Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food service but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Correale, President of Elegant Affairs, located in Manhattan, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Elegant Affairs is an off-premise catering company with offices in Manhattan, Long Island, and The Hamptons. We cater to a sophisticated clientele hosting corporate or social events.
Tell us about yourself
I began my business at age 16, working from my parents' basement. There were no handouts. Through hard work and determination, I built a well-respected catering company that now has 40 full-time employees and hundreds of part-time employees.
I have a love for each and every aspect of this business, from the perfect presentation to the smallest of details. I'm always thinking of how it should be done and how it could be done even better next time. Excellence is what ignites and excites me — I want everything to go perfectly for my clients. My commitment to providing the best food, service, and overall experience is exactly why Elegant Affairs is known as the go-to caterer on Long Island's Gold Coast in Manhattan and the Hamptons. You can visit this page for more info.
I'm motivated to be the best. It is just a quality that lives inside me. I make sure we are presenting the latest food trends while keeping the classic favorites in mind and creating awesome visual presentations for all that we serve and present.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The fact that I grew this business on my own with nothing but a dream. That dream came to fruition.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Employee politics, keeping up on all the new laws and regulations, keeping your eye on the money while trying to build the business. Trying to do it all.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get educated by speaking to attorneys, accountants, HR, and insurance companies, and make sure you are setting your business up properly. You want to be fully protected.
- Make sure you are properly funded to keep the business open a year until steady business builds.
- Don't think you will get rich quickly. Although it does happen, growth generally takes time.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://elegantaffairscaterers.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/andrea.correale1
https://www.facebook.com/elegantaffairscaterers/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/andreacorreale1/
https://www.instagram.com/elegantaffairs1/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreacorreale/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.