Evening all,
This was a big week for us at The Delicious Food Co. Each year one of our clients, Compass plc audit all their suppliers to ensure the quality & safety of their food operations...The email announcing that my audit is due is without a doubt the most terrifying email I receive each year.
The audit is NOT for the fainthearted. A scope for the audit 32 pages long is attached to the email...dates are required so that flights can be booked for the auditor....who comes over from UK.
My auditor last year was formerly head of QC for Marks & Spencer..do I need to say more.....
I try to ignore the email for as long as possible, adding it to the list of things that keep me awake at night...then with a burst of courage I email them asking if they have a date for me, pretending that I have already responded ...once that's done there is no going back....flights are booked and I start frantically going over every record making sure everything is in place & up to date....product spec, packaging specs, calibration, water certificates, HACCP....
Each year I pray to God that I pass...failure means an automatic delisting, a loss of business & the stigma that goes with it...
On Wednesday afternoon in the final throws of the prep, I thought it would be a good time to give my house a deep clean....I'm not sure what part of my brain does that.... but some how I felt that going to bed in crisp clean sheets & waking up in a pristine bedroom...would help me pass....the 100's of data sheets needed to be filed....could wait.
Bed at 1.30am & up at 5.30... I gathered the files doing a final check that I had everything, tick, tick,tick...
Phone call comes announcing the arrival of the auditor, she's in the building....heart racing I go to meet her, like a lamb to the slaughter, my HACCP folders in my trembling hands....but there was no need for the fear....she was lovely....my food operation is in good shape...each item on the scope was covered off by us...She said we were a credit to ourselves we should be very proud ..
Then the final analysis...
....not only did we pass....but The Delicious Food Co is an A grade Compass supplier.
Whoopie !
Shirley x.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Banking on success.....
Evening all,
Last time I wrote about the stresses of having a small business...the sleepless nights...the worry about cash flow. I told you then that the monthly invoice for one of my biggest clients, which is usually paid within days of receipt by the totally reliable D. was met with an "out of office until 26th August" reply was to be paid by the finance director......twice he told me last week it was being "paid today"...yet by Friday the money still hadn't reached our account...disaster....
I called Mr Big to see if he could make an early payment, but he wasn't in Dublin to sign a cheque but told me he'd sort it on Monday...and I have to say the man never ceases to surprise me...I know by tomorrow I'll have a cheque....that plus D being back from holidays, with another 10 days catering to be paid for, should mean that this week I may have a full nights sleep....( not to mention a fetching little number from the BT2 Autumn/Winter collection that I have my eye on...)
Last week a pitch I have been working on for a university campus paid off, and we are in there as the new salad supplier..this is our third big serious account win since May.....The Delicious Food Co is now in a different zone....
Buoyed on with this news I tentatively rang the bank to see about extending our overdraft to facilitate the cash flow problems when they arise...somebody from the credit Dept would call m within a few days...they're very busy..blah, blah, blah...
Guess what..within an hour Trish called, she listened...she told me she could see the problems...there is a good flow of cash through the account...we've been in credit a few times during the year...(we were eh?)
she's popping the forms in the post...just fill 'em out & get them back to them....
Suddenly the questions about" how many dependents do you have?" on the application forms, no longer seems personal...this time I will fill out the forms with confidence.....I have a major quality audit this week..and although my horoscope in Sunday Times Style told me I am in for a a major shock this week...I am calm....it will take more than a dodgy horoscope to dampen my spirits at the moment...
So wish us luck ...and bring it on !
Shirley x
\
Last time I wrote about the stresses of having a small business...the sleepless nights...the worry about cash flow. I told you then that the monthly invoice for one of my biggest clients, which is usually paid within days of receipt by the totally reliable D. was met with an "out of office until 26th August" reply was to be paid by the finance director......twice he told me last week it was being "paid today"...yet by Friday the money still hadn't reached our account...disaster....
I called Mr Big to see if he could make an early payment, but he wasn't in Dublin to sign a cheque but told me he'd sort it on Monday...and I have to say the man never ceases to surprise me...I know by tomorrow I'll have a cheque....that plus D being back from holidays, with another 10 days catering to be paid for, should mean that this week I may have a full nights sleep....( not to mention a fetching little number from the BT2 Autumn/Winter collection that I have my eye on...)
Last week a pitch I have been working on for a university campus paid off, and we are in there as the new salad supplier..this is our third big serious account win since May.....The Delicious Food Co is now in a different zone....
Buoyed on with this news I tentatively rang the bank to see about extending our overdraft to facilitate the cash flow problems when they arise...somebody from the credit Dept would call m within a few days...they're very busy..blah, blah, blah...
Guess what..within an hour Trish called, she listened...she told me she could see the problems...there is a good flow of cash through the account...we've been in credit a few times during the year...(we were eh?)
she's popping the forms in the post...just fill 'em out & get them back to them....
Suddenly the questions about" how many dependents do you have?" on the application forms, no longer seems personal...this time I will fill out the forms with confidence.....I have a major quality audit this week..and although my horoscope in Sunday Times Style told me I am in for a a major shock this week...I am calm....it will take more than a dodgy horoscope to dampen my spirits at the moment...
So wish us luck ...and bring it on !
Shirley x
\
Friday, August 16, 2013
Sleep....in my dreams
Evening All,
If ever there was a week that reflects what it is like to be a small business owner, then this has been it.
July was our best months sales ever, yet somehow the cash still ain't flowing
as it should be & the pressure is as hard as ever. When cash flow gets tight, I stop sleeping. I'll wake up at 2.30 & churn figures over in my head, til Mr Delicious gets up at 5.00. On paper it looks good, we are owed more than we owe, we are l busy, the KPI's are looking good & I know there's oodles more business out there for us, if we want it.
To take on more business we need more staff, when cash flow is tight, fear creeps in & holds me back,
fear of not being able to pay the staff, pay suppliers, fear of not paying ourselves....
Then suddenly, things change, the client who hasn't paid me for May (never mind June/July), coughs up after an emotional call from me, pleading for payment, telling them that my kids need new shoes for school....I pick up the post to discover a client who never pays on time has sent in two cheques without me having to harass Pat in accounts...the invoices I sent on Monday to the totally reliable D, which was met with an automatic "out of office reply"...away til 26th August...noooooo...will be paid today.
Yesterday, to celebrate we did a supermarket shop, in Superquinn, no less...the cupboards at home are now full of food bought for us & not whats left over from the kitchen, school books can be purchased, new shoes for for the kids will be bought ...
I've started actively looking for a new chef to bring our business forward...I've booked a date for my annual Compass audit for two weeks time...I will get my website up & running...I have about 14 days to to achieve all this...before the cash starts drying up again...the fear & sleepless nights, take over....
Then it will be the month end...cash will start coming in again....
Ground Hog day...here I come...
Shirley x
If ever there was a week that reflects what it is like to be a small business owner, then this has been it.
July was our best months sales ever, yet somehow the cash still ain't flowing
as it should be & the pressure is as hard as ever. When cash flow gets tight, I stop sleeping. I'll wake up at 2.30 & churn figures over in my head, til Mr Delicious gets up at 5.00. On paper it looks good, we are owed more than we owe, we are l busy, the KPI's are looking good & I know there's oodles more business out there for us, if we want it.
To take on more business we need more staff, when cash flow is tight, fear creeps in & holds me back,
fear of not being able to pay the staff, pay suppliers, fear of not paying ourselves....
Then suddenly, things change, the client who hasn't paid me for May (never mind June/July), coughs up after an emotional call from me, pleading for payment, telling them that my kids need new shoes for school....I pick up the post to discover a client who never pays on time has sent in two cheques without me having to harass Pat in accounts...the invoices I sent on Monday to the totally reliable D, which was met with an automatic "out of office reply"...away til 26th August...noooooo...will be paid today.
Yesterday, to celebrate we did a supermarket shop, in Superquinn, no less...the cupboards at home are now full of food bought for us & not whats left over from the kitchen, school books can be purchased, new shoes for for the kids will be bought ...
I've started actively looking for a new chef to bring our business forward...I've booked a date for my annual Compass audit for two weeks time...I will get my website up & running...I have about 14 days to to achieve all this...before the cash starts drying up again...the fear & sleepless nights, take over....
Then it will be the month end...cash will start coming in again....
Ground Hog day...here I come...
Shirley x
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Opus Dei..the secret lives of bloggers
Evening all,
Just home & what a fun night it was...I told you before I love blogging, such a totally wonderful narcissist endeavour...it's all about me ...kinda. But seriously if you think about it ...it's not really...it's about my life as a food producer at The Delicious Food Co, as if I am some sort of third person singular ...(remember your English grammar ).
Tonight I went to the launch of the blog awards in the pop up Glenisk shop on Dawson St. I went on my own as I left it too late to pick up a date.Three floors of like minded narcissists, all of us with our own personal accounts of what floats our boats, putting it out there for all the world to see...
As I walked through the doors alone, I felt as though I was entering some kind of fetish club on Abbey St, I've posted the blogs on line & now I want to take it further.....take it into the real world...what is out there when I open my mind....explain my thoughts to others bloggers.It seems many people know each from "the scene"...it's a mad & wonderful world...
Tonight I met Steven who's been blogging for years,as Digital Times.ie (a tech blog), then there was Connor from a Social Media.ie who will write your blog for you, there was the teacher who writes "What's in my Brain" but doesn't know how to use Twitter & then there were my favs Ciana & Aoife March the most non identical twins I've ever met. Ciana blog is The Concrete Collar, a fashion & architecture blog, Aoife seems mad as the proverbial March hare...., I'm sure there is a blogger in her...
So tonight I learnt.that ...."I blog....therefore I am"...."we are all consenting adults"..the choice to indulge or not to indulge is a personal choice" bloggers like clients come in all shapes & sizes".............and if it ever becomes too much there's always ...Bloggers Anonymous
"Hi my name is Shirley & I'm a serial blogger"
Bon soir.
Shirley x
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Clients ...who needs them...Moi !
Evening all,
Clients are the life blood of all businesses. No clients...no business. You can have the best idea/product or service in the world but without clients to buy it ...you have nothing.
Clients are a real mixed bag of all life.They come in all shapes & sizes and I don't just mean physically.... There are serious clients, strict clients, fun clients....there are clients who can spot if a salad is an olive short without opening the packaging... and there are clients who don't care how many olives there are as long as the product is selling. Some clients love to stop & chat ....some look in horror as I approach to have my delivery book signed.....in case I want to chat.
There are clients who, when their number appears on my mobile...a cold shiver goes down my spine...(what's gone wrong....) & there's the clients whose numbers always make me smile....
There are clients you can call when cash flow is tight & the money will be in my account in an hour...then there are clients who will hold back payment because they are missing a docket from 4 months ago that has never previously queried.
There are clients who I will always be grateful to for their help & encouragement in the last year and no matter how far I go will always feature in The Delicious Food Co story.
To all my clients.. .without whom there would be no van, no salad pots, no gorgeous sandwiches, no sleepless nights, no The Delicious Food Co....I salute you
Cheers !
Shirley
Clients are the life blood of all businesses. No clients...no business. You can have the best idea/product or service in the world but without clients to buy it ...you have nothing.
Clients are a real mixed bag of all life.They come in all shapes & sizes and I don't just mean physically.... There are serious clients, strict clients, fun clients....there are clients who can spot if a salad is an olive short without opening the packaging... and there are clients who don't care how many olives there are as long as the product is selling. Some clients love to stop & chat ....some look in horror as I approach to have my delivery book signed.....in case I want to chat.
There are clients who, when their number appears on my mobile...a cold shiver goes down my spine...(what's gone wrong....) & there's the clients whose numbers always make me smile....
There are clients you can call when cash flow is tight & the money will be in my account in an hour...then there are clients who will hold back payment because they are missing a docket from 4 months ago that has never previously queried.
There are clients who I will always be grateful to for their help & encouragement in the last year and no matter how far I go will always feature in The Delicious Food Co story.
To all my clients.. .without whom there would be no van, no salad pots, no gorgeous sandwiches, no sleepless nights, no The Delicious Food Co....I salute you
Cheers !
Shirley
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Inferiority Complex, yes mine...really!
Evening All,
This week I am catering for a gig on the UCD Campus. I went to college there quite a few years ago & recently decided on the back of my Mr Big deal, that the best way forward for The Delicious Food Co,
is to find a few more Mr Big's.
Students, now.... they're a hungry lot & I think my brand is perfect for them.
So I parked the van & tottered into the Newman building in search of my first sale.What a treat lay before my eyes.The Newman building was simply " the arts block" when I was there, it housed lecture theatres L,M, N,O & P. These were the lecture theatres where I revelled in the wonder of the Irish language, it's history, it's poetry, & was dismayed at how difficult & boring I found French.
What I remember most about UCD was a awful shyness or lack of confidence that overshadowed everything I did....or didn't do, to be more precise...
I so wanted to try debating with The L&H, I wanted to run for election for the student union, I wanted to chat up the guys I fancied, or at least say hi without turning crimson red.Today as I stood in those hallowed halls, I wished above all else that I had the confidence then that I have now, I could have been invincible.
I don't know when I stopped caring what people thought of me, when the belief in myself kicked in, but it's there. I hope my brand The Delicious Food Co, is a good representation of me; it's core values are, its wholesomeness, its honesty, its sense of fun, not taking itself too seriously...if it were a celebrity it would be Kylie Minogue......it's a good egg
You can't be in business & hold that fear...you need to believe in your business & yourself.
This week I am catering for a gig on the UCD Campus. I went to college there quite a few years ago & recently decided on the back of my Mr Big deal, that the best way forward for The Delicious Food Co,
is to find a few more Mr Big's.
Students, now.... they're a hungry lot & I think my brand is perfect for them.
So I parked the van & tottered into the Newman building in search of my first sale.What a treat lay before my eyes.The Newman building was simply " the arts block" when I was there, it housed lecture theatres L,M, N,O & P. These were the lecture theatres where I revelled in the wonder of the Irish language, it's history, it's poetry, & was dismayed at how difficult & boring I found French.
What I remember most about UCD was a awful shyness or lack of confidence that overshadowed everything I did....or didn't do, to be more precise...
I so wanted to try debating with The L&H, I wanted to run for election for the student union, I wanted to chat up the guys I fancied, or at least say hi without turning crimson red.Today as I stood in those hallowed halls, I wished above all else that I had the confidence then that I have now, I could have been invincible.
I don't know when I stopped caring what people thought of me, when the belief in myself kicked in, but it's there. I hope my brand The Delicious Food Co, is a good representation of me; it's core values are, its wholesomeness, its honesty, its sense of fun, not taking itself too seriously...if it were a celebrity it would be Kylie Minogue......it's a good egg
You can't be in business & hold that fear...you need to believe in your business & yourself.
So if you ever see me, rolling up in my little van, delivering my box of beautifully prepared & packaged produce, wearing a pair of gold lame hot pants.... don't laugh, just celebrate how far this shy 18 year old me has come, since then...
"Step back in time"...
Thursday, July 25, 2013
And the award for the best ....
Evening all,
Tonight on Twitter I came across an account called @BlogAwardsIreland, apparently just like the Oscars, The Brits, The Golden Globes, there are Awards (with some serious sponsors), for the top blogs in Ireland.There are 31 categories in total.....excited (yes we've covered off my vanity a few blogs ago..), I logged in to the website to find out more.. could I be nominated.....
With great joy I discovered that there is indeed a Category for Food & Drink, yet the crushing reality is that I don't fit the brief...To qualify for the Food & Drink blog category my love & passion needs to be laid bare for all to see in a series of beautiful pictures, fantastic recipes...you would need to drool at my descriptions of lemon drizzle cakes...slow roasted whatever's in season, I'd need to be a contender for Master Chef...but honestly.... I don't think they'd even let me on "Come Dine with Me...".
I guess I'm an old fashioned foodie...I love simple food, well cooked, with great ingredients......my death row meal would be two soft poached eggs on brown bread, with black pepper & salt....oh yes,yes, yes
Could I fake it I wonder, I have a good eye for pictures, my house & kitchen are bursting with recipe books.."200 One Pot Dinners volumes 1 - 60" "Cooking for 2/3/20/" "The Moosewood Collective" "The Clatter of Forks & Spoons.....".we have them all. Every year there is a new Christmas Cookbook... really by now you'd think Mr Delicious would know how to stuff a turkey, but oh no, it seems ways to stuff a turkey are updated quicker a Twitter feed.
Gutted I know that, unlike Meg Ryan I couldn't fake the erotic passion that a true modern day foodie has with food.
But all is not lost...I've found a category ..it's the best SME blog...because that is really what my blog is about ..it's about my life as a small food producer..., it's about my brand, it's about believing in myself, it's about keeping going when the going gets tough, celebrating the highs, telling you all about it..sharing..
Wish me luck !
Shirley x
Tonight on Twitter I came across an account called @BlogAwardsIreland, apparently just like the Oscars, The Brits, The Golden Globes, there are Awards (with some serious sponsors), for the top blogs in Ireland.There are 31 categories in total.....excited (yes we've covered off my vanity a few blogs ago..), I logged in to the website to find out more.. could I be nominated.....
With great joy I discovered that there is indeed a Category for Food & Drink, yet the crushing reality is that I don't fit the brief...To qualify for the Food & Drink blog category my love & passion needs to be laid bare for all to see in a series of beautiful pictures, fantastic recipes...you would need to drool at my descriptions of lemon drizzle cakes...slow roasted whatever's in season, I'd need to be a contender for Master Chef...but honestly.... I don't think they'd even let me on "Come Dine with Me...".
I guess I'm an old fashioned foodie...I love simple food, well cooked, with great ingredients......my death row meal would be two soft poached eggs on brown bread, with black pepper & salt....oh yes,yes, yes
Could I fake it I wonder, I have a good eye for pictures, my house & kitchen are bursting with recipe books.."200 One Pot Dinners volumes 1 - 60" "Cooking for 2/3/20/" "The Moosewood Collective" "The Clatter of Forks & Spoons.....".we have them all. Every year there is a new Christmas Cookbook... really by now you'd think Mr Delicious would know how to stuff a turkey, but oh no, it seems ways to stuff a turkey are updated quicker a Twitter feed.
Gutted I know that, unlike Meg Ryan I couldn't fake the erotic passion that a true modern day foodie has with food.
But all is not lost...I've found a category ..it's the best SME blog...because that is really what my blog is about ..it's about my life as a small food producer..., it's about my brand, it's about believing in myself, it's about keeping going when the going gets tough, celebrating the highs, telling you all about it..sharing..
Wish me luck !
Shirley x
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