In our latest ‘What’s Cooking’, we hear from Ronit Robbaz, founder of Open Table Catering & Cooking School. Ronit makes beautiful food and beautiful events. Read on for how she started to pay herself a decent wage after just 18 months and has created an iconic business in the Byronshire, the most easterly point of Australia.
Your business name: Open Table Catering
How would you describe the business you are in?
Catering + Cooking School
What do you love about your work?
Love being at service, meeting people from all walks of life, teaching, growing food on the land, love creating and playing with food.
What part of your job would you gladly give away?
Being on the computer, quoting.
If you were starting out in business again today, what piece of advice would you give your younger you?
Do your research well, take a few courses in marketing online + social media and learn de-stressing skills.
Women start businesses 41% of the time to solve a problem. Sometimes this means we have a great vision but don’t have enough resources to sustain our business for the long term. Tell us what resources you started your business with eg. money saved, business premises, business partner, and how long before you started paying yourself?
I had some money saved aside as I was working in hospitality for awhile and was fed up with the male attitude in the kitchen and also front house. I started my catering from a granny flat we had on our property. We use to rent it out and I converted it into a commercial kitchen and as time passed I added different parts to the self contained house.
I started Open Table with Annalee who was my partner in the first year, but it didn’t work between us so we decided to go different ways (I stayed with Open Table).
As for paying myself it took me about 18 months.
As you know we are passionate about women #backingthemselves. So tell us about a time in the last twelve months that you’re really proud of.
I was proud of myself for actually allowing myself to stop and take 2 weeks holiday (without going anywhere) and listening to the signs my physical and mental bodies were sending me. As normally I will just push and push and eventually crash. Doesn’t sounds so glamorous I know…BUT super important when you are the one running and directing the business and practically do most of the stuff around 🙂
As we are always growing and learning, what is the one thing you would like to take time to learn more about?
I would like to learn more about marketing as its always evolving and changing and is the key to get business to your doorstep.
The world is changing so fast and technology enables us to do so much more. We’re interested in which app you could not live without and why?
I’m still old school when it comes to apps , the one I use the most is Planoly for instagram, Bit.ly to shorten my links, Kindle, Podcasts, Messenger, FB and Insight Timer for meditations and more.
Why did you decide to become a member of Females in Food®
To connect with more women in business and network , to support and get supported.
We love to celebrate the successes. Can you give us an example of how joining the Foodpreneurs Formula™ has positively impacted your business?
I was nominated and won a NSW small business award through FIF membership.
I connected with members who came to my cooking school who shared their experiences online and brought Open Table to the forefront in different parts of Australia.
Thank you Ronit.
Want to read more about another successful member? Check out our ‘What’s Cooking’ interview with Leonie Harcourt-Horsfield, founder Diabetes Meals Online.