We recently connected with Raven Fleming and have shared our conversation below.

Raven, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I got started by just jumping into the process, I had no idea what I was doing whatsoever. All I knew was that I had a dream, and I didn’t want to wait to reach all the heights I could with it. I took some of my savings and started researching different products, equipment, and ingredients that could be stocked up on. I started researching recipes that everyone loved and found ways to recreate them and make them my own. At first, everything was great, the start-up process was fast and easy, but over the first year, I started learning the ups and downs that came with the process of starting, and maintaining a business.

Though the first 6 months were great, things started to slow down in the months that followed. I had to stop and take a step back to reevaluate what I was doing and analyze my options so I could achieve a better level of success. During this process, I had to learn how to properly market myself to reach my audience. I took time to diagnose my moments of success, but also my moments that weren’t so great as well. Doing so allowed me to see the changes I could implement to accomplish better, and more consistent results.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Raven, I’m 30 years of age, and I got into my industry through my love, and passion for food. I had a deep desire to express myself through the art of food, and my ability to experiment while constructing recipes through my creative lens. My business came into play after I received encouragement from my support system, and peers to take my craft a step further. My passion for the kitchen started during my early childhood years and grew with me over the years to develop into the business I have today.

I offer catering, baking, treat creation services, and also offer private chef services as well. Outside of my faith system, and determination, what I believe sets me apart from others is my ability to cultivate different ways of doing things within the kitchen, and the various products I manufacture, and provide to my clients. The products that I’m taking the time to work on while I rebrand myself are actually what I’m most proud of. Though they haven’t been fully released yet, these products will be available locally and will have the ability to be shipped nationwide as well.

The main thing I want my potential clients and audience to know is that this is a love and faith-based business. When you book with Ravens Cravings, you’re not just booking with a small growing business, but a family as well. We pride ourselves on having the ability to serve up meals, and sweets that bring a new perspective into play for you. With every bite you consume not only do you feel the love that’s been sown into your meal, but you’re able to create new memories within each plate too. Through this reality, our goal is to help rebirth recollections of loved ones, places, and other joyful memories to help you, and the ones you love relive cherished experiences one bite at a time.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My side hustle did turn into my business that’s currently developing into a career. It started with me taking orders for individuals I worked with, I started with orders for dishes that would be contributed to their potlucks. From there I started taking weekly meal, and dessert orders, and eventually started progressing to larger projects outside of work. My business scaled up to where it is today through my taking risks every chance I got. I dedicated myself to making at least two new baked goods, and at least one new meal every weekend to post online, and sell. I knew I would more than likely not get many responses because I wasn’t well known at the time outside of my workplace, however, I wanted to let my work speak for me and draw my audience in. The more I posted over time the more my audience, and client base grew. I then decided to leap, and invest in my business to get all the tools, and implements needed to further work towards my success.

Some of my key milestones throughout my process include studying, and executing various marketing strategies while developing my business structure, and mastering product manufacturing techniques. I’ve also been able to accomplish outsourcing to grow my brand, along with hiring my first team members and developing my menus to complement all occasions. Though I still have a long way to go in this journey, the milestones I’ve been able to reach speak volumes and encourage me to press toward the next mark.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I feel the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been my ability to reduce customer effort while implementing feedback into my process. One thing that we don’t often take into account, is that our customers have been consumers in a plethora of places for years. With that being said, they’re aware of what works for them. They know what they’re seeking, and they know what they’re willing to invest in. I take the time to build rapport with my clients and get their take on their overall experience, but I also take the time to learn what their expectations are starting as well. This has not only helped me to build my clientele but a solid foundation for my business as a whole.

Though the process takes time, it can easily be achieved in so many ways such as collecting growth ideas, personalizing your customer interactions, and optimizing customer loyalty drivers. These are going to be some of the key components that go into your composed growth strategy. All of these components are going to contribute to the increase of your business size, revenue and value. Another effective strategy I utilize is following, and analyzing the journey of my customers from start to finish. No matter the industry, customers want to know that they’re actively heard, and valued. By implementing feedback received, not only am I able to provide them with that reassurance, but I’m able to improve the overall satisfaction of my customers as well, and make every interaction count. In turn, I’m also able to show that not only am I still teachable, but I’m open to needed changes, and have the ability to adapt to them as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravens.cravings?igsh=MWZrdjJpYnhqeDR1ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyravenscravings?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ravens_cravings?_t=8l17INswxu2&_r=1

Image Credits
Andraya Johnson and Daniel Ross