We recently connected with Jaydene Oconnor and have shared our conversation below.

Jaydene, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I love what I do and owning my own business, but it does have it challenges. Being a private chef, you wear many hats such as that of the food stylist, photographer, marketer, and writer. It isn’t just getting the food on the plate—it’s also getting the food in front of your audience and making their experience perfect! Being self-employed also has it challenges, you don’t have a regular work schedule, you have busy seasons and slower seasons so during my slower seasons it makes it harder not knowing when you will work again, so moments like that it’s always harder not having a regular job that pays for your medical, vacation time paid and a 40-hour week job. But I wouldn’t change it for anything I love what I do and owning my own business, I get to meet people from all over the world, I get to travel and cook all over the world and I get to share my passion and my love of food.

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?

Sea Salt & Sage LA, Culinary Director & Head Chef Jaydene, along with her culinary team create the ultimate Private Chef experience right in the comfort of your home. Founded in 2006. Chef Jaydene began with a deep belief that the best of the culinary talent should not be kept hidden behind the thick walls of a restaurant’s kitchen; it should be allowed to shine at the one place where everyone enjoys the most treasured meals- one’s own dining table. For Chef Jaydene, it’s all about the food, the ingredients, the color, the smell, texture, sourcing seasonal local produce, creating innovative dishes for her clients. All these elements combined ensure that Sea Salt & Sage LA clients receive individual, curated menus reflecting their personalities, palate preferences & occasion.​
This creativity has been appreciated by all walks of life, from a couple celebrating a special anniversary, a multi-generational family renting a luxury home to a huge list of celebrities NFL & NBA players & Royal Families. Her talents have also taken her overseas to cater on movie sets as personal chef. ​With over 25 years in the industry, Chef Jaydene earned her culinary experience under the guidance of some of LA’s most highly seasoned Chefs.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I have worked really hard to build my clientele and have built relationships. with Luxury retreats, Airbnb luxe, Elite luxury homes, Million dollar homes, Stay La and I have so many client referrals. Most of all my business is from referrals and relationships I have built over all these years. I always want my clients to feel like they are a part of my family and I care about every little detail to make sure their experience is perfect.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

The best ways to keep in touch with your clients is to simply give them a call every once in a while, or email. I like to follow up and see how my clients are doing or wish them a happy birthday or anniversary. Giving individual clients your undivided attention goes a long way towards maintaining that bond you formed during the first experience you gave them and earning my client’s loyalty and trust. Interactions like this make a lasting impression on my clients and I want them to know how grateful I am to have them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://seasaltsagela.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjaydene.oconnor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefjaydene.oconnor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefjaydene/