Community Highlights: Meet Vicki & Greg Wendt of Sura Chic

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki & Greg Wendt.

Hi Vicki & Greg, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We have never thought of ourselves as entrepreneurs. I (Vicki) was brought up to believe that you went to school, received a degree, found a job, married, started a family, and lived your life. Greg grew up in rural Iowa where his father was a mechanic and owned his own shop for some time. Greg assumed that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue mechanics but not much outside of that. While I don’t discount any of these accomplishments, the point is that neither of us looked further than the examples in front of us.

It wasn’t until I lost my job with a company that I had invested 17 years in. At the time, I felt completely betrayed because I had sacrificed so much to put this job first in my life. I put it before myself and my family because I didn’t want to disappoint the people that I worked with, and I wanted to show the level of work and commitment that I was dedicated to.

This is where I learn the hard lesson that loyalty doesn’t go both ways in corporate America. Of course, hind-sight is 20/20 and I realize now that it was a blessing.  A good friend told me, at the time, that God closes doors because it’s time to move forward.  He knows that you won’t move unless your circumstances force you.  This really spoke to me because I knew it was true.  It took another five years of growing and self-exploration to discover that this one path that I grew up believing in was not the only path available to us. During this time between corporate America and entrepreneurship, we had, inadvertently, become “makers”. Greg, at his core, is an engineer. Whenever I have an “idea”, I look to him to help me bring it to life.

These “ideas” were, mostly, gifts for clients, for family, or friends. It was the best feeling to watch the people that we cared about open a gift that we had created and see their faces light up! It’s in those moments that you know that you nailed it!

With the urging of our family and friends, Greg and I decided to go for it and open our own business.  We wanted to be able to serve people and give them the same opportunity to provide unique, meaningful gifts to their loved ones.  It was also in our hearts that we couldn’t rely on anyone else when it came to the future of our family’s well-being. Sura Chic LLC was founded in February 2021. “Sura” meaning “new life”, or “new beginning” was our new adventure.

2021 began our endeavor and we have been able to dip our toes in the water. In 2022, we plan on diving head-first to see how far we can go. As a family, we are excited about what the future holds for our little dream. As a parent, I’m excited to show my children the many paths available for their future because when you know better, you do better!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road? Starting a business in and of itself is a challenge, especially, if it isn’t something that you’ve done before. LLC papers, Federal Tax IDs, State tax registration, city/county licenses, business insurance, and the list goes on and on. We knew nothing.

However, we didn’t let it become an obstacle. Yes, it was a challenge and no, it’s not easy but we stumbled forward, we made mistakes, and we learned from each one of them. Our philosophy is to keep moving (stumbling) forward and take action. Some things will work out better than others, that’s ok. Each idea is not going to be a home run, that’s ok. We are not afraid to have a “flop” of an idea, but nothing that we do in this venture will be a failure. The only failure that we’ll have is if we quit.

We’ve been impressed with Sura Chic LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sura Chic is our online store that started as a compilation of the items that we have made for gifts for our family and friends including our most popular item, our Chic Charcuterie Board.

Our boards include our Epoxy River Collection with nine color choices to compliment anyone’s style and décor. These beautiful boards are also perfect as a home décor piece and make a great centerpiece for any table. We continue to expand our line and have, recently, added matching drink coaster sets and our limited edition, City Skyline Collection.

This consists of many popular cities including Kansas City. Our KC Skyline board features the JC Nichols Memorial Fountain along with a nod to the famous shuttlecocks on the lawn at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We would love to collaborate with other small business owners who would like to offer our products in their stores through our wholesale options.

We would also love to expand our social media following by collaborating with talented Charcutiers who have a passion for creating the display which our board will hold.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.SuraChic.com
• Instagram: @SuraChicOfficial
• Facebook: @SuraChicOfficial

Image Credits
Austin Freed @austinmariefreedphotography