Indy Dough Brick and Mortar
Donation protected
In late August 2019, I decided to start Indy Dough and just got the exciting news I could host my first pop-up. I remember sitting in our living room looking over to my husband and saying, "I can feel the weight of this," because I knew my idea had the potential to take off. I also had quite the hesitation as we had just moved to Indy, and I didn’t know if anyone would be willing to come and support someone who wasn’t originally from the community. Boy was I wrong! My very first pop-up, I sold out and quickly realized I needed to add a limit and make more. Since that first pop-up, I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of support you guys give to Indy Dough, and I feel like the next steps for Indy Dough is a brick and mortar. I wasn’t sure when I wanted to do it, but I have found a location that I know will be for lease soon and it's the exact location I would want to be in! It's within my own neighborhood and very close to the Monon Trail.
My future dreams for this brick and mortar
While many of you know me for doughnuts, I do want to do more, as you’ve seen from me these past few months. I would love to be a bakery with a focus on doughnuts. I want to become the place I would want to go to in my neighborhood to become a regular, and see my neighbors, all over quality bakery items and coffee.
I consistently talk about my desire for the pop-up lifestyle because it allows me to be at home with my son more while working in an industry I love while still being my own creative boss. I still desire that, and that’s why I want the future location of Indy Dough to be a place that holds the model of a product that sells out and limited weekly operation hours. (That is until a team is built and we have systems put into place annnd maybe when my son is older) I have spent the majority of my working adult life working in the restaurant industry working hard and way too much, and I want to create a culture that embraces work-life balance for myself and future team members. I’ve always wondered why restaurants have to work this way to stay alive, and I don’t think they have to. I don't want them to anymore, and I want to be a part of that change in this industry.
With the pandemic, a lot of business models have changed, and a lot of restaurants have sadly closed and many people have lost their jobs. At times, I think it’s crazy that I’m even considering opening a brick and mortar during this, but here I am taking what opportunities are being offered to me and getting as creative as possible to run with them. With so many lost jobs and a desire to have a limited operating hours, I have dreams of hosting other start-up business pop-ups just as other businesses have done for me this past year.
What I'm asking for...
I’m asking for $70,000 to get this place open. This includes what I believe to be all the start-up costs and remodeling. While the location is great, it's going to cost a little to bring it up to code.
What if I'm not fully funded...
Welp, that'd suck but I think I can find other ways to get to a brick and mortar. It may not be the location that is currently being presented to me but there are other ways to get there. I wanted to start here to try and not go into debt and to not go to investors. It would be really nice if I could run Indy Dough with the same attitude as I've started it - without going to investors. I want to be as honest as possible during this whole process and that is why I have started a newsletter that will get weekly or bi-weekly updates on what is happening behind the scenes to Indy Dough. You can follow along by clicking here
What if I'm more than funded...
Well, "WHAT THE HEY DAY!" is probably what I'd think. If donations go over my asking amount, I will use the extra funds towards monthly operating expenses.
What if I’m not fully funded but I did get a nice chunk of donations...
If I am not funded enough to get into this space being offered to me your donations will go towards the next opportunity to open a brick and mortar and/or equipment. Your donations will not go into my personal pocket. They will go to Indy Dough to further this business.
Why am I doing this on GoFundMe...
I decided to use GoFundMe instead of Kickstarter or Indiegogo because those other platforms take a percentage of your donations and they also want you to provide incentives. Listen, I love a good incentive like no other, but I've learned the administrative work that goes into maintaining incentives turn into a full time job, and with a pandemic and with me not 100% knowing I'll get the location being offered to me, I don't want to make any promises. If I run incentives, it'll be me running them through my Instagram account.
Why am I asking you for money in a time of economic recession...
So many people have lost their jobs, and so many businesses have closed their doors. It's not fair, and some days I can't believe I'm asking for money, but I have an opportunity to become a brick and mortar. I wasn't thinking this opportunity would come at this time, but it is. Ever since starting Indy Dough, I have felt so overwhelmed with the amount of support from all of you. I really wanted to start with the people who have been so supportive and have put me and kept me into business so far. Listen, if you do not have the funds to give to me, don't, I'm not asking you. This GoFundMe is for those who want to see Indy Dough as more than a pop-up and have the financial means to donate. I never take your donations or purchases for granted. I will forever be grateful that someone would take their hard earned money and spend it on a baked good from me or pushing my dreams forward. If you want to support me, but you don’t have the financial means then share this GoFundMe link and tell everyone!
I always appreciate transparency and the human-ness behind a business, and I’ll be honest, I always feel like I’m making this up as I go (which I know every business owner probably feels like) with a side of absolute confidence in what I make. I know what I make won’t always be for everyone, and I won’t ever claim to be the best, but I can promise that I will always serve what I’m excited for, what I am passionate about, and I will always be humbled and operate with a sense of gratitude for the space, the community, and the joys to provide for my family doing something I love.
Thank you so much!
Amanda
My future dreams for this brick and mortar
While many of you know me for doughnuts, I do want to do more, as you’ve seen from me these past few months. I would love to be a bakery with a focus on doughnuts. I want to become the place I would want to go to in my neighborhood to become a regular, and see my neighbors, all over quality bakery items and coffee.
I consistently talk about my desire for the pop-up lifestyle because it allows me to be at home with my son more while working in an industry I love while still being my own creative boss. I still desire that, and that’s why I want the future location of Indy Dough to be a place that holds the model of a product that sells out and limited weekly operation hours. (That is until a team is built and we have systems put into place annnd maybe when my son is older) I have spent the majority of my working adult life working in the restaurant industry working hard and way too much, and I want to create a culture that embraces work-life balance for myself and future team members. I’ve always wondered why restaurants have to work this way to stay alive, and I don’t think they have to. I don't want them to anymore, and I want to be a part of that change in this industry.
With the pandemic, a lot of business models have changed, and a lot of restaurants have sadly closed and many people have lost their jobs. At times, I think it’s crazy that I’m even considering opening a brick and mortar during this, but here I am taking what opportunities are being offered to me and getting as creative as possible to run with them. With so many lost jobs and a desire to have a limited operating hours, I have dreams of hosting other start-up business pop-ups just as other businesses have done for me this past year.
What I'm asking for...
I’m asking for $70,000 to get this place open. This includes what I believe to be all the start-up costs and remodeling. While the location is great, it's going to cost a little to bring it up to code.
What if I'm not fully funded...
Welp, that'd suck but I think I can find other ways to get to a brick and mortar. It may not be the location that is currently being presented to me but there are other ways to get there. I wanted to start here to try and not go into debt and to not go to investors. It would be really nice if I could run Indy Dough with the same attitude as I've started it - without going to investors. I want to be as honest as possible during this whole process and that is why I have started a newsletter that will get weekly or bi-weekly updates on what is happening behind the scenes to Indy Dough. You can follow along by clicking here
What if I'm more than funded...
Well, "WHAT THE HEY DAY!" is probably what I'd think. If donations go over my asking amount, I will use the extra funds towards monthly operating expenses.
What if I’m not fully funded but I did get a nice chunk of donations...
If I am not funded enough to get into this space being offered to me your donations will go towards the next opportunity to open a brick and mortar and/or equipment. Your donations will not go into my personal pocket. They will go to Indy Dough to further this business.
Why am I doing this on GoFundMe...
I decided to use GoFundMe instead of Kickstarter or Indiegogo because those other platforms take a percentage of your donations and they also want you to provide incentives. Listen, I love a good incentive like no other, but I've learned the administrative work that goes into maintaining incentives turn into a full time job, and with a pandemic and with me not 100% knowing I'll get the location being offered to me, I don't want to make any promises. If I run incentives, it'll be me running them through my Instagram account.
Why am I asking you for money in a time of economic recession...
So many people have lost their jobs, and so many businesses have closed their doors. It's not fair, and some days I can't believe I'm asking for money, but I have an opportunity to become a brick and mortar. I wasn't thinking this opportunity would come at this time, but it is. Ever since starting Indy Dough, I have felt so overwhelmed with the amount of support from all of you. I really wanted to start with the people who have been so supportive and have put me and kept me into business so far. Listen, if you do not have the funds to give to me, don't, I'm not asking you. This GoFundMe is for those who want to see Indy Dough as more than a pop-up and have the financial means to donate. I never take your donations or purchases for granted. I will forever be grateful that someone would take their hard earned money and spend it on a baked good from me or pushing my dreams forward. If you want to support me, but you don’t have the financial means then share this GoFundMe link and tell everyone!
I always appreciate transparency and the human-ness behind a business, and I’ll be honest, I always feel like I’m making this up as I go (which I know every business owner probably feels like) with a side of absolute confidence in what I make. I know what I make won’t always be for everyone, and I won’t ever claim to be the best, but I can promise that I will always serve what I’m excited for, what I am passionate about, and I will always be humbled and operate with a sense of gratitude for the space, the community, and the joys to provide for my family doing something I love.
Thank you so much!
Amanda
Organizer
Amanda Gibson
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN