Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ron Macgillivray, owner of Fable, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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

Full-service restaurants, people who love food enjoy going out to restaurants and eating a locally sourced meal with amazing flavors.

Tell us about yourself

I have always worked as a server, bartender, cook, and then as a manager and then general manager. I always found myself in conversations with other staff and other managers. "Why don't the owners do this?" "I would have done this if I owned it," "wow, this place could be so much better." So instead of just working for other people and learning all aspects of the industry, it was time to put up or shut up. Put myself out there to be the person who is accountable, taking the risks, and hopefully making the right choices.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Opening Fable Kitchen in 2012 and still owning it after almost 10 years. (It will always be my first baby) If we open our 3rd place coming up, it will be a new milestone.

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

Responsibility to all of your staff. Trying to keep everyone employed, fed, and with a roof during the past 18 months of COVID has tested every ounce of what we do as an owner. Currently, 5 straight years of minimum wage increase, global pandemic, and a 20-foot deep crater in front of our restaurant for the new Broadway subway line are top of mind.

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

  1. Have enough cash flow or access to capital for the 1st three years of business.
  2. Hire people around you who are better than your weaknesses. (i.e., if you are not good at math, get someone who is, if you are disorganized- get someone who is) you do not have to be the smartest person in the room.
  3. Have 3 vision boards- A) Your deepest inner visionary that is 5 years out and where you want it to go B) Your practical vision of planning the next 6 months to 2 years with solid goals, expectations, plans C) short term- what are you doing today, tomorrow, next week and is everyone on the same page and moving in the right direction. (Your deep inner visionary sees all and is the light that is guiding the team)

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Dream big, Plan, plan, plan, then make your dream come true.

Where can people find you and your business?

Websites:
https://www.fablediner.com/
https://fablekitchen.ca/
https://www.focaleats.com/

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.