses understand the value of a strong social media presence.

What do you do as a freelancer?
I am teaching my clients to understand value and strategy.  If you don't have an idea - you're going nowhere.  If you can understand what each social media platform can give or offer you - then utilize them accordingly - then your customer flow can increase significantly.

Why do you want to be a freelancer?
Being from the USA there is a warped sense of work and life balance.  For me - as a freelancer - I have the freedom to be my own boss, do as much work as I feel comfortable doing and it gives me the ability to achieve a healthy work and life balance.
Because I know a lot of people can burn themselves out at their jobs - whether they are entrepreneurs or not!

Do you find it difficult to find clients that need your services?
I am officially licensed but I am in progress of getting legal insurances and once that is obtained then I will be taking on clients.
I do feel there is a niche for my services.  People KNOW what social media is but knowing how to utilize their social media platforms fully is where I am needed.

Are Finns open-minded to having an expat handle their business-related affairs with Sigma Freelancing?
The assumption is that it would be on a customer-by-customer basis.  Everyone has different needs.

What is it like for an expat to open up their own small business or become an entrepreneur?
I think it is quite simple and knowing Swedish DEFINITELY helps.
All the sites, information and documents are available in Finnish but of course there are some things that do not translate well to Swedish or it is missing altogether so you need to hunt for it.
There is a really strong entrepreneurship community in Finland and they can provide you with information packages depending on what kind of business you are registering.

There is the link for the Finnish Patent and Registration office.
And also there is "My Enterprise Finland" which is a public service managed by Ministry of Economic Affairs & Employment - this would be handy for those wanting to start up their own business!

I informed Tara that everyone else I have interviewed so far would disagree with that statement based on language skills and requirements alone and this is where Tara has the upper hand - being very fluent in Swedish!

How would you change the system for expat students living in Finland - if you were given the power?
I would change the Finnish language requirements.  At least based on when I was attending the University of Jyväskylä - depending on what you studied of course - I would focus more on day to day situations and be more of a spoken-heavy course.  We did a lot of book-based learning and it was not enough.
I did not feel comfortable or learn enough to order food or ask for assistance while out shopping.  So there are huge gaps in my learning of the Finnish language.
There should also be caps in the amount of students per class as well.  At most - 20 students.  Everyone has different levels and it is mandatory to study Finnish for a single semester.  Within one of my classes there were multiple and huge gaps (both in learning and the knowledge of the Finnish language) and there would be easily 30+ people in the same room!

How would you change the system and application process for expat small business holders living in Finland - if you were given the power?
I would have everything available in English.  I do understand that the two official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish but there are SO many foreigners needing jobs that they could do a better job if they offered their existing skills as business owners.

How does Sigma Freelancing compare to other freelancing companies in Finland?
It is hard to compare because everyone is different.  I think my idea is unique and upcoming and the social media strategy business is becoming more popular and necessary.

Is Sigma Freelancing a franchised/already established company or you're completely independent and 100% local?
I am 100% local and independent.

I pointed out that there were other "Sigma Freelancing" companies online but she confirmed that she is not affiliated with those and is completely independent.

Do you feel having a social media presence helps to boost customer flow?  What kind of social media presence do you have with Sigma Freelancing?
Currently I have Instagram and am in the process of building a Twitter account and a Facebook page.

A lot of people think social media is only for connecting with friends and family.  But once you utilize it to its full potential - your audience is THE whole world.

Sigma Freelancing will be offering services for Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.  And while a lot of people think Pinterest is just for food and crafts - you can actually do a lot more with it!

What are the pros and cons or challenges of having your own small business in Finland from a foreigners perspective?
Pros
Because I speak Swedish - one major pro is that all the documents are available in Swedish!
There is also a strong entrepreneurship community in Finland and I really do feel very supported.

Cons
Well, not everything is in Swedish so there is a bit of a treasure hunt involved.  Some things are missing and sometimes I have to find it in Finnish or English and translate it accordingly.

If you do not speak Swedish or English - banking can be difficult.

As an American - certain laws affect expats in foreign countries.  For example, some banks don't comply with American banks regulations so getting a Finnish bank account with insurance - whether it be personal or a business one - is extremely difficult.

There is a law called "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA)" so as an American we have to abide by this.

In Finland we have to file taxes once a year where as in the USA we have to file taxes every quarter but even though we have to file in both countries we only have to pay to Finland and the IRS can see we pay taxes to another country.  Of course this depends on how much you make.

Do you feel your education you have currently has prepared you for running a small business?
I would say 50/50 because from a language perspective - most definitely.  I have the language skill sets to make my idea sell.
But I learned a lot of the business side from my father as he has worked in a bank before and still works in a business-related field.  I learned a lot also from friends, other business owners and online videos too.

Starting businesses has ran in my family for a very long time - my great uncle knows how to make cowboy boots and actually my great grandfather was into super custom-made cowboy boot making and had his own shop.  He was actually an apprentice for "Lucchese Bootmaker" brand!
So I come from a family of self-makers.

Is freelancing in your field popular in the USA?
It is starting to become really popular among those in their late 20's to 30's.  The only thing is that a lot of jobs do not offer pension plans so you have to ensure you have enough in your savings for when you retire - but with freelancing, you are in control of everything - including when you retire.

There is not enough creativity being used in companies and you are often told to suppress it.  But with freelancing - you only limit yourself and you can use as much creativity as you want.

What advice would you give to other expats wanting to run a small business themselves?
Best thing you can do is to be friends with someone who is an entrepreneur or has their own business.  Be sure to ask questions of other business owners and of the entrepreneurship community!  Especially befriend those that are in a business that is similar to your business you are trying to start.

Don't be afraid to mess up and also, don't be afraid to ask for help!

What languages do you speak?
English is my native language and I am fluent in Swedish.  However, my German is pretty good and my Spanish, Russian and Finnish skill levels are very basic.

Starting up a self entrepreneurship in Finland as an expat is a very high risk in this particular field.  Did you consider signing up via Ukko or anything similar to reduce the risk to yourself and your business idea?
(Ukko is a light entrepreneurship company that handles taxes and a lot of the paperwork for you so you can work legally and test out your business idea.)
I don't know if I'll do that.  It seems like they take care of a lot of the bureaucratic work and I've already done that, plus the banking stuff.  I need an accountant, but that's easy enough to find.  I think that Ukko would be good if you can't speak Swedish or Finnish, but if you can, then I don't really see the use for it unless you're unsure of the banking and insurance side of things.
Also, I enjoy trying to learn these things for myself because I think it's good to know as a business owner.


Where do you see yourself and Sigma Freelancing in 12 months, 5 and 10 years respectively?
In 12 months I would like to have at least 4 clients.
In 5 years I would like to expand my business and hire an employee or two.
In 10 years I would like to have a second office in Sweden or Germany and go international.  Currently I am working from home."

I would like to thanks Tara for taking the time to meet with me and sharing insight of what it's like to start a business from a Swedish-speaking American point of view!
You can find Sigma Freelancing  on Instagram, Facebook and on her site here.

LAFA

If you are interested in having an interview with me and being featured in my blog - please email me!
LearningaboutFinland(a)gmail.com

LAFA Interviews: Red Chopsticks Restaurant

I have been to the Red Chopsticks Restaurant before - shortly after they opened because I love hot pot.  I grew up with it - we did not have it often but when we did - it was a huge family affair!
I even remember after having my wisdom teeth removed - it was thanks to my grandpa having a hot pot that we were able to cook anything because the electricity had been blown out due to a hurricane!!

I had written my review via Instagram back in April of 2019 shortly after they had opened.

If you don't know what "hot pot" is - it is a way of cooking food together with your friends and loved ones - Asian style.
You are given a pot of broth, a selection of meat or fish and vegetables with noodles (and perhaps rice on the side) and you cook the food yourself.

Why in the world would you go to a restaurant that will have you cook your own food?!
Because it's delicious and it's a cultural experience and it is best shared with friends!  It can also take up quite a bit of space as well and can be quite costly to get all the ingredients yourself - plus the hot pot and induction heater can be costly and in my case - not easily found in Finland!

I was very fortunate enough to sit down with Zhihua Peng - owner of the Red Chopsticks and with the help of her son Sampo, acting as translator for us - got down to our interview.

"What brings you to Finland - specifically Turku?
My husband is a chef and he moved to Finland 1.5 years prior to us in 2003.  He chose Finland because he has some friends here.

Was it difficult to propose the business idea of having a hot pot-style restaurant?
There was no difficulty in proposing the idea but Finns and locals don't really have an idea of what hot pot is.
And due to the language barrier - it makes it hard to tell the customers what the concept of the hot pot is.

What can customers expect when visiting here for the first time?
We of course want to provide good customer service, give a new experience because hot pot is a very different way of enjoying a meal.
There is one other hot pot restaurant but it is in Helsinki and we are not affiliated with them.

You can be served in primarily in Finnish and Mandarin - occasionally in English depending on who is working!

Other than hot pot - what else do you serve to customers?
We serve authentic Chinese food whereas many other Asian restaurants serve more Western style Asian food.  We have another restaurant in downtown Turku called Tsing Tao and in Kaarina of the same name "Tsing Tao" but this is the only hot pot restaurant in Turku.
The Tsing Tao restaurants are more of a mix of authentic Chinese and Western Chinese food.
Tsing Tao in downtown Turku opened in 2010 while the one in Kaarina opened earlier in 2008.

Do you find majority of your customers are Finns or expats?
Typically more Finns and many of them don't know about the other two restaurants we have.

What is the customer's general reaction or feelings toward trying the hot pot culture here?
At first customers seem quite nervous and it is a challenge for Finns to try something so new and unheard of.
But once they do - they really enjoy it and are very happy and we think of hot pot as more of an experience than a dinner.
We have had 100% positive feedback about the hot pot dining experience!

How do customers find you - online or through word of mouth?
They usually find us online through social media.  But the thing is we do have a video in the restaurant on a large television screen on how to use the hot pot and nobody seems to watch it.  Of course we can explain it as best as we can but if someone is a native English speaker and doesn't speak Mandarin or Finnish - there may be a language barrier.

What are the PROS and CONS (or challenges) of having an expat-based business in Finland?
The PROS is that we are able to offer an alternative choice in dining and food, we are spreading our culture and customers with Asian experiences (from travelling or via family/friends) can experience hot pot and our food locally.

There are not really any CONS because we started the businesses over ten years ago and when we started - there wasn't any competition.  The only competition out there now is a lot more sushi restaurants or sushi being offered with lunch buffets.

Would you be interested in expanding your business within Turku or elsewhere in Finland?
There is an interest in expanding the Red Chopsticks in the future - maybe in a few years but for now, no.

Is this a franchised business or 100% local?
It is a 100% local business.

Do you offer catering services for customers?
If held here - yes we can set something up in advance.  For example we have had Christmas parties here and graduation parties too.
Unfortunately we cannot cater outside the restaurant due to potential language barriers.

Are customers able to order meals via take-away, Wolt or Foodora?
Yes they can but not with the hot pot.  Even if the customer has a hot pot at home - we do not offer the hot pot ingredients take-away in case a box of ingredients gets mixed during transportation, for example,  then there is a strong possibility of a food poisoning risk.  We don't want the customers to get sick so we only offer the a la carte menu food for delivery and take-away.

Do you participate in the SYÖ Turku! events?
Yes this is our second time participating!

Because you are listed first in the SYÖ Turku event on their website - do you feel that participating in this event has benefited you for an increase in customer flow or not so much?
After the first time we participated - a lot of people saw the listing and found us - so then it was a benefit.
But now we do not see any huge increase or decrease in customer flow because of SYÖ Turku.

Do you find customers easily learn and adapt to the idea of the hot pot?
It can provide a challenge over all if it's their first time having hot pot but if they know someone with experience of having hot pot then they adapt easily.

A variety of sauces

Do the regular customers come to dine for hot pot or your alternative menu?
It is 50/50 because at lunch we have a hot lunch buffet between 11:00 - 15:00.  We offer a variety of warm dishes and sushi.
We do not offer hot pot as part of the lunch buffet but you can get the hot pot and choose your 5 vegetables and 5 protein choices for the same price as the evening hot pot buffet for 24,80€.
We will serve you the hot pot at lunch time and provide you your selection because we have limited space - this is why we do not offer a hot pot buffet at lunch time.

Is hot pot more popular with those who are familiar with hot pot already (i.e. Asians) or moreso with those that have learned about hot pot as something exotic (without an Asian background)?

I love the little play area for kids!

There is not a big difference because someone who does not have an Asian background (or heritage) will bring their friends and they can experience it together.  Or they will bring an Asian friend along to help them out with the hot pot!

In Asia when you are having pot - everyone has their individual small hot pots to cook in and it is more hygienic this way.  The Western style is more about sharing.

I shared that I have been to China twice and in both instances have dined in Chinese restaurants where we shared a hot pot (usually one had a spicier broth side of the pot and the other not so spicy - like what is served in the Red Chopsticks) and they said yes that is also common as well for large groups or families.

What would you like your customers to know about yourself and your business?
We have been open since the end of March 2019 and we are a restaurant that doesn't want to only provide you dinner but the main point is to provide a new experience for our customers with good customer service!

Where do you see yourself in 12 months, 5 years and 10 years time with the Red Chopsticks Restaurant?
In twelve months - probably not much change to be honest.
In five and ten years - that is a challenge to predict as it is a challenge to run this place due to Finnish immigration.  It is very difficult to get chefs that have experience in authentic Chinese food that are very skilled as well.
So due to this - we have very limited staff and cannot market ourselves too much due to the limit of staff."

I want to thank the staff of the Red Chopsticks Restaurant for providing me with very precious time for this interview, a translator to ensure everything was understood correctly, the oppourtunity to enjoy their delicious hot pot and excellent customer service!

I felt warmly welcomed from the moment I said hello and felt very relaxed in a peaceful environment with the aroma of fresh, hot food being prepared consistently.
The decor reminds me of home a lot and I felt very comfortable being there and also bringing friends there as well!

If you do get the oppourtunity - please do visit the Red Chopsticks - it IS an excellent oppourtunity to try something delicious and new, share a cultural moment with friends and if in doubt - look up at the large television screen for the video on how to do hot pot! 😋

You can find them on Facebook here and Instagram here.

LAFA

If you are interested in being featured in my blog and being interviewed - you can reach me at:

learningaboutFinland(a)gmail.com

LAFA Interviews: Americana Cakes & Sweets

This interview is a bit longer than average I suppose because we had SO much to discuss!

The owner of Americana Cakes & Sweets is an American from Minnesota which is quite close to Canada!  So we had a lot of common ground to discuss and you would be surprised to hear that this interview was nearly 2.5 hours long!

It was just such a wonderfully easygoing interview - I truly felt like I made a dear friend at the same time - and those kinds of social interactions these days (IN PERSON!) are extremely rare!  At least for me!

Anyway, we decided to meet at Bokachá for our interview and sitting down with Nichole and doing this interview felt honestly more like sitting down with a friend and catching up!  It was THAT relaxed and exciting!

So here we go!

"What brings you to Finland from the USA?

I met my Finnish boyfriend in the USA and we moved over here together.

How long have you lived here and have you always lived in Turku?

Yes I have lived here for about five years and we spent about one year in Joensuu.

Do you visit the USA often and do you miss home?

Yes I really miss home a lot and on average I travel back about twice a year - especially recently with some family celebrations that have occurred.

What's something that you had to adjust to since moving to Finland - aside from the language?

We have this saying in Minnesota called "Minnesota Nice" and it's pretty much all about the small talk and Finns just do not greet strangers in passing or get really chatty with people and have that random small talk at all!
I have lived here long enough now that when I go to Minnesota - I am sure people passing me think I am weird because I am the one looking at the ground or avoiding eye contact like a Finn would.

What are your hobbies?

Baking, working out and also hanging out at home and enjoying Netflix!

What is the inspiration behind "Americana Cakes & Sweets"?

I absolutely LOVE baking! There's a lot of similar Finnish-style bakeries and I feel I have something more unique to offer and I recognized a hole in the market.
Thanks to social media like Instagram - American baked goods are becoming more popular!

You currently operate from your home - is there a plan in the future for an on-site location for customers to try your confectionary like in a café setting?

Yes - I am in between wanting to have a café or just a catering service.
For now - operating out of my home works best because it includes the flexibility I need if I need to travel abroad.  If I have a shop - I simply cannot close up for 3 weeks to do that.

Have you considered selling your baked goods to various local cafés?

Yes it is something I would be interested in doing!  It's just a matter of finding the cafés interested in this!

What differentiates your cakes from the standard Finnish cakes and sweets?

American style goodies tend to be taller and have more layers, and I use buttercream - compared to Finnish cake using mousse or whipped cream.

When was Americana Cakes & Sweets born and how often do you get orders?

I created Americana Cakes & Sweets in November 2018 and I have to say I haven't been around long enough to see a distinct pattern of popularity in sales. I am happy to say that I am mostly booked through to March!

What is your specialty?

Layered cakes are my biggest sellers.  I DO other things like pies for example and maybe I can advertise those better!  I can bake a lot of different things.

Do clients - especially Finns - have an open mind when ordering from a non-Finnish baker?

I think so.  Most of my customers are non-Finns though - about 75% so far.

Do clients know what they want to order in advance or is there often a creative process involved?

It is about 50/50 - many have an idea and then I am able to guide them.
It is actually more difficult if a customer doesn't have a preference or are indifferent! So I have to really guide them and ask what their preferences are so they are truly satisfied with the end product.

How long have you been baking for and what or who got you into baking?

I have been baking for as long as I can remember.
My mom was always baking and still does! So it's something that I got interested in from a young age and just kept going with!
When I was in university I was referred to as "Mom" because I always made a birthday cake for someone's birthday in the dorm and I truly believe - you have to have cake on your birthday!

What is your opinion of the various cooking and baking competition shows on television these days?

I like them!
Well, I have a love/hate relationship with them.  Things like "Nailed It!" I have to wonder how are they THAT bad?!  If you can follow a recipe - it should turn out quite alright!

But I really do love baking and cooking - it's what comes naturally to me and everyone has different talents!

Have you ever competed with your baked goods before?

Nope! I have heard of the Finnish version of the "Great British Bake-Off" so maybe some day?

What is your favourite thing to make?

In general - I love when I can be creative and try new techniques or decorating trends!
But I prefer eating pies over cakes but now that I am making mostly cakes - I find myself eating cake more often!

Is there a more popular season than another or a more popular event for cakes and sweets?

Late winter and early spring seem to be the most popular!

Are the ingredients locally sourced?

Yes I go for really high quality ingredients like real butter and Fazer chocolate for example.
The thing is custom cakes are always going to be more expensive than something from the store because I am using high quality ingredients and I make all my fruit fillings fresh from scratch.

When in season - I prefer fresh berries and some decor I do get from the USA.

Since Finland has its fair share of celiac and/or lactose-intolerant population - has it been difficult to provide just as beautifully crafted and delicious goods for them?

Actually all of my cakes are lactose-free!  The only thing is I cannot find lactose-free white chocolate.  But otherwise that is simple enough to do.

I have done a few gluten-free cakes, so they are something I do offer. However, my kitchen is small and I am also making regular cakes that have gluten in the same space. I try to make sure everything is
clean and there is no contact between the gluten and gluten free cakes/tools, but if an allergy is really severe, I recommend ordering from a purely gluten free bakery.
The cakes I make are for a minimum of 10 people or portions and they are very generous servings as they are more "American sized portions" which tend to be bigger than European portions. Something I do offer as an add-on item a small gluten-free cake (usually about 6 servings) with the order or a bigger regular cake. For bigger parties, people like to have at least a small gluten free cake to offer in case someone needs to have that.

Do you have any vegan options available?

I have also done vegan yes but of course there are some things that I cannot do vegan like certain chocolate fillings and vegan buttercream frosting will have a different consistency of course.

And I have had really good feedback from my dietary restriction delicacies!

What is your fondest memory of a cake to be made for a particular occasion?

I did a Frozen cake for one of my few Finnish customers and she happens to be my hair stylist!
I admire her so much as a business person and her passion for what she does as a career - she was just thrilled with her Frozen cake!  It made me really happy to make that for her.

When will your official website be completed?

It is a work in progress! Most of my contacts have found me through Facebook and I cannot put a price on a cake online because every cake is different.  From the decorations to the fillings - there can be different varying prices for the same sized cake.

What is the private catering competition like in Finland?

It is quite niche in Finland.  It hasn't really been an issue (competing) because people hear about me through word of mouth usually or a friend of a friend.  And it's so nice when people you actually know support your local business!

How are you getting yourself out there and to the top of your specialty?

Mostly Facebook and Instagram.  Because I am currently working from a small space, I am getting about the amount of orders I’m able to handle at the moment. However, I would like to start also marketing more to companies/corporate events, because at the moment, most of my orders are for parties people have on the weekends, and filling orders for companies would help bring more business during the week days.

Where do you see yourself in 12 months, 5 and 10 years?

I would hope in 12-months that I have a more regular customer base and can expand wholesale into cafés but that is a major goal!
In 5-years I would like to expand into a bakery or café and in 10-years it is really hard to say because maybe I will have a family then - and kids can really affect any kind of business.
My boyfriend also has a marketing degree so perhaps we can do business together? Who knows!

What do you want people of Turku to know about you and your bakery?

I am a legally registered business, I do have a marketing degree and while I may not have gone to pastry school - I do spend a lot of my free time looking at Instagram for inspiration, online for techniques and recipes.  

This is not work - I genuinely enjoy this!

That being said, it usually takes a minimum of four hours to finish a cake—usually more. So the prices I charge for my cakes are very fair, please don’t ask for discounts. For my cakes or really for anyone other person who makes a living off of something they make themselves, asking for discounts makes us feel like you don’t value the time and skills we have put into our products.
However, I often try to go the extra mile for customers, whether that be by adding something special to the cake I don’t charge for, offering delivery if someone is unable to come pick the cake up themselves. And I also include a hand-written thank-you note with each cake, because I understand that people could spend their money somewhere else, but have chosen to support my business, and I really appreciate that.
In regard to ordering, cakes should also be booked well in advance - minimum a week's notice and this is because of all the planning involved. The more notice I have the better, and it also ensures that I won’t be booked up already for the date you want.”

I am so grateful I got to meet Nichole of Americana Cakes & Sweets and I hope if you ever need a custom baked good - you will be able to support her beautiful works of art!
She is SO friendly and really creative and clearly quite passionate about her cakes and goodies!  It was an absolute joy to work with her on this interview!

You can find her Facebook Page here and also her Instagram here. 
*All photos of her cakes and herself were posted with her permission and photographed by her.*

Thanks for reading!
LAFA

If you are interested in being interviewed and featured in my blog - please reach out to me!:

learningaboutFinland(a)gmail.com