 So, let’s start with you are you from this local area?
Yes, I am local to the area. Why did you choose this line of business? When did it start? What Year? I enjoy the cooking aspect and seeing people smile after they eat the food that is being prepared. I went to school and trained through the Culinary Institute of VA, went to work at a restaurant and then started to do some personal catering on the side. I eventually added a baking portion of it such as pastries, muffins and cheesecakes. I first started with the catering in 2013. The cheesecakes in 2015 and then this year I started adding other pastries to it. Starting a business is a tough thing to do! What inspired you to keep going as you were getting it off the ground? I just stuck with it. There is nothing in particular that kept me going, as it was just a part-time business. If I got a call from a potential client, it was good, but once I started with the cheesecakes, it really started taking off. When would you really say your business went from a concept to an actual functional business? It took probably about a year and a half before I decided to actually hop into it and started doing the research on how to start a business. Looking back, what was the most difficult challenge(s) you had to face? Mostly getting the word out, and that’s when I started doing face to face with people telling them about my business. What is one thing you would have done differently? There is nothing I would really change, but I wish I had started a website a few years ago. What do you enjoy the most about the Virginia Beach communities your business takes care of? The excitement people have when they come up to a table at the farmer’s market and they make a purchase, like it and then come back and make comments. I have a table at Farmer John’s Market which is by the Farmhouse Brewery. If a potential customer had to pick from 3 different businesses providing the same services you provide, what would make your company really stand out, and make them choose your company over the others? I go towards what the client is looking for and work things around their financial budget and or the budget that they have in mind. Has internet technology played a big part in your growth and making your company more successful? Actually, the Farmer’s market helped more than anything and me talking to people about it via word of mouth. Do you feel that internet technology could play a bigger role in your business if you had the right tools? Definitely!! Which I hope to, next year, do a website. That is one of my goals. What is the toughest thing about being in business in 2019? The number of people that are out there that have similar businesses as I do. What do you think could possibly help set you apart from those other businesses? I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it. Where do you see your business in the next 3-5 years and why? Continuing to grow and possibly doing it to where that is all I am doing, where I am not working for someone else but more for myself and, hopefully down the road, possibly opening my own brick and mortar. What is the best way for our readers to connect with your team and to take advantage of what your company has to offer? BUSINESS NAME: Casual Chef Catering OWNER NAME: Carl Desei PHONE NUMBER: 757-567-2372 EMAIL: [email protected] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/casualchefcatering/ Farmer’s Market
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So, let’s start with you are you from this local area? I am. I was born and raised in Blackwater, and now I live in Pongo. Being an event planner in Virginia Beach is a saturated marketplace. Why did you choose this line of business? I chose to get into event planning and coordinating because, growing up, we always hosted parties and events for family and friends. For the last 6 years I’ve done everyone else’s birthdays, weddings, showers, etc. I am very crafty and creative. As a mom I wanted to take my career in a path of doing something from home to be able to be with my children and still being able to help people. I love seeing it unfold and all coming together. When did it start? What Year? I officially started in August of 2019. It’s brand new but I have been doing family and friends for years. Starting a business is a tough thing to do! I just kept reaching out to people and just kept going. I was asked by one of my good friends and neighbor, last year when she was planning her wedding, to be her planner and coordinator, and that’s when my heart started to lead me into starting my own business so I could also be a stay-at-home mom. What inspired you to keep going as you were getting it off the ground? I already had something started so I was already motivated to make it work and continue with it. I keep reaching out to family and friends and just keep going. Starting out you try not to go over budget but keep it perfect at the same time and putting it all back into my business. When would you really say your business went from a concept to an actual functional business? In September of this year after I did my first wedding. I had got my photography done for it and made sure I took care of everything business wise. And being local, I know a lot of local people out here, so it made it easier to reach out to others. Looking back, what was the most difficult challenge(s) you had to face? What is one thing you would have done differently? Probably the hardest thing for me was putting myself out there and being scared to not to succeed. I am the type of person that always learns from everything, and I can’t go back and change it, so I wouldn’t change anything because it is what made my business the business that it is. I learn from my mistakes. What do you enjoy the most about the Virginia Beach communities your business takes care of? Everyone is very helpful, always willing to help in the process. My community is all very connected and helpful and they want to be just as involved in everything, and they trust me to help them. They become like family. If a potential customer had to pick from 3 different event planners in Virginia Beach providing the same services you provide, what would make your company really stand out, and make them choose Teal Rose Co. as their event planner Virginia Beach company over the others? I am very good at listening and putting together what people have in their head, putting it all together and giving them what they are looking for. Has internet technology played a big part in your growth and making your company more successful? I think it’s played a good part in it. Also, word of mouth and putting myself out there as far as marketing material such as flyers, business cards, posting every day on social media. But I would say it definitely helped. Do you feel that internet technology could play a bigger role in your business if you had the right tools? Yes, I am sure it could. What is the toughest thing about being in business in 2019? Probably making myself stand out and getting myself out there along with the other people in the same industry. I like trying to help people to achieve their dream for their special occasion by making things as affordable as possible for them to be able to achieve that. Where do you see your business event planning in Virginia Beach in the next 3-5 years and why? I hope to see it grow to where I actually have a team instead of just myself and my one assistant and to where we are reaching further out and expanding, even possibly out of the Virginia Beach area. What is the best way for our readers to connect with your team and to take advantage of what your company has to offer? Website: www.tealroseevents.com Phone: 757-613-0913 Wedding wire: Teal Rose, Co |
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