Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rosemary Ingersoll, Founder and Chef of Just In Thyme Personal Chef Services, located in Littleton, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business provides personal chef catering services at my clients' homes. From date nights to dinner parties to buffets for larger gatherings, we bring expertly crafted cuisine to the comforts of home. Combining the best ingredients with flawless technique, we craft culinary sensations to please every palate. My utmost goal is the satisfaction of my clients, and by bringing restaurant quality to their homes, they receive a culinary experience tailored solely for them without the hassle of a restaurant crowded with a host of other guests. From shopping to cleaning up, we take care of it all.
Tell us about yourself
When I was 15, I started working in restaurants and quickly realized that the kitchen was my second home. After I graduated high school, I completed an intensive three-year apprenticeship through Rocky Mountain Chefs of Colorado, which gave me the skills I needed to succeed in the culinary world. I worked in every manner of the establishment, including the Westin Westminster and the Omni Interlocken Resort and over a dozen establishments around the state. My goal was to learn as much as I could from a wide range of chefs and establishments. About five years ago, I decided to start Just In Thyme Personal Chef Services because I realized that the grueling hours and endless grind of the industry would eventually beat me down. I wanted to do what I love with freedom and creativity and still have a good life. Being a personal chef has opened up doors of opportunity I never imagined, working in different locations doing every type of event I can imagine and cooking all manner of cuisine. The best part is that I can connect directly with the people I cook for instead of being stuck behind a line and never seeing anyone. Food is an expression of love, and being able to cook restaurant-quality meals for people at their homes is a spectacular way to express the love and joy of food.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been being able to become 100% self-employed completely on my own and in the midst of COVID. Being self-employed is a satisfaction that never gets old.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
When I began my business, I really had no idea what I was doing business-wise. I built my own website and Google page and started some advertising, and crossed my fingers.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top three tips for someone looking to start a business would be, first, just start. That is half the battle. Making yourself get off the couch and take the first step is the hardest part. It doesn't matter if you don't know what you are doing yet; you will learn as you go. Second, be flexible; if you can't bend with the wind, you will break. Third, never sacrifice the quality of what you are doing. Mediocrity cuts corners. Never stop doing the best you can do; that is the only thing that will truly set you apart from everyone else.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Nothing quite compares to finding your passion and turning it into your livelihood and way of life. I feel incredibly blessed to have the life I do, and I am thankful that I have been able to turn my passion into a business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://justinthymechefservices.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinthymepersonalchef/
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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