We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brauni Orr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brauni below.

Brauni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I could go back in time and start my company from the bottom. I would have done my research on business credit first. I would never suggest using your own funds for a start up. Only because the first few years in business fluctuates. It’s a lot of ups and downs and those loses are coming solely from your own pockets. I would be soooo much further in business had I knew the things I know now about OPM (other people’s money).

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well I’ve been cooking alongside my Mom in the kitchen since I was a child. So I’ve always been the person that volunteered to cook for the events in high school and the rooms we would get on the weekends. But back then I only could cook rotel and meatballs. But the business side of it came from when Covid hit, I had a Job at the Sheraton Hotel and it was my favorite job I’ve ever had. However, once they closed for the pandemic, I was out of work. But I’m use to not working for anyone, seeing how I started my own clothing brand back in 2017. I come from an entrepreneurial background honestly. I’ve just never owned a food operating business. But in 2020, I started brainstorming menus, food ideas, areas in Birmingham that needed food more than others and I got to work.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the thought of “your people will always support you.” Because strangers will support you more than your own closest family members sometimes. Not all the time tho, some people have a solid support system behind them. And kudos to them. But I’ve learned personally that sometimes the road to the top is lonely. Everyone isn’t going to believe in you. They don’t see the vision how you see it. God gave the idea to you for a reason. So it’s okay to want that support from family and friends, my advice is just not to bank on it. Do what’s best for you and the crowd will follow.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I pretty much built my social media presence all alone with the help of my business consultants Demarcus Morrow and Xay Renzo. We took time to perfect (and still perfecting) our pictures and videos mostly. Believe it or not, you eat food with your eyes before your mouth. So we try to appeal to the appetite of the customers. Definitely the visibility or your product, and I use social media to its full potential. I truly believe in taking lemons and making lemonade. For example, let’s say a person I don’t personally know, went to Facebook to display their disappointment from booking with another food company. I use that tell to showcase what my company brings to the table, without belittling the next business. Always find ways to redirect the energy to your brand. ALWAYS. It’s always bout you and your company.

Contact Info:

• Website: under reconstruction: www.souledoutplates.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souledoutplates
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Souledoutplates
• Other: TikTok: Chef Brauni

Image Credits

None