Meet Cassie Lemoine | Owner of Cheese by Cassie

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

Hi Cassie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
During the pandemic I became very aware of supporting small businesses and began buying local as much as possible. As I got to know more small business owners the impact of support within a community became clearer. I began to realize that I could also pursue a similar dream on my terms. The idea of creating something that causes people to gather, talk, share and connect was exciting. I loved creating and enjoying cheese and charcuterie boards with friends, so I decided to give the idea a try.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Cheese by Cassie provides cheese and charcuterie cups, boxes, boards, workshops and grazing tables for any event. We provide the opportunity for guests to gather, share, snack and connect over delicious cheese and accompaniments. We strive to have all of the ingredients for the perfect bite on each board, box, or grazing table. Variety is the spice of life, and our boards provide tons of snacking options. Cheeses for our boards come from all around the world and have been hand selected for their delicious flavors and cheese properties.

The growth my business has seen is not without challenges. I have grown Cheese by Cassie while also teaching. Spending the first two years growing my business as a full-time teacher allowed be to really understand a work life balance. I had to get creative on how I could invest time in growing my business. Responding to emails, running cost reports, tracking and ordering inventory became jobs I did when I could. Flexibility was key, taking five mins to respond to an email between making dinner and grading papers was how I survived. I began building my client base from a local perspective mainly within the local schools. I began donating boards to school auctions within our community and creating more connections and relationships. I started hosting workshops within our community and continued to build a community base. Building Cheese by Cassie to the point it has grown to today wouldn’t have happened without putting hours and hours into the physical labor of creating our products but also the mindfulness of growing your local network. I’ve made connections with local florist, wineries, breweries, schools, churches, and retail owners. Investing in client relationships and ensuring that customers have a great experience has truly given my business the most growth.

Today I still teach at our local elementary school as a part time reading interventionist. The other part of my week is devoted to Cheese by Cassie. This new balance has been wonderful and has allowed me to grow beyond local businesses and customers to working with large business and distilleries. My customer base has been expanding into workshops for teambuilding, boards for business meetings, and large grazing tables for company events. I am enjoying the new turn my business is taking while still being able to support my customers who want an amazing board for their next party.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston has the best food scene! I would show off with local restaurants that I love, we would begin with fun cocktails and a delicious dinner at D’Alba. I would then show off some fantastic beers at Great Heights brewing, my favorite being the Fruity Pellets. Other favorite restaurants around Houston are Coltivare, Tiny Champions and El Tiempo. I love supporting our local sports teams so an Astro’s, Rockets, Texans or Dynamo game depending on the season. One of my favorite areas to explore with friends and family is the Houston Arboretum, we could easily spend hours there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lindsey Schechter, the owner of Houston Dairymaids. I’ve worked as a “dairymaid” with Lindsey in her shop and she treats each employee and customer with such kindness and respect. All while running an amazing cheese shop.

Website: cheesebycassie.com

Instagram: @cheesebycassie

Facebook: cheesebycassie

Image Credits
Gisele Morales www.giselemorales.com