We recently connected with Lindsay DiDonna and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsay, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?
One of the best things that I’ve ever done to make a customer feel appreciated is to ensure that I pay attention to the details. This is so important because we live in such a busy world that it’s easy to flow through the motions and develop a bad habit of employing a ‘checklist’ mentality. Being in the food industry and having a niche business, I keep track of my interactions with my clients. One of the first large investments I ever made was purchasing a catering software that allowed me to create profiles of my clients and track their purchase history. I make it a priority to remember the details of their requests and to take note of specific times when they tell me they loved something I had on their board or even an allergy or specific preference. I know that my clients truly appreciate when I pay attention to their details and showcase them in the boards I make them. There is so much competition in every industry today, it’s so important to remember to take care of our clients and to always go above and beyond for them.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I like to consider myself as Colorado’s Luxury Charcuterie Stylist. I own Ornery Olive Charcuterie Co. ® and am based out of Highlands Ranch. I have been making charcuterie boards for over 15 years. I’ve always had a passion for food and entertaining. It was only natural for me to build a business that made people feel good through food. I offer charcuterie boards, tables and workshops. I can really create any type of board that someone could request and I enjoy doing so; however, my specialty is in the traditional works of creating a charcuterie board (cheeses, charcuterie and accompaniments). What sets me apart from my competition is the quality of ingredients that I use on my boards and the presentation that I provide in my work. I only use the top-shelf ingredients, often times shipped in, and I find that the presentation of the food is just as important as the taste! What I’m most proud of in my business is the repeat clientele that I’ve built as well as the numerous new clients that I continue to meet year after year. My ultimate goal is to leave Ornery Olive to my 9-year old, Sofia, when she grows up. I’ve enjoyed watching her watch me build something that I’m truly passionate about. I think it’s a great life lesson for her.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been my relentless effort of taking time to meet other business owners in the community to share my work and honestly, giving a lot of people an opportunity to see/taste my work for free. When I first started, I had nothing. No social media, no website, a small group of connections. Due to that, I had to start somewhere and for me, it was traveling through my community and sharing my work. Over time, I have continued to grow and I’ve spent countless hours networking and using a referral strategy to not only grow my clientele, but my business network. The best advise that I could give is to surround yourself with like-minded individuals that will provide genuine feedback and have a true desire to help you succeed.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Best selling author and keynote speaker, Tim Grover, has many books that focus on teaching the principles of relentless drive, result-driven performance, and mental toughness. If you aspire to have your own business, or even if you do and you’re looking to leap to the next level, I would highly recommend his books.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.OrneryOlive.com
- Instagram: OrneryOlive
- Facebook: OrneryOlive
Image Credits
Ornery Olive Charcuterie Co. ®