Laide Olambiwonnu, founder of Pickytarian. (Credit: Courtesy of Pickytarian)
Compostable Tableware to Use At Your Next Dinner Party
Laide Olambiwonnu launched her eco-friendly disposable dinnerware line, Pickytarian, to make hosting easier.
Growing up, Laide Olambiwonnu remembers her family always inviting people over for dinner. Naturally, Olambiwonnu found herself regularly hosting friends and family once she grew up and moved on her own. However, she lacked the fine dinnerware her mom had – in fact, she hadn’t yet acquired enough reusable dishes in general for a sizable dinner party. Every time Olambiwonnu hosted, she found herself resorting to disposable plates, which she knew were bad for the environment, not to mention, hardly aesthetically pleasing. After conducting a little research, Olambiwonnu realized there was a gap in the market for seriously sturdy, single-use dinnerware. So, in 2023, the California-based entrepreneur launched Pickytarian, to offer low-budget hosts like her a line of colorful, compostable plates and cutlery.
Here’s our lightly edited Q&A, from The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project.
How is your business different from others in your industry?
There are far too many single-use plastic, toxic styrofoam, and otherwise flimsy disposable tableware products on the market. Styrofoam and plastics are landfilled at a rate of 80% and are ultimately harmful to humans, wildlife and the environment in general. Our products are a more elegant alternative – we only make eye-catching, non-toxic, plastic-free, and compostable products.
Tell us about your biggest success so far.
The enthusiastic customer response. Nothing makes me more excited than reading feedback. They love the convenience and functionality of our products, but they rave most about the ability to elevate their gatherings without sacrificing their values. Reading emails and reviews about how Pickytarian helped decorate special occasions with a clear conscience, is what keeps me pushing forward. It reinforces the idea that we aren’t just selling plates – we’re empowering people to celebrate responsibly.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Starting this business has been, by far, the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I knew launching would be extremely challenging, but it was more than I’d imagined. My initial plan was to launch Pickytarian in 2022 – I didn’t get my products into the warehouse until late January 2023, and didn’t start generating sales until March 2023. This resulted in a lot of lost sales that we had expected during the holiday season. Nonetheless, the positive feedback from our customers, once we did acquire some, gave me the fuel to keep going.
What is your biggest tip for other startup entrepreneurs?
Play the long game. Yes, you do have to move fast, make changes and adapt – but it shouldn’t be done without a clear, overarching strategy. You can do so while still moving fast and adapting to changes that impact your business.
Also, during my first year, I followed all the online advice I could find, only to realize that none of it worked for my business. I wasted so much money and time listening to folks who had built seemingly successful businesses. Unfortunately, it turned out that many of these folks’ businesses collapsed and went bankrupt. I realized then that I needed to focus on my own business, and play my own long game.
How do you find inspiration on your darkest days?
Nothing makes me more excited than reading feedback from customers. They give me the confidence to keep going.
What is your go-to song to get motivated on tough days?
I don’t have a go-to song. Rather, I get motivation from meditation, exercise and positive customer reviews.
Instagram: @Pickytarianinc
TikTok: @Pickytarian
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