Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Crystal Prechard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Crystal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

I feel great about my support system filled with family and friend. They often time volunteer support by offering a hand, sharing my content, my events, recommending my services to people that bring up ideas that may require a caterer.

I’m not going to ask my family or friends to do anything that I wouldn’t do for them in return. I understand that we are all human and have things going on which is taken into consideration if I have to ask for help and or something to that nature.

I have a few interesting stories about family and friend support. As i said before they are so supportive they just insert themselves and ideas to help me. You never know how easy things are when you have a little helping hand. I just happen to be preparing for an event while talking to my sister. Told her what was going on and she instantly said I’m going to come over and help you. This particular instance I had a catering with set-up and breakdown. She came and got to work with me doing everything i asked in the kitchen, washed dishes, help get things to the car for set up, help get thing out the car at the space set up and help me breakdown. That was so helpful and everyone in my circle is just like that.

Crystal, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Crystal Prechard, born and raised in Saint Louis, MO. I’m the youngest of twelve children, raised on the North side. Growing up my mom was the finest of cooks. Though we didn’t eat pork there was nothing she couldn’t prepare, most things from scratch. Her food was incredible, made with love so of course cooking for large and smaller crowds had alway been in my back pocket. My mom did things as big as conventions, things with her church home and also prepared meals for us if not every day close to it. Fast food was far fetched for my sibling and I. Fast forwarding to me starting a catering business happened in 2021 during covid. I began to cook way more cause i just didn’t want to consume too much of things being prepared by someone else not knowing what their status was (Crazy right?). In posting content i use to get a lot of questions as to why i don’t sale plates and compliments on my food. I then started Roses in Bloom (Catering) LLC in June of 2021, and the rest is flourishing. I think my specialities are brunch and soul food. Most of my catering have been surrounding by that. I provide service for meal prep, juicing, private dining, special event and more. I look forward to continue to learn and grow in this business. I’m surrounded by friend who do the same thing, We often times push, suggest, and help one another

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Social media and word of mouth through my clients have been the best source of new clientele for me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I just experience a pivotal moment this year. The year was off to a great start flowing from last year. Deaths on one side of the family hit me like a ton of bricks starting Jan 3, 2024 with my nephew in a car crash. Few week later my first cousin being unresponsive, then already dealing with my brother and his brain cancer he passed away Feb 27. I had all these events and thing lined up and was trying my best not to crumble. I wanted to stay busy but grief was consuming me, literally broken hearted. I had to push back to get myself together physically and mentally. I understand that i can’t pour from an empty cup and i have to take care of self so that i can continue to do what i love to do. I’m gradually getting back into things

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rosesinbloomonline.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosesinbloomcatering.llc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosesinbloomllc

Image Credits

These are my images of food that i have prepared