The Personal Chef Service Seasonal Change
Most Personal Chefs from coast-to-coast experience a shift in their normal client service routines. Beginning the week of Thanksgiving until the start of the new year, regular repeat clients shift their needs. Holidays are upon us all, travel to, or relatives from different areas upset the “routine” your clients enjoy. So their normal service schedule will probably be altered. But not to worry. As their trusted Personal Chef, you have the potential to provide a service(s) beyond your normal service. It is not uncommon for a client to essentially create the entire Thanksgiving Dinner for a bunch of folks. In our midst we have multiple Personal Chefs who provide festive, dinner party style events for their regular clients. The rewards can be mind mindbogglingly, however those individuals are working out of a commercial kitchen environment. Still, a Personal Chef, trusted and accepted by their regular client, can in fact provide a holiday meal for a few, or many. The rewards are very good. With many holidays celebrated between November 1st and January 1st, you only need to expand your vision beyond a traditional Personal Chef Service.
This “new revenue” source can be as simple as an appetizer party (please have a look at our Dinner Party program, as this is covered in detail), all he way to the holiday dinner being served up. As a traditional Personal Chef working from the client’s location, these “holiday” events can easily require extra help to make this event happen in a memorable way (a “good” memorable way!)
Hired help at this time of year becomes a challenge. Our Dinner Party program explains the nuts-and-bolts of hiring casual labor, but just know that you may be faced with the situation where you simply do not have enough hands to pull this event off. So during your daily life, if/when you are in a dining facility, take note of the staffers. Yes, some are simply guiding you to your table, which you generally do not need. But outstanding servers who know “how” to serve meals, can be of enormous benefit as you work your magic in the kitchen. Admit it – you cannot be two places at once.
Take a look at the opportunities the traditional holiday season present. If you plan far ahead, you can get this possibility to your client in ample time. And if not or they are already committed, make your service known to them. And maybe next holiday season, you’ll be involved. Finally, letting your clients know that you can provide this type service, the opportunities open up. Graduations, weddings, retirement parties, etc. Any event that requires a custom ordered food presentation, is an open door for you. Explore and embrace. Proving this “special event” service to a regular client only makes you that much more appreciated by your client. And as you are providing this excellent meal to others, they suddenly become potential clients. You’ll have the implied endorsement from the host. Marketing could not be more effective.
For Personal Chefs who graduate to using a commercial kitchen, and who have elected to provide meal deliveries, the seasonal changes can impact them a bit. And this can go either way. For the regular, repeat client who orders X meals a week like clockwork, holidays present a time when time honored traditional meals get prepared at home. Some meals can provide for a large amount of leftovers, which satisfy a couple more evening meals. Conversely, households that generally do not elect for a meal delivery service, may find the task of cooking, especially if friends or relatives are involved – creating more mouths to feed – these folks could easily avoid the hassle and order using a meal delivery service. Some holidays can be quite lucrative, by using your commercial kitchen to prepare a large amount of turkey dinners, for example. This type offering will work far better if the client comes to you to pick up the meal(s). Otherwise, you’ll need to hire part time casual labor to make all these deliveries.
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