Queen of Cuisine

Lori Granito, who runs Go-Gourmet and Magnolia, proves that hardships can be overcome but rishs have to be taken. Ten Things to learn:

1. Take care of your staff People are your best asset. I wouldn't be anywhere without them. If you want them to look after your customers, you have to look after them first. Remember that they represent your company to the public at large. I try to hire people with enthusiasm, energy, and maturity, not necessarily people with the most experience.

2. Transform your clients from passive buyers to true believers Focus on going above and beyond all the time, creating an army of customer advocates. I treat every customer's events as though it were my own because I know that passionate customers can transform your business.Loyal customers are created through experiences with you, your product and your company.

3. Be genuine Don't try to force relationships with your clients and don't overwhelm them with too much information or too many offers. Try to find ways to engage them.

4. Don't compete with your competitors Know what your competitor is doing, but don't try to compete with them on price or item by item. Find out what your unique selling position is, focus on executing it to the best of your ability and seek ways to constantly improve on what you do. Your biggest competitor should be yourself.

5. Win the battle you're in While our company has several different revenue streams, we always keep an eye on our core business. Trying to take on too many new challenges can dilute your ability focus on the battle that's right in front of you.

to be continued...