Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michael Raviele, owner of Il Gatto Nero, located in Etobicoke, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Our business is a cafe, a pizzeria, a takeout spot, a restaurant, it's all those things... but most of all, it's a family. You've joined our family from the moment you first step in, and you get treated as if this is your 100th visit. For us, it's about building relationships, connections and welcoming whoever walks through our doors. So, our business is more than just what we serve it's the environment and care we provide to our customers. We want it to feel like you just walked into your family members' house and are coming to chat over an espresso or sit and share a meal.

Our customers know this, and that's why having regulars from the community is so important to us. Allowing us to be a part of their day as their morning coffee run, their lunch spot, where they take their friends to catch up with every once in a while, or even just talk to us because we've built a relationship. We want our customers to feel at home, welcome any time, and become members of our continuously growing Il Gatto Nero family. That's what our business is and who our customers are.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Toronto by Italian immigrants, and it started with my dad 30 years ago, and I've never looked back. My dad opened what just a small Italian coffee shop on College Street in the 60s was, and it grew into a well-known and loved restaurant. I joined in the 90s and wanted to continue on the legacy, so I took it when I got an opportunity to open something of my own to honor what my dad started. It's a little different, but the focus is still just serving a great espresso and keeping our Napolitan Italian roots by serving authentic Napoletana pizza. What motivates me every day is my drive to support the family name alive since we've recently had to close the original location down. This is all we have now.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment, I would have to say, is the community that gets built when owning a business, especially a restaurant. You become someone's favourite spot or morning coffee, and it's so much more than just a customer. Also, I'd have to say the respect given and taken by customers and their love for our business and the support they have shown us.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is keeping people happy in this business and getting them to become regulars. You need to create that sense of community to get people to come back, or it's tough to survive. They become your primary traffic source and help you gain more by talking about your business. If you can't make or keep regulars, you're doing something wrong.

Being a business owner - it's hard work, sleepless nights, planning, and many ups and downs. It's a huge risk where you only have yourself and the people in your support system you've built to back you up. It's a great risk when it pays off, but it takes a lot to get there, but there's no better feeling when you do. Your first sale, your first profit, it's all yours, and it's a beautiful feeling.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Passion for your business - you have to love what you're doing, so even when things get tough, you can preserve through if there's no passion, it will show down the line.
  2. Pride in what you do - I work in a cafe/restaurant, make the food and coffee, and love it. I take pride in what I make. If I didn't - it wouldn't taste good. If you're proud to say what you do...why are you working there?
  3. Product consistency is probably the most significant thing. Whether it's retail, a service, or food, it has to be consistent. You need to keep consistency, or you won't have any regulars, or it's more likely people will complain your product has to speak for itself.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ilgattonerocafe.wixsite.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilgattonero___/

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.

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