We were lucky to catch up with Daverine Myers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Daverine , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I just cooked the food and seasoned it well to be honest. That’s were it began . I spent the time to make sure the flavor hits you in each bite. I realized I hardly found good Jamaican food in the U.S and I was disappointed each time I would order take out. I’m a classy woman and I enjoy luxury so I thought it would be nice to include that in my services .

I wanted to create a beautiful tablescape with good food. So why not offer an entire experience . My aunt and I came up with the name Myers Gourmet Kitchen in about 3 months. Lol yes that long. I registered the business then I went shopping for a logo. I wanted something classy and unique. By February 2023 the business was registered and the Logo was ready in March.

I already knew there was a demand for my services. People eat and celebrate everyday. So I went straight to it. I had to figure out storage , transportation, heating equipment marketing materials, networking events where I could showcase my food .I did the launch in March via Instagram. Branding photography are always priority for me. By this time I was ready to go and word of mouth did the rest. We are already 10 months in but it feels longer .

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?

Whenever you hear Myers Gourmet Kitchen I want you to remember authenticity, freshness and , flavorful . My background is in the Hospitality and Tourism industry . Aside from being a private chef , I am also an artisan. I create custom showdow box frames with paper flower arrangements. I work primarily with card stock paper. These frames make great gifts for special occasions and holidays.

I enjoy making people happy through culinary art. My services also takes the hassle of meal preparation away from the client. I’m most proud of how quickly Myers Gourmet Kitchen has grown and the joy it brings my clients. Food and art are two of my love languages .

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

It’s takes great amount of faith and courage to quit your full time job to pursue entrepreneurship. Imagine walking away from a steady income to not knowing what the next month’s income will look like.

Well I did that back in 2019. It left my full time job working as an airline customer service representative. I took some time off to get things in place to launch my event rental and decor company, Parti Purfekt Ja.

Who knew that a pandemic would change everything within 1 month of launching.
Everything changed so quickly. After 4 months in lockdown I was going crazy. In May 2019 I began doing monthly pastry sales . The boxes were beautifully packaged and filled with sweet treats. It was called Sweet Tooth Fridays. My sister, mom, friend and cousin would help me to pack the boxes and we would deliver it . I had customers from the US, Canada and the UK ordering for their loved ones in Jamaica. The first cake sale I had 50 orders . The next move was when I started making shadowbox frames . The frames were filled with paper flower artwork and other cuts made from card stock paper.

By doing that I was able to keep myself afloat, grow my business and stay relevant. I learned a lot I must say.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Testimonials, original content , an active online presence and being available to my clients. Networking with the right people has helped me meet new people and share my business with them. Integrity is key. Stay true to yourself. .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Myersgourmetkitchen
• Linkedin: Daverine Myers