Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Randall Chambers, Owner-Chef of Luxury Meals From Home, located in Arvada, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are called Luxury Meals From Home LLC. The company is just my wife and me and an occasional helper, and we are full-service private chefs and caterers. In my career as a restaurant chef, I saw too many restaurants go downhill and neglect the most important part of the dining experience, which is YOU. We create experiences; we create memories. Small. Independent. Local.
Tell us about yourself
Angela and I got burned out in the restaurant service. Many of us suffer from mental health issues and alcoholism. It's not a healthy and supportive environment. Restaurants have such thin profit margins that the quality of life of the employees suffers, as well as the quality of the service, the food, and the dining experience itself.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Making it work! It's very scary to take the jump. I remember my first phone call.... and my second. I would wait by the phone right at when we were supposed to open like I was waiting by my parent's landline for a girl to call in the mid-nineties. It was nerve-wracking. It was scary. We went into every event, giving our best. The clients noticed. Several years later, we have more business than we can handle.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, it's the organization. In a normal restaurant business, you have an accountant, a secretary, a social media person....and so on. It's all on us! Keeping caught up without neglecting new clients can be very difficult.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know the business in and out. Don't expect to hire out certain positions. Be able to do all the positions yourself.
- Be realistic. It will take time. Clients are the most important thing. The individual experience is the most important thing. Not the presentation, not the photo.
- Be mindful of your competition, and focus on your strengths.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Bolivian - American small business! Support a Latinx-owned and women-owned business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.luxurymealsfromhome.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxurymealsfromhome/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefrandalljulio/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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