Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dianne Hancock, founder of Plant Love Personal Chef, located in Fort Worth, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a plant-based chef whose clients come for various reasons such as sickness, want to eat healthier and don't know how, or people who just want to see what being or eating plant-based is about. My target clients have proven themselves to be people who normally eat meat, but now, for whatever reason- they need to eat plant-based. These particular clients cannot "get over how good the food is and how they don't miss the meat." More and more people are becoming open to eating plant-based, and from these people, I have learned if the food tastes good, people eat it. I'm finding that people may not mind giving up meat, but they refuse to give up the flavor as well. And they don't have to. People who need to eat plant-based for whatever reasons seek me out and continue to support me because I know what I'm doing when it comes to plant-based food (which is all I focus on). The food is good because I fill a need in their lives.
Tell us about yourself
I started working on my business ten years ago after having been laid off from my last company job, which prompted the need and desire to do something else. The only other thing I was good at was cooking, and I had been plant-based since the early 2000s, so for me, that seemed to be the route to go. Cooking is very meditative- almost spiritual for me. Because cooking is my purpose in life, I am motivated to do it. I'm motivated to make food infused with love and good energy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Having started a plant-based chef business in a city known as "Cowtown," I would say my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is being ballsy enough to start a business like this and making a go of it in a meat-centric city. And for believing, even though I wasn't completely sure, that there is a definite market for what I do.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Building an audience is what I would say is a difficult thing that comes with being a business owner. But once you get that audience built, baby, they keep on coming!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find a mentor or two mentors.
- Read and research and become a subject expert.
- Believe in yourself and the service you're providing.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I've been very fortunate in having a strong support group. When I first started my business, I had zero capital to invest, but I had good friends and talented people who helped me with things like logos, website design, and taste testing.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.plantlovepersonalchef.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plantlovepersonalchef/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantlovepersonalchef/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.