We recently connected with MoNae Bellomy and have shared our conversation below.
MoNae, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
When I got married, cooking was done more out of survival than love. It was never something I put a lot of thought into but when it was time to cook, I’d just do it. Shortly after I was married I took a liking to the cooking shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Chopped. I remember thinking to myself one day while watching an episode “I can do that”. So from there I started to experiment more in the kitchen, honestly that is when cooking became fun. Once I started getting better at the skill my husband started encouraging me to start catering so I started putting myself “out there”. In fact my very first customer was a very close and best friend of mine for college. I catered her mother’s surprise birthday party. From there I went on and did about five to six more parties but I found it very hard to try to balance family, full time employment and a side hustle, as I was not official. Thus, I put it down and did not pick it back up for another four years. February 2020, my birthday month, all I wanted for my birthday was a steak, cooked medium with garlic butter, baked potato, steamed broccoli AND a cinnamon roll. Needless to say I didn’t get that steak dinner but a good friend of mine took me out for dessert for my birthday and we went to a cute little bakery downtown Detroit. I already knew what I was getting, My cinnamon roll was everything I could hope it to be. Fast forwarding days later, I had a taste for another but was not willing to make the trip to the bakery so I decided to look up a recipe and make some myself. I was pretty impressed with how they turned out for it being my first time EVER making cinnamon rolls from scratch. So I decided to run it back and do it again, but this time I shared a picture of my work on social media. It was from there people complimented on how good they looked and actually one person asked “how much”. I remember thinking “it’s not for sale, I’m just playing around in the kitchen” so I brought it to my husband. From there we would charge $25 for a dozen because that’s how many came from one ball of dough. Funnier side to that, is the person who asked “how much” never ordered from me to this day. My uncle was my first customer and we’ve going ever since. I decided to get serious about my business, by registering with the state, obtaining my EIN and Food Handler’s Card. I picked my catering up again and here I am still going strong….slow but strong, four years later.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a wife and mother first. I love my family dearly. In everything I do, I have put God first. He has guided me throughout my life and given me opportunities that I am most grateful for. I got into cooking as previously stated, through watching cooking shows. I am HUGE Gordon Ramsey fan, he is literally a part of my bucket list to meet one day in my lifetime. My business is catering service that also does a variety of cinnamon rolls. I have ten variations of cinnamon rolls. from your classic regular to apple pie, peach cobbler and probably any of your other favorite desserts just in a cinnamon roll version. I LOVE what I do, I enjoy it and do not take it lightly that my customers choose me to be a part of, what I consider, the most important component to any event and that is the food! I am most proud of continuing when sometimes this journey in managing and maintaining everyday life along with a business seemed next to impossible. I am most proud of stepping out on faith and having the courage to work on the growth of my business.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My husband encourage me around nine years ago to host a Mother’s Day event and every year when it would come time to do it, it would simply be too late to try to put something together. Fast forwarding to Summer 2022 I decided that the next Father’s Day, I was going to host a celebration. I chose Father’s Day because Father’s Day is not as celebrated as Mother’s Day. Fathers just simply do not get the same recognition as Mothers during this particular Holiday time. I went into it very hopeful, I just knew people would jump on the ticket sales and would pack the house. Well that was so far from what happened. I don’t think I ever felt more dismissed and ignored in my life while promoting this event. I had a amazing lineup, the menu was set, I locked in a live band and comedian…why wouldn’t anyone want to be in attendance. I felt just on the strength of knowing me and wanting to support my first event, the sales would ROLL IN! It was like pulling teeth getting sales. I had to knock my expected number of guests down about two to three times. I cried, I was frustrated, I thought about canceling, I cried again, repeat. However I was so determined to make this happen. This was something I had been putting off for years and it was so important for me to PUSH through and so I did. The day of the event, even the sales that I made, not everyone showed up and while I was disappointed, I enjoyed how the space was decorated and I was grateful to those who did show! I am most proud of myself for that, because there was no more talking about it..I did it!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy has simply been interacting with the customers at the time of sale. Being personable has always worked in my favor. Whether it is on a catering job, meal prep or cinnamon roll order, the key has always been to make each customer feel like we’ve been friends for years. Then on the flip side of that, just having the courage to promote myself when amongst a group. Shamelessly plugging in what my business offers and conveniently having a business card or four on hand is actually what I’m really getting into these days!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: b.mosweetcatering
- Facebook: B. Mo’ Sweet Catering, LLC.