Meet Vancouver based culinary entrepreneur Kate and her blooming business, Kate's Custom Kitchen. Have you ever dreamed of seriously delicious home-cooked meals without the stress and time it takes to prepare them yourself? Well, you're in luck! Chef Kate has made the dreams of busy families who still want a nutritious and delicious home-cooked meal come true. Kate's Custom Kitchen offers everything from meal prepping to private chefs and even online cooking courses. It's time to level up your plate!
Blooming Businesses: Kate from Kate's Custom Kitchen
Q: Who was your role model growing up?
A: My mom, Deborah. I’ve never met a more formidable person. She’s a Supermom for sure but also wildly intelligent,has incredible business savvy and may as well be a walking calculator. On top of that she’s the best Chef I know so there’s a lot of kitchen inspiration there. She helps so much with the business in areas that I know literally nothing about so she’s a huge source of stress relief for my mental health also.
Q: What have you found the most rewarding aspect of running Kate’s Custom Kitchen?
A: I do love making my own schedule but even more so than that it would be determining my own income. You get what you put in and being able to make my schedule work so that I can fit in as much as possible has been really rewarding to me. I love the freedom of not allowing someone else to write my paycheque. If I know I need to make more I can do so, if I want to scale back, I can do so.
Q: What is your favourite flower and why?
A: I love so many! That’s a key reason I love ordering from you guys! I get so many new flowers each time. My go to for consistent blooms in the house are tulips when they’re in season. They stand so beautifully on their own and just invoke the most happy feeling but I love Hyacinths and their beautiful scent. I have a firm rule of never buying roses for myself so when they show up, it’s always extra special.
Q: What is the story behind the creation of Kate’s Custom Kitchen?
A: I was running restaurants for many many years unhappily. When Covid hit, I was presented with an opportunity to take a course that taught you how to set up your own business as a Holistic Chef. I live and breathe food, I always loved to cook and be creative so I thought, what the heck! I dove in and before the course was even over I had already signed my first client. This job is the most excited I have consistently been to wake up for and work at in my entire life.
Q: If you had to give one piece of advice to anyone hoping to start their own business what would it be?
A: If you’re being called to entrepreneurship; answer the call and just do it. Put your eggs in the basket, commit your time and energy, ensure your product makes sense and that there is a market for it of course, but dive IN and go for it!
Q: What would you say has been the biggest factor in making your business successful?
A: Referrals. 75% of my business is based on doing great work for other people who have told other people and so on. People love to talk about a great product or service they’ve had so I just work at doing my best and foster positive client relationships.
Q: What is your one meal you couldn’t live without?
A: Spaghetti Bolognese.
Q: Who are you going to gift your next Bear’s Blooms box to and why?
A: My BFF, Bianca Bryan. She’s been my biggest supporter in life for the past 10 years no matter the situation. I am supremely lucky to have her in my life.
Q: What has been the biggest goal that you have hit so far and what is your next big goal?
A: My initial goal when starting out was to grow a roster that had clients on it for a minimum of 1+ year because originally I started out doing a lot of really short term contracts. We just hit that mark in February and I feel SO lucky to say that. I love deep diving in with my clients and really getting to know and service their true needs. The next big goal is to expand the business to be more balanced between the teaching side of things as well as cooking for clients. I was blessed with an opportunity last year to teach cooking classes and workshops around town and it’s really given me a new taste of creative balance so more of that in 2022!
Find Kate at www.katescustomkitchen.com or follow her on Instagram at @katescustomkitchen
(Photography by @ashleydrody)
Use code: KCK15
*This is for 15% off a private dinner delivery experience for 2 or 4 people.
Check out last month's Blooming Businesses Feature here.