Smart, Safe, Savvy - Savvy Food Safety

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Francine Shaw, CEO of Savvy Food Safety, Inc., located in McConnellsburg, PA, USA.

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

I own and operate several businesses in the food service industry space. We provide a comprehensive list of services, including digital technology to track compliance certifications. Another digital solution is to facilitate the connection between various aspects of the food chain, creating better opportunities for suppliers, service providers, restaurants, and regional supermarkets, among others. And food safety support includes:

Advisory services.
Writing food safety procedures
Discounted ANSI Certified Food Safety Training Materials
Reviewing marketing materials for FDA Food Code accuracy and more
Global speaking engagements.

I also offer personal coaching/mentoring for those on their entrepreneurial journey. I am happiest when helping others achieve the success they desire and beyond.

My customers are individuals thinking about starting a business, entrepreneurs, small businesses, large businesses, corporations, school districts, colleges, universities, public health departments, etc.

Tell us about yourself

I accidentally became "self-employed" as a fifty-year-old woman with vast knowledge and experience, and things exploded from there beyond my wildest imagination. My goal then and has always been to help others achieve their dreams, whether to operate a food service facility as efficiently and safely as possible or to start a business (any business) of their own. We are all so much more capable than we give ourselves credit, and nothing makes me happier than helping someone else achieve success.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It's challenging to narrow it down to one. First and foremost, I am confident my work in food safety has saved lives. Food safety training and education is something I am passionate about, as is helping others succeed. I am proud to be the founder/co-founder of four very diverse organizations. I have authored articles for every leading trade publication in the food service industry, and I recently wrote a soon-to-be-published book. Growing up on government assistance in a dysfunctional family and being bullied throughout my school years, I would have never considered any of this a possibility.

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

One of the most challenging things about being a business owner is work/life balance. When you own a small business, you are responsible for everything that does and does not happen twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Learning to delegate and outsource tasks early in any entrepreneur's life will ease small burdens significantly, but finding that balance can be difficult; it is definitely a give-and-take situation. Though family always takes priority, a business sometimes requires more attention, and sometimes it's family. I don't believe there is a proper balance. However, outsourcing and delegation are critical components to a happier life.

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

Being an entrepreneur means having short-term and long-term goals. To meet those goals, you need a plan and a strategy. It doesn't matter what industry you work in; the path is virtually the same. It doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't typically fall in your lap.

Tenacity. One of the most critical skills of entrepreneurship. You will want to quit, to throw in the proverbial towel, and this emotion will happen on more than one occasion. Don't quit; if you quit, you can't win, and most serious entrepreneurs want to win this game we call entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. It can be one of the most terrifying rides of your life, full of ups and downs and twists and turns, but it is also one of the most rewarding. Don't be afraid to ask for experienced help. I've been on this ride for ten years, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Being an entrepreneur is one of the scariest yet most rewarding journies an individual can take. It requires courage, risk, grit, tenacity, resilience, and gratitude. It can be lonely but also filled with many, many rewards. It's essential to recognize victories - the small and the large for the small wins add up to big wins, and before you know it, you are operating at a level you didn't think was possible.

Write down your achievements and review them as you move through the year because it's easy to forget how much you've accomplished - especially when things are difficult. Most importantly, the fear of success is as real as the fear of failure. Recognize it for what it is. If you want to be an entrepreneur, it's essential to move past this quickly, or you will remain "stuck" for an eternity.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://savvyfs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvyfoodsafety/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franclyfrancine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FSTS3787
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francinelshaw/

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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