Salem Price, a senior marketing major, is the owner of Salem by the Slice and an affiliate in the Samford Startup student business incubator program. Her passion for baking was reignited during the COVID-19 lockdown, which led to the creation of Salem by the Slice, a delightful venture that brings a touch of sweetness to her busy college life.
Interview
What is the story of your company? How did it start?
I’ve always loved baking, and it all started with my mother teaching me how to bake cookies and decorate cupcakes. Growing up, school and sports took up more of my time and I had less time to devote to baking. However, the lockdown due to COVID-19 reignited my passion for baking. I took the opportunity to improve my skills and document my creations by taking pictures. One day, a friend suggested I share my bakes on social media, and that’s how Salem by the Slice was born. Now, as a college student balancing coursework and internships, I still find time for baking. Join me on my baking journey as I make my way through my last two semesters of college and bring a little bit of sugar to my busy life.
Why did you want to join the Samford Startup program?
I wanted to learn more about how to successfully run my own business. I knew that the guidance of Dr. Mazzei and the Samford Startup cohort would be instrumental in the learning experience.
How has the Samford Startup program supported your business?
I am a new member, so I haven't had a ton of exposure long-term to the program yet. However, I have enjoyed talking about business strategy with other members and collaborating the share experiences and advice.
What has been the most challenging part of launching your business? How did you overcome this?
The most challenging part was building a website. I am a perfectionist by nature so it took me a long time to get it exactly how I wanted and to get familiar with the website building tools. I worked on it every day for several months and eventually began to get the hang of it. I've found that consistency in working on my business and related projects is key.
How has the Samford Startup program helped you grow professionally?
The Samford Startup program has helped me grow professionally in learning how to network with similar student entrepreneurs and giving me the opportunity to learn from experienced, older entrepreneurs.
How has the Samford Startup program helped you achieve or exceed your business goals?
The Samford Startup program has helped me push myself (in the 1.5 months I've been a part of it) to be proactive in pursuing my business goals. It has helped me think more critically about the direction I want to take my business and the methods I need to use to get me there.
Looking to the future, what do you envision for your business?
I envision Salem by the Slice staying around as a side business and a fun job on the weekends. I am graduating soon and plan to work a full-time job, however, having a business that is also a passion means I don't plan on ever stopping it- it will just stay on a smaller scale most likely. I see developing my blog more, as well as my content creation.
How do you see your company having an impact on the Samford and Birmingham communities?
I see Salem by the Slice impacting individuals and groups in the area simply by putting a smile on people's faces and reminding them to slow down and enjoy the sweeter things in life.
Why would you encourage other student entrepreneurs to also join the program?
I would encourage anyone interested in applying to go for it. The program provides such a fun group and an amazing mentor. You will learn so much about yourself, your goals, your business, and others. You shouldn't be alone in your entrepreneurial journey and this program provides an awesome support group and the resources to succeed and grow.
