October 18, 2023
Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, injecting character, innovation, and vitality into our cities and towns. Small Business Week (October 15 – 21) is a time to recognize and celebrate these local gems that contribute so much to our economy and culture.
We had a chance to sit down with five amazing local business owners and hear their thoughts, key successes, their favourite spots in Oakville and what’s up next for their businesses.
This interview is with local business owner Harry Chauhan from Flüf.
SMALL BUSINESS: Flüf
Owners – Harry Chauhan and Hartej Tapia
Since September 2022, Flüf Soufflé Cheesecake has been bringing their Japanese-style sweets to Oakville to delight visitors and locals alike. Nestled in the charming streets of Downtown Oakville, Flüf elevates the dessert experience with their cloud-like confections that are taking the town by storm! Each bite of these fluffy soufflé cheesecakes is a journey to dessert paradise, delivering a perfect blend of creamy cheesecake and airy soufflé. Crafted with love and precision, each product is made fresh daily using all natural ingredients. Flüf, cheesecakes come in vanilla, chocolate, mango, and assorted flavours that change with the seasons. They also have the popular cloud cups (layers of their cheesecake and their signature tiramisu cream and special sauces) which come in three flavors tiramisu, matcha tiramisu and mango.
What’s a fun fact about your business that people might not know?
Not a lot of people know this, but we had some delays with the opening of Flüf due to construction issues and we started receiving catering orders which we fulfilled with our oven at home!
What’s the most popular item in your store?
Our Original cheesecake and Tiramisu Cloud Cup are the most popular items in the store.
What sets your business apart from competitors?
All of our ingredients are sourced locally. From sauces for various drinks and cheesecakes to toppings, we make everything in-house to make sure we have the best taste and quality for our menu items.
Can you share some of the key milestones and successes your business has achieved?
We have been selected among the top three small businesses in Ontario in a competition Hosted by GoDaddy and Toronto Raptors.
We have been featured by various media houses including Oakville News, Oakville Beaver, TasteToronto, and Toronto Guardian.
For our grand opening, we partnered with the Oakville and Milton Humane Society (OMHS) and raised much needed money for animals.
What or where is your favourite place in Oakville?
One of my favourite places in Oakville is definitely Downtown Oakville. People here are so warm and welcoming. There are always some new and exciting events going on which gives people more reasons to keep coming back. The overall feel of the streets here is energetic and vibrant all year round.
What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own small businesses?
Everyone’s entrepreneurial journey is unique and special in its own way. The best and the worst part is that it is filled with a lot of uncertainty and excitement, it really depends on how you see it. In the end, one should always have a strong belief in themselves and their ideas and should be able to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
How does your business contribute to the local community?
Right from the beginning, by supporting a cause with the Oakville and Milton Humane Society or serving our desserts and beverages at any local community event. We have always tried to contribute and to be a part of this amazing community and will continue to do so in every way possible.
What makes Oakville such a great destination?
Oakville is a great place to visit for a few key reasons. First, it has a beautiful waterfront with lovely parks and peaceful walks by the lake. The town’s downtown area is vibrant, with art galleries, live performances, and diverse dining options that cater to various tastes. Oakville is diverse in terms of culture and ethnicity which makes everyone feel at home.
What’s next for your business?
We will keep bringing newer items to the menu to give more and more reasons to keep visiting us and we hope to expand to more locations soon!
Don’t miss the chance to savour this heavenly dessert – it’s a slice of pure delight in every bite!
Address: 131 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville
Instagram: @fluf_oakville
Web site: https://flufsoufflecheesecakes.ca/