Meet Brittany Byars of Couteau

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Byars.

Hi Brittany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Vancouver, Canada and moved around lots throughout my childhood but the place I call home is Vernon: a small rural town 4.5 hours outside of Vancouver. It was a wonderful place to grow up; we lived on the lake and I was always outside playing and exploring. I grew up deeply involved in the arts, music, theatre and played a variety of sports. Being naturally sensitive and empathetic led me to do things like volunteer in Nicaragua with orphan children and travel to Thailand to work with organizations that rescue elephants. I’ve always had a desire to help those in need and to make a positive impact on the world. When I lived in Vancouver in my late 20’s, I was a hairstylist. I loved it because it provided a creative outlet for me, but I was finding that I was more interested in the backend of the salon; the innerworkings of business and the logistics. I knew then that I was meant to run my own business, it was just a matter of figuring out what it would be. When I moved to LA two years ago, I flip-flopped back and forth between whether I wanted to continue with my hairstylist career or do something new. In November 2019, I started working on a business idea: vegan charcuterie boards. An idea my partner had been sitting on for years but had just never really pursued.

When he told me about it, I started doing some research and I could only find vegan charcuterie boards that contained crudité, hummus and crackers; nothing of what I was seeing looked like a real charcuterie board. Where was the meat? Where was the cheese? Where was the gourmet experience? I immediately saw a hole in the vegan food market, so I decided to go for it, become a trailblazer and create something new! When the Covid 19 pandemic hit and the stay at home order was instated, it provided me with the alone time I needed to be able to really focus in and get this idea off the ground. I spent almost every day of Spring 2020 glued to my computer screen learning everything I could about starting a business – the legalities, the logistics, the marketing, and so on – I was in school again, curating my lesson plan to what I needed to address at the time and learning as I went along. I launched my vegan charcuterie business, Couteau, on Instagram on November 1st. Since then, I’ve completed the first round of orders for Thanksgiving and am now looking forward to doing it all over again for the December holiday season. The feedback so far has been super positive; one of my customers informed me that even the cheese lovers were impressed with the vegan cheeses, which is exactly what I was hoping would happen!

My vision for Couteau goes way beyond delicious food, I have a goal to make this business as sustainable as possible and to set the standard for what a new business can look like in this modern era. Everything from the box to the knife to the sticker to the business card is eco-friendly, and that’s something I take great pride in. I think it’s completely unacceptable for a new business in this day and age to not include eco-friendly practices and humanitarian efforts in their business model. I strive to live my life in this eco-friendly way, so it only makes sense that I carry this same code of ethics into my business as well. I’m currently reading the book “Start Something That Matters” by Blake Mycoskie, the creator of TOMS shoes (a company also started in Venice), and I’m really inspired by his one for one business model where the cost of one pair of shoes also covers the cost of shoes for someone else who needs them. I’d love to emulate the same business model in Couteau, perhaps with an organization that gives access to and teach people about eating healthy food. I’m currently in the process of figuring out what exactly that will look like. The possibilities for what this business could be are limitless and I’m not afraid to dream big. I know that this is just the beginning of something great and I can’t wait to see where this crazy journey leads to next!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic and lockdown has certainly posed some complications with scheduling shipments and products not being available, but nothing catastrophic has happened yet. However, I’m fully aware that challenging moments will arise – equipment breaks down, people complain, employees quit, etc. – it’s inevitable. When those challenges do one day come up, I know I must remain flexible and adaptable in order to make clear-headed decisions and weather the storm.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is called Couteau (pronounced khoo-toe) which is French for “knife”. In a nutshell, I’m a Vegan Food-stylist. I create beautiful gourmet charcuterie boards made from a selection of artisanal meats, cheese, crackers, jams and pickles – every single one of them vegan. The Holiday Season themed board that I have on offer at the moment includes things like – truffle brie, sharp farmhouse cheddar, smoked gouda, prosciutto, carpaccio, pumpkin spice chicharrones, pickled heirloom blueberries, sweet wine onion jam and so many other delicious things – all carefully selected with the flavors of the holidays in mind, and in case you missed it, they’re all vegan. I know first-hand how difficult it can be to find quality vegan products and ingredients for yourself/vegan guests and honestly, most of us don’t have the time to search them all out! That’s why I started this business: to make it easier for vegans, plant-based, vegetarians, flexitarians, curious eaters and everyone in-between to be able to enjoy a beautifully crafted charcuterie board without having to sacrifice quality and taste in the name of eating cruelty-free. To order one for yourself, simply follow the website link on my Instagram page @couteau_et_fromage! I do free delivery in all of West LA and $15+ for the rest of LA County (the exact price will be negotiated)

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve found that a very important part of networking that often gets overlooked is being generous and expecting nothing in return. Just honest, good ol’ fashioned giving. It’s one of the best ways to create a relationship and a connection with someone; it creates an instant bond if done with thought and authenticity. And you don’t have to give monetarily, you can give someone your time, which is actually the most valuable currency of all. My advice for finding a mentor would be to put yourself in the places and circles where you think your ideal mentor will be. Whether that’s a certain gym, or event, or restaurant, or conference, just put yourself in the places where you will have the opportunity to develop a connection with someone who could one day become your mentor. Over the years, I’ve learned that your environment and who you choose to surround yourself with is super important. And remember, a mentor can be anyone and any age; as long as they have an expertise that they can share with you, they can become your mentor.

Pricing:

• Small Box (2-3 ppl) $60
• Large Box (4-6 ppl) $120

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @couteau_et_fromage

Image Credits
Photo of me standing in the water photographer – Pascal Shirley