Meet Chase Kreitzer | Co-Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chase Kreitzer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chase, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Having a strong team or teammate. Where Austin and I are a lot alike in many ways, it is offset in the ways we are different. This allows our business to take on any and everything. Where one of us may fail to see the value in something, the other sees it with clear eyes. One of the hardest things I’ve found with being a business owner is that I want it all to be perfect. Every charcuterie board stunning, and every customer beyond satisfaction. Having a partner or team with that same mindset helps. In reality, you can’t do it all yourself, so having people you can trust to deliver either the same or higher standard is essential for our success. Austin and I have a vision for the future of A Pretty Picnic and we keep that vision in mind through all of our decision-making.

What should our readers know about your business?
A Pretty Picnic is who you will want to call when you want to make a statement at your next event. We specialize in curating a beautiful charcuterie display that will draw eyes in and make mouths water. We offer a variety of charcuterie board sizes from a small feeding 1-2 people to an XL feeding up to 12 and when you need more than that, our grazing tables are nothing short of spectacular. We lay it all out on the table and have done them for as little as 20 and as many as 175 for all sorts of events: weddings, showers, office parties, etc. We make our own homemade jams available for purchase but also included with our charcuterie boards. We make three different flavors and customers are able to choose which one they want with their board, as well as the option to make customizations to the charcuterie itself. We’re also looking to expand what we offer and hope to start making our own bread or crackers as well.
We are so proud and excited of everything we’ve already accomplished and everything yet to come! We’re super stoked for this season at Oakwood Farmers Market as it will be our second season there, so we’re eager to see some familiar faces from last year and hopefully some new faces too. We may offer some bigger sized boards this season as well as our usual charcuterie snack boxes and cheese boats. We’re always looking for ways to improve and grow and we can’t wait to see what this year holds in store for us.

Getting to where we are today has not come without its challenges. We continue to learn as we go and adapt as needed. When we started, we started with the basics which consisted of having a charcuterie board to sell and having a way for people to purchase it. That alone had dozens of decisions to be made within it such as packaging, labeling, website creating and designing, marketing, and of course the food that goes into it. However once the basics are in place, we’re able to start figuring out what’s working for us and what’s not. Then, we start improving and finding ways to make it better for us and for our customers. It’s amazing to see the progress we’ve already made with what we’re able to offer, how we offer it, and the overall customer experience. It’ll be even more amazing to look back in another year or two and see what else we’ve been able to improve and how we’ve become more efficient as business owners.
One thing we’ve learned along the way is to take no free time for granted! There will be times where it’s nonstop for months going straight from work to business day after day and although it’s exhilarating and we’re fortunate for those busy times, it’s exhausting. So when the time comes and there’s no work that must be done for the day, we soak up every bit of the calm and allow our bodies the rest they deserve.
I never thought I would own a business, let alone a charcuterie business. Neither of us had any business experience or schooling prior to starting, but when I beheld a friends charcuterie board one night, it clicked. Although it’s a passion of mine now, it wasn’t when I started and the things I’ve always been passionate about: food, details, creating, using my hands, all tied in. We want the world to know that seemingly impossible things only seem that way until they are accomplished. Since we’ve started business I feel myself finding that out more and more everyday. Slowly but surely, one step at a time, dreams do come true as long as we continue to work towards them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First thing in the morning, we’re heading over to Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood for some coffee. Whether you’re a morning person or not, the coffee baristas there will have you smiling before the coffee does. Then, because it’s the weekend, we’re heading over to 2nd street market to snag some essentials for the day/week. We have to get a soft pretzel from Good Hands Bread Co. for later, and for now a treat from Ordinarie Fare to start our morning off right and enjoy with our coffees. From there, we’re going over to Luna to do some plant shopping. Later, for lunch, we’ve been dying to try a sub from Tony & Pete’s so we eat there and then it’s time for some mini golf at Rolandia, where I’ve been going since I was a kid. Come dinner time, I’m taking my bestie to Sima for the finest sushi in Dayton, before hitting the indoor sand volleyball courts at Miami Valley Sand. Throughout the rest of the week, we would have to make a stop inside Shoppe Smitten to browse the finery and maybe read a little on the patio, weather permitting. We would eat dinner at a few different places such as Grist, Sueño, and Cooper’s Hawk. Finally we would take in some sites and nature by hiking some of Daytons many trails, doing some bird watching, and taking a walk along Riverscape.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We have been so fortunate to be surrounded by other small business owners and like minded people. We would like to thank Oakwood Farmers Market and all of the friends we’ve met there. Gem City Bakehouse, Foxhole Farm, Garden Glories, Kenney & Co., Dault Pottery, Dayton Microgreens, Jess the Heart Baker, just to name a few. We would love to thank our friends at Ordinarie Fare and Shoppe Smitten. Thanks to them we can operate out of a licensed kitchen, and have a great time doing it. All have inspired us and given us support and advice. It is very rewarding to work alongside people who want to see you succeed as much as you do yourself. Finally, thank you to our friends and family for their love and support.

Website: www.aprettypicnicco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprettypicnicco?igsh=MXd1amp2Mm1oM2NlNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr