Meet Svetlana Safir | Entrepreneur & Cheese Connoisseur

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

Hi Svetlana, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Before I started Charcuterie.la, I was trying to find something that I would be interested in, which would bring me joy together with a good income. When I moved to Los Angeles, I understood fast enough that there is no other place like LA – and that’s what makes it good and bad at the same time. The market is highly saturated with everything – from restaurants to clothes, movies, bars, and services. The thought that I must invent something to succeed was powerful. I was developing the business idea for several years, I knew I wanted to do something, but I wasn’t sure exactly what that would be. That led me further to my other passion – learning and reading. I listened to different business podcasts, watched videos, and read whatever I felt relevant. One time I found something that resonated with me so well. I was listening to an American science author and professor specializing in organizational psychology, Adam Grant. He said: “To be original, you don’t have to be first; you just have to be different and better.” I wrote this quote on peace of canvas and hung it on the wall. Every day when I’d wake up and go to sleep, I would read it until these words were completely embedded in my brain. When I finally got the opportunity to start my business, I knew that I had to be different in order to thrive: different from others but authentic to myself. My business is still very small, but gladly we are growing fast, and I am growing with it. I learned how to communicate better, be flexible when needed, and improve when I can.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I don’t think that building a business can be easy; however, it can be fun. I feel great admiration for all colleagues in my field – it takes a lot of time, effort, patience, and sacrifice. And again – the market is so oversaturated. I can say that ordering a board with Charcuterie.la is a different experience. In the variety that we offer, you will notice that each board has its unique personality and is true to the culture it depicts. For example, our Valentina boards (named after my younger sister) feature Italian cheeses and Artisan Charcuterie that is savory, tangy, full of love and passion, and commands presence much like my sister! Each of my boards is named after influential women figures in my life, except one. We’ve recently launched “Bob’s Board,” (named after my great friend and brother-in-law) which emulates sophistication, masculinity, and more rustic tones throughout the board. Our creations speak for themselves and communicate the beauty of the story they represent. The great thing is that the sky is the limit.

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?
If you live in LA, you hike. My go-to places for the views are Temescal Canyon and Will Rodgers trails. Besides beaches, parks, and various trails, there are many great places to dine in. I recommend checking out restaurants like Bandera on Wilshire Blvd and Toscana on San Vicente Blvd. They have my heart.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Charcuterie.la would never see the light without my closest friends and family. To be honest, they believed in me more than I believed in myself. I never thought I had any creativity; I simply enjoyed making something for the table – salads, platters, light snacks. It’s fantastic to have such support. Running a business is also essential to finding like-minded people you like to be around. If you are a small business owner, you know that support from colleagues is so valuable and meaningful. At the end of the day, we are all just trying to make it.

Website: www.charcuteriela.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charcuterie.la_/