We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Otis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.
Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I have been posting my dishes on social media for years. I can honestly say, they didn’t always look the most appealing either. I never really took these posts seriously because they were just meals that I prepared for my family or an event that I had. I first started posting maybe one or two food pics every week, nothing consistent. It wasn’t until I really wanted to focus on my plating and presentation that I start to see my views and likes increase because it was now more appealing to the eye because the taste was always there. I remember posting a Sunday dinner I made which consisted of roast, fried cabbage, mac & cheese, and yams. Someone inboxed me and asked if I sold this meal. I didn’t even think of it at the time and I could’ve really used money as a single mom with a toddler, so I responded yes and then made a post about me selling plates of the same Sunday dinner for the following week. Can you believe that for my first time ever even advertising 6 people purchased a dinner from me. I felt like I won the lottery that day! I was so nervous to have people outside of my family and friends try my food because I was just hoping they wouldn’t hate it then go on social media before I even got my start, but I am so thankful to this very day that I did post those pics and I did get that inbox!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a personal chef and caterer located in Cincinnati, OH and sell my gourmet cookies on my Etsy store (JennioVittles) where I ship nationwide! I should also mention, these cookies are probably one of the best you’ve ever tasted. Go ahead and check out my reviews and see for yourself! I also am a food content creator where I share recipes, food/product/restaurant reviews, and various other types of food related content. I’m very candid with my following about my life and how much my family is important to me. I definitely consider myself to be a creative and I don’t like to categorize myself by limiting my business to just one thing. For example, I love to set up and decorate as a side package for my catering events. Hospitality is my love language and so is food. That’s why I love to share the gift of love thru food. What sets me apart from my competitors, is that I don’t have a specific menu. I make a wide variety of dishes from many different cultures and origins which I learned from my many travels. Typically for a catering event, my client will give me a theme or an occasion and give me free reign to create a menu that will fit into their dietary needs. They love that! I can also make anything that my client may specifically request. I take pride in my superior customer service because I am honored for anyone to choose me when they could’ve gone with anyone else and spend their hard earned money in this economy. I feel honored anytime someone purchases even the smallest order from me. I started this business with no plan, no money, or materials. I just knew I needed to stop being scared and take that leap because I refuse to live a regretful life. I literally am learning as I go, and I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have such an amazing support system, especially my husband who is taking this journey with me. I am just so thankful to myself that here I am almost a year later, I have an official business where I get the opportunity to do what I absolutely love and use this gift that God has blessed me with to spread love thru my food. Who knew a home cook with no formal training, would be where I am today!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The biggest lesson that I have learned thus far, is that strangers will always be some of your biggest supporters! I used to get so upset and hurt when friends and family wouldn’t like or share posts promoting my business or food posts. I would always see them purchasing or sharing posts from someone else that was doing the exact same thing as me. I would think to myself, what’s wrong with me that they aren’t showing me the same type of support. It took me some time and I had to remember that I needed to humble myself. Just because these people know me doesn’t mean they’re obligated to support me. I was entitled believing that they needed to be doing the same for me when in fact, they didn’t. The same applies for myself that just because I know you means that I have to give you something free or a heavy discount. This is a business and the industry is competitive so I had to change my mindset. If I wanted to grow into something big, I just needed to work hard and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m now slowly, but surely catching the attention of celebrities, larger corporations, and even publishing companies! Consistency is another huge lesson that I have learned and without it, success will not come.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Last August, was when I made my business official with my licenses and certifications and I literally quit my job with no backup plan or tons of savings so I knew I needed to do something to start making money immediately because I have bills that won’t pause and a child. I quickly learned how to make my own business cards and fliers about my business and the services I provide. After getting those printed, I would get dressed up everyday and go into different businesses with my literature and cards and even some cookie samples and introduce myself. I created a weekly menu where I provided a different lunch special everyday, delivery service only. My wonderful husband was the delivery driver for me and he would be all over town! I hit the jackpot about 2 months in when a local company ordered some lunches from me. They felt the food was so good, I was offered to cater their Thanksgiving meal for their employees which was over 300 people! This was an extreme honor to me to make a holiday meal. I quickly accepted, but I had no idea I would be taking on such an extreme task. I had to use my savings to buy all new catering equipment to be able to even take on this task because I had nothing. I started this business with nothing and no business loan, so I just had to figure it out with what I had which wasn’t much, but you never would’ve been able to tell. Over the course of 2 days, my husband and I cooked and delivered fried turkey, cornbread dressing, mac & cheese, green beans, and cookies to 315 people. I think we slept a total of 3 hours in those 2 days and I had never been so physically exhausted from cooking in my entire life, but it was one of the best feelings I’ve had. My adrenaline was thru the roof! I had just single-handedly cooked for over 300 people and not to mention, even get the contract as a new small business because they always ordered from a huge restaurant in Cincinnati every year. I was so proud of myself! After that, I showed myself I can do anything!
Contact Info:
- Website: igotthevittles.com
- Instagram: igotthevittles
- Facebook: I Got the Vittles
- Youtube: Jennio.Vittles
- Yelp: I Got the Vittles
- Other: Tiktok: Jennio.Vittles