We recently connected with Servian Santos and have shared our conversation below.
Servian , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
My cousin recently described me with the saying “She believed she could so she did”. That’s definitely what happened to me 2 years ago. After working in different industries since the age of 18 and helping other employers run their businesses as an employee I finally believed in myself and I took the risk. I ripped that bandaid off and started my own businesses without knowing how it would go. I took the risk by putting myself out there to others to help my businesses grow. I took the risk by not having an everyday income like I was used to. That risk saved my life. Believing in myself has had the best rewards because now I feel invincible and it’s only the beginning of a happy and healthy life.
Servian , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Servian but everybody calls me Servi. I moved to Tampa,FL at the age of 6 from Puerto Rico. I have been fluent in both Spanish and English ever since. Growing up around a family that focused on different businesses I always knew I wanted to one day have a business of my own and now at 28 years old I have 3 different businesses. Each being a small business as of now has taught me many things and I have learned some great lessons along the way. Right out of high school I started serving in a family owned restaurant where I picked up the passion of interacting with different customers and taking care of their needs. That had a huge impact on where I saw myself in 10 years. I wanted other things for myself, especially since I was so young I had no clue what I really wanted but I did know I didn’t want to work for somebody else forever. By the age of 25, I started working at a catering and event planning company where I got to experience both worlds. The food world and the event planning world. I have always been a huge foodie so being close to other cooks and chefs I learned a lot. Getting to be a wedding planner as well was such a great experience because I got to do the thing I love most, taking care of others. After being there for only year, I decided to quit and start my own business. At first came, The Seasoned Corner, a caterer focusing on modern charcuterie and hors d’oeuvres where we focus on platters, grazing tables, and small bites. I believe what sets me apart is the appetizers because I create all the modern food and love the cute food decor that comes with it. My clients are always so happy with our work and the fact that we go above and beyond to create an unforgettable event for them. They sometimes even know that they can do it themselves but they would rather hire us to come and execute. After came, The Pawcuterie Shop, a pet bakery that creates farm-to-table recipes for dogs and cats. Focusing on baking donuts, treats, pup cakes and bringing happiness to all the fur babies. We sell pawcuterie bowls and pawcuterie bags with our organic homemade treats in them. At first I started selling the treats at different farmer’s markets and then it became all mobile. With both of the businesses being active and established I decided to start, Servian Wedding + Events, a event planning and event coordinating businesses helping brides from all over have the most magical wedding and helping all clients coordinate events for their friends, colleagues, and loved ones. I created every logo. I create all the social media content for each business and I handle all communication between myself and my clients. Each business has its ups and its downs but when I’m not busy with one I have the other to relay on and that’s the beauty of having there different businesses. There are days where I feel like I’m not doing enough but then I remember where I used to be and the proud moment instantly rises.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Everybody thinks social media is the only way to advertise themselves nowadays and even though it does help, it is not everything. Let’s not forget old school marketing and sales strategies. Call around your area to clients that you think you would like having. Drop off a menu or business card. Introduce yourself and show them you really want this sale. Most importantly, follow up and let them know that you respect their business and your own business. Most likely this person will remember you before anybody else because of the initiative and positive attitude.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Managing a team is not easy if you don’t have a plan. Once you have a plan in action I feel like everything will go smoothly not just for you but for the team. The team needs great communication and straight forward rules. Yes, this means having to explain yourself in detail but trust me it will help a lot at the end of the day. You want to make sure everybody on the team is on the right and same page. Giving each person a task within their control will make the whole plan have great results.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/theseasonsedcorner
- Facebook: Facebook/theseasonedcorner
Image Credits
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