Welcome, welcome, welcome, Alix Ambriz to the podcast! Alix and I got to know each other in 2021 when she enrolled in the first iteration of MKM Social School, and over the past few months I’ve gotten to know her and her business a little better. She joined us in December as part of a panel interview here on Small-Minded, but today I’m so excited to have her with us for a full episode in today’s podcast!

Alix and her husband live in McCook, Nebraska, where together they raise two boys. In addition, Alix has a 9-5 job where she works as the development team lead for a learning design company and most recently, their family purchased Sehnert’s Bakery & Bieroc Cafe, a 500-year-old business, in McCook. 

Take a listen as Alix shares her story and what she and her husband have learned in taking over this historic brand and their new endeavor as business owners!

Key Takeaways:

• Sehnert’s Bakery dates back to 1521 in Germany (!!!); the first iteration of the bakery came to the U.S. in the late 1800s. The last remaining bakery under the Sehnert’s name is in McCook and has a rich history of serving the community. 
• Sehnert’s offers breads, donuts, rolls, lunch, coffee, catering, and now wholesales their pizza crusts to other businesses in the region. 
• Alix is a farm girl from North Central Nebraska and her husband is from Los Angeles; after they got married they moved to McCook and soon learned Sehnert’s was the heart of the town. 
• “The value of tradition, but the importance of innovation” – Alix talks about this mantra that guides their decisions at Sehnert’s as the new owners and the first non-family members to own the business. Their goal is to hold on to the traditions of the bakery, while identifying changes and opportunities to advance the brand as needed. 
• When approached to take over the business from the most recent owners, Alix and her husband sought advice and information from resources available, and Alix especially credits the Nebraska Resource Development Center for their guidance. 

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• “We still have 27 & 28 years of experience, and we’ve traveled and been unique places,” Alix touches on the struggle of being young and owning a business. Others’ perspectives and opinions can cause young entrepreneurs to question and doubt their qualifications, but Alix is quick to point out the skills and perspectives that the Ambriz’s uniquely bring to the bakery. 
• One thing that interested Alix and her husband in seriously considering purhasing Sehnert’s was the history of talent and innovation that previous owners brought to the business. For the Ambriz’s, shipping is the biggest hurdle right now as they’re exploring how to deliver their signature breads and doughnuts nationwide.
• Alix touched on adjusting to this new entrepreneurial journey by sharing that she has had to learn to be accepting of help: “Asking for and receiving help is okay.” So much of Alix’s motherhood journey has been telling herself “I got this,” but she said surrendering to help has been vital in recent months. 
• Alix’s biggest advice for those considering a small business dream: “If you have the passion and motivation for something, go out and do it! There are resources out there for you.” 

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Learn more about Sehnert’s Bakery

Give Sehnert’s a follow over on Instagram and Facebook and head to their website to get in contact!