Today we’d like to introduce you to Shivonne Hood.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Table For 2 started out as a desire to just do what I love, which is cooking. I had the training and was a new mom with 3 kids under 3, looking to pursue a business idea. I started out offering meal delivery services locally, only through weekly social media posts. And it just organically grew from there. Making connections with clients and businesses led to referrals with wedding venues, being added to many preferred vendor lists, working with many businesses, country music artists, sports figures, actors, and many more. A lot of the positive growth has also come from surrounding myself with women who are excellent in communication and management and that can support the business in that area. Having Jordan in that role has been huge, allowing us to continue to grow and it allows me to be able to focus on the part I love and also be able to maintain a home life as my kids grow and have active and busy lives.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been an easy journey. While I don’t believe anyone has a “perfect” business experience, I do feel fortunate that we’ve generally avoided enduring overwhelming challenges. The biggest struggles were undoubtedly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything was shut down, and we had to quarantine. I had to figure out the best way to pivot and avoid going under during that time. Initially, we pivoted to charcuterie classes until events reopened, and that has turned out to be a blessing. It’s now one of our most popular add-ons for events and weddings, and I enjoy teaching others how to make their own charcuterie as well as providing it for guests.
Other challenges have included staffing, trusting the right people with this space that I love, knowing when I can step aside and let others shine in their leadership roles, knowing when it’s time to move on from or let them go on to their own ventures, and finding a healthy work-life balance. I’ve also learned the importance of self-care and prioritizing my wellness to maintain my energy levels and continue working hard.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are a full service catering company, specializing in elevated southern food – many of your favorite southern staples with a twist! Some of our most popular dishes are: Beef Tenderloin, Chicken Tenders, Shi’s Mac and Cheese, Charred Honey Lime Brussels, and Deviled Eggs with Bacon and Pepper Jelly, and Brown Sugar Cornbread. We cater a variety of events from in-home parties, corporate lunches, fundraising gala’s, baby & bridal showers, holiday events, weddings and more. Offering a range of services allows us to meet our client’s needs without having to contact multiple vendors – we offer drop off (boxed and buffet) and full service catering (buffet, plated, family style), charcuterie, bartending services, desserts, and rentals. Plus we have a great local home delivery service for weekly meals, charcuterie, and desserts. I am very proud of the fact that we are a minority/black owned and female owned business that can hire other mom’s with our flexible scheduling.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I believe my advice for those beginning in this field is to seek guidance from experienced individuals, invest in your craft, and continuously educate yourself. The industry is constantly evolving, with numerous additions and changes. Take your time and avoid attempting to do everything at once. Focus on your strengths, and people will notice. Be selective in your relationships and investments. And maintain humility. We are constantly evolving and need to grow in this field, and there should always be room for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.tablefor2catering.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tablefor2catering?igsh=MWh0bHFlYWhuejA4OA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Kf6hSSC52/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Other: [email protected]
