Name: Emily Burrows

Age: 31

Hometown: Staples, MN

Education: BA from St. Cloud State in Human Resource Management and Paralegal

Name of Business: Caffe Aroma

Business Type: Partnership with Tina Wetzel

How I got started: I have worked in the service industry for about 10 years so when asked by Tina if I wanted to buy a coffee shop, I thought why not, I might as well take a chance. I actually had never seen the shop until the day I signed the papers. I put a lot of faith in my business partner and it turned out pretty great!

Everyday business: With it just being Tina and I, we spend most of our time making coffees and lunches. We also spend much of our time talking to our customers, which is very important to us.

Successes: Our first year has been great, and we are still here so that’s a good sign! We just purchased an espresso trailer so our next adventure traveling to different festivals is very exciting.

Challenges: Owning a business can be stressful and it is definitely a lot of work. With it just being Tina and I, it is definitely an everyday commitment, but it has been worth every second.

Advice: Don’t be scared to take risks, they are usually worth it.