Daily Inspiration: Meet Emily Schrull

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Schrull.

Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
In December of 2019, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and tragically, within 4 months, she was gone. That took us to the very beginning of Covid (April 2020), when I was in Human Resources for a corporation that was hugely impacted by businesses being forced to close. I had to help reduce our workforce by 50% and felt that I had no job security. So, because of those two things happening back-to-back, my husband and I came to the conclusion that we should be in business for ourselves and that life is too short to be doing something we didn’t love/enjoy. Fortunately, we found the cutest little pastry shop/cafe that had an old-world feel, and he made it happen for us. My real passion is to bake and decorate cakes/cupcakes, and I LOVE coffee, so it seemed like a perfect fit. The sale of the shop went through in December of 2020, and we’ve been slowly making it into our own place. While we loved most of the items that we’re offered previously, with updated health codes and requirements, we had to make changes to the menu. There were things we were no longer allowed to prepare and new things that we wanted to introduce to the menu, so changes began. The most exciting thing we were offering was coffee flights. The day we posted about them, they got over 100K views/likes/shares/etc. – It was wonderful and overwhelming. People were so excited to try them, and we sold out of the flight boards we had available with the very first customers that came through the door. We quickly realized coffee flights were going to be a hit, so we ordered a dozen more boards and became a place to have an experience rather than just a cup of coffee. Fast-forward over 3 years later, and we’re still going strong with the coffee flights, changing the flavors with the seasons, and now offering many new menu items that we’re really proud of. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things did not go smoothly – not at all! The very first year, all of the equipment that we purchased with the business failed. We learned a lot of really difficult lessons. You should always have professionals inspect EVERYTHING and never think that people are going to be transparent. We had roadblocks with staffing, as it seemed like everyone was hiring and couldn’t find employees, suppliers, equipment, products, you name it! We have also experienced lots of resistance to change from our longtime customers. It has all worked out in the end, and we have some of the best, most caring, and supportive customers anyone could ask for. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are known for a few different things. The original owner was from Hungary, and many of the recipes were passed down from her family. So, many people know us for those traditional Hungarian pastries. We kept many of those items, but we also offer very popular items like cinnamon rolls, scones, coffee cake, and more. Our coffee business has really taken off as well. We all LOVE a great cup of coffee, and we offer regular drip coffee as well as lattes, mochas, and other espresso drinks. In addition, we offer custom cakes and cupcakes. These are my favorite thing to make and taste as good as they look! What sets us apart from others, in my opinion, is our customer service. Our baristas are some of the kindest people. We know you can get a cup of coffee almost anywhere, but our regulars come here because they love the service they receive and the way they are treated every time they stop in. There is a lot to love about Tulipán Pastry and Coffee Shop, and we hope you give us a try! 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I don’t have a mentor, but I have established relationships with other local business owners who have experienced many of the same issues I have and have made themselves available to me to bounce ideas off of or to offer advice. I try to do the same for them/others. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tulipanwooster.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tulipan_wooster/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tulipanwooster
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tulipan-pastry-and-coffee-shop-wooster