#05: The Evolution of Entrepreneurship | Jim Hagy of Chef’s Market, Cafe & Catering - Path & Compass
Path & Compass is a boutique marketing and strategy firm with an intentional & holistic approach. We serve small businesses, specializing in wedding, event & hospitality businesses, wellness professionals, creative entrepreneurs and artists. Services including website design, branding & logo design, content marketing, SEO services, business coaching, sales training, graphic design, budgeting, goal setting and thoughtful growth.
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17 May #05: The Evolution of Entrepreneurship | Jim Hagy of Chef’s Market, Cafe & Catering

Posted at 08:00h in Boss Chats, Bosses & Bourbon Podcast by
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Finding Inspiration & Staying the Course

On today’s episode, I met up with Jim Hagy of Chef’s Market for tea and bourbon treats (caterers are the best hosts!). A longtime resident of Middle Tennessee, Jim and I chatted about his family roots in the hospitality business and his long path to entrepreneurship which included stints with then-new concept called Cracker Barrel (for the record there are 645 stores around the USA today) as well as O’Charley’s and Pargo’s where he honed his skill as a restauranteur. Jim also shares how a research trip to California’s wine country where a hidden cafe called Jim’s Town would inspire him and his wife to open Chef’s Market. Catering would soon grow out of the cafe as clients demand as their fresh, chef-inspired cuisine at their weddings & events.

After this trip down memory lane, we talked about the evolution of catering over the years, the influence of Millenials on events and where Jim looks for inspiration after decades in the hospitality business. And finally, why the parties and weddings we plan do does make a difference, even if we aren’t curing cancer.

Get in touch with Jim Hagy at Jim@chefsmarket.com and keep up with Chef’s Market at their website. Or even better, check out their cafe next time you are in the Goodlettsville, TN area.

 

Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher

Key Topics

  • The unique city and market of Nashville and how a seasoned business owner in the area responded to the surge of new business and opportunity
  • Getting in (and out of) the rat race of feeling guilty for making it as a small business owner
  • How the Nashville Market is different from any others, especially when it comes to vendor relationships
  • Why event and experiences are important now more than ever

Listen If

  • You are interested in doing business in Nashville and want to learn more about the market
  • You want to learn more about the decision to not make a successful restaurant a chain
  • You love to eat at Chef’s Market and want to learn more about the successful person behind it!

Key Takeaways

As long as you’re willing to put the time and effort into building the relationships, you’ll be fine.  

That’s where your success is in Nashville. It’s about creating friendships. 

I do think that if I were going to do it differently, I would have hopefully learned a little sooner that I could have peace and not always have to go it 150%.  

Everyone you think is an overnight success, there were years and years and years behind that.  

You’re not supposed to be able to build a business in 7 days. 

It’s easy to get lost in the “shoulds” and forget what we really want. 

When we do events now, it becomes a really collaborative effort where we’re designing a mini restaurant for a couple of ours at a location with the inspiration of an owner and the bride and groom. 

We love that creativity. I think we were doing the same thing in the restaurant every single day I’d be bouncing around wanted to open another one. 

Everybody that works with me, we’re all kind of people pleasers. When we get back from an event, the first thing we think is “Well, how’d it go?” 

This is going to be a day that people are going to remember hopefully forever. We want to have been a great part of making that memory really, really good. 

We create the beauty in the world and the memories. That’s where the parties are.  

Part of having meaning is celebrating your accomplishments, not just showing up and doing the work. 

 

Other points of note:

AmericasMart Atlanta

 

What did you think? Review the podcast and subscribe to Bosses & Bourbon. Have a question? Email Krista at krista@bossesandbourbon.com.

Krista Chapman of Path & Compass, marketing & strategist to the wedding & event industry works with a lot of smart, hard-working bosses in her consulting work. Entrepreneurs that you’ve never heard of that are rocking out their independent wedding & event businesses. Owner-operators that have created solutions and strategies that WORK. Listen to these candid conversations where Krista and her guest boss, talk shop (maybe over bourbon) and get real about running a successful business in today’s wedding & event industry.

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