We recently connected with Margaret Orlando and have shared our conversation below.

Margaret, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made?

The Best AND Worst investment I have made as a business owner is buying a food truck unseen in Texas off the internet. My hubby and I had just decided to take our idea of starting our BBQ business to the next level. After writing up the business plan and moving money around to be fully self funded, we booked our first event. Our first set up wasn’t ideal and required a tad bit more work setting up tents than we wanted to do for every event. While we struck out locally, we extended our searching online for a food truck/trailer that would best fit our business.
A 1976 Box truck looked like the perfect fit both financially and functionally. This would turn into a slight nightmare and leave us financially impacted into expanding our business. Excel Automotive, a local, trusted, small business automotive repair shop, took an overall look at the truck and tried to break the news gently to us that our dream would be a bit delayed. The repairs that would be required to make the food truck drivable would exceed the costs of the actual truck.
Yah, I know what you are thinking, ‘How and why would you buy something unseen off the internet?”. Well, it was a costly lesson, but unfortunately, we were desperate to take our business to the next level and our finances and options were limited. Ironically, this little setback just pushed my husband and I to work harder to achieve our goal. In a matter of weeks, we quickly worked together to turn a trailer we already owned for our other business into a mobile food trailer, just in time for our next event.
Our little setback turned into a lesson about the importance of teamwork and allowing patience to allow nature’s course to play out. Of course, we were upset and crushed (both financially and emotionally) that our original plan didn’t play out. However, what turned out was far better than what we could have ever planned. This little trailer works for any size event and is just big enough to give my husband and I enough room to serve with all our equipment. Have patience and believe in your dreams and remember Teamwork always makes the dream work.

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?

Once a week, Danny’s father, Bob, would prepare Sunday gravy for the family meal. Danny quickly grew a love to cook watching his father. Maggie’s mom, Mary Ellen, would always have friends gathered around the table, even when her own children weren’t there. Maggie soon realized you either made it to the table quick or you wouldn’t eat. When Danny and Maggie married, they realized family gatherings would mean they would be required to cook for a small army. This number quickly escalated when friends and neighbors experienced Danny’s meals. There was never a shortage of people around their house for R & D (Research and Development). After Danny cooked 10 Turkeys and 4 Hams for Thanksgiving on every smoker/grill they owned for friends and family, the decision was clear that they needed to make this a business. They had already started DJO Signs & Such LLC, a custom woodworking business, reclaiming Bourbon and Wine Barrels into home decor and furniture in 2020, so the idea to start a mobile BBQ business took shape.
Self funded, they purchased several custom smokers from a Texas metal fabricator. Like children, each of their smokers has a name. JEFF, Willy, Snoop and their custom HDM 1,000 gallon mobile pit, BIG Poppa, makes up the family of smokers. All their smokers run off of nothing, but wood.
Their fare consists of proteins smoked on their Texas pits and then Danny adds some Italian flare to the dishes. Maggie operates all the behind the scenes business practices, while still working a full time corporate position. This power team works in tandem handling the day to day operations of the business.
DAMO BBQ continue to do many local markets, pop ups at breweries & vineyards and fests. DAMO BBQ is highly sought after for its intimate flair on private and corporate catered events, holiday parties, business luncheons, baby showers and weddings. The raved reviews and referrals from clients rapidly grew DAMO’s business success well into the holiday season making it a year-round business.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Dan (baby of 6) and Maggie (baby of 8) Orlando, DAMO, the acronym for our names, grew up across the street from each other in Villa Park, IL. Danny’s mother, Barb, will tell you Maggie would sit on the corner and pine over Danny. Danny will tell you Maggie would be the annoying kid sister of his friend that would come in the garage and bother them. He remembers saying, ‘Ronnie, can you tell your little sister to go back in the house.’ Danny’s tune now changes a bit, and he just can’t get enough of that red headed woman.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Networking, networking, networking. Networking with other professionals in the industry is key. Danny and I do this by attending industry events and joining professional organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce. Building relationships with other professionals can lead to referrals and new business opportunities.
It is equally important to provide exceptional customer service to our existing clients. Danny and I believe happy customers are more likely to refer others to our services and word-of-mouth can be a powerful tool in growing our business. We try to always provide prompt communication and work closely with our customers for their events.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.damobbq.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damobbq/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DAMOBBQ/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbqdamo
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/damo-bbq-batavia
• Other: Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@damobbq Google https://maps.app.goo.gl/C4RaiYpRQ8HLrQMaA