Growing PainsGrowing Pains

Growth is exhilarating and exhausting—there’s a unique satisfaction in knowing that clients can’t get enough of what we do best. But growing at the speed of light as we are today brings with it its own set of challenges.

Ever feel like you are on a hamster wheel and just cannot get off? The whirlwind of back-to-back bookings, unavoidable overtime, and watching the incredible dedication of our teams who work tirelessly to make each event unforgettable is amazing…. especially knowing where we came from over 47 years ago! This relentless rhythm is both challenging and rewarding, and I’m sure many of you out there can relate. As demand skyrockets, we’re faced with the ongoing task of rethinking our space, staff, and workflows to keep up.

Room to grow

One of the trickiest parts? Finding room for everyone—both literally and figuratively. Our kitchen team are working cutting board to cutting board and our office space is desk to desk. After two years of searching, we’re still on the lookout for a bigger location to allow for expansion, but available spaces have been hard to come by and land available to buy in a property zoned area is nonexistent. Much like how we run our business, we are just not willing to compromise on our next move.

See Robin Selden LIVE!

You can see Robin Selden in-person during Art of Catering Food (February 23-24, 2025) and at Catersource + The Special Event, February 24-27, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, FL during the following sessions: • Art of Catering Food 2025 (emcee) • DICED Competiton (emcee) • Love to Love you Baby! Crafting Trendy, Instagram-Worthy Themed Parties Visit https://informaconnect.com/ catersource-thespecialevent/ for all the details.

In the meantime, we’re doing what many catering businesses are doing: maximizing every square foot, fostering creativity within our super tight quarters, and getting as resourceful as we can. Yup, my brother’s (Jeffrey Selden’s) basement has become one of our storage units. While expansion is exciting, the journey there requires patience, persistence, and, most importantly, adaptability.

Balancing growth

Then there’s the balance of it all. We’re deeply passionate about the artistry in our work, from developing new recipes to envisioning unique presentations. As the demands of our business grow, finding time for our creative pursuits, like the cookbook I’ve been writing for the last three years, experimenting with new ideas, or focusing on marketing, can sometimes feel elusive. In this time of catering madness, finding ways to protect our team’s wellbeing and avoiding burnout becomes paramount. In a culture where “always on” can seem like the norm, maintaining morale and productivity requires proactive steps.

Giving our team the space to make decisions instills a sense of ownership and allows us all to remain agile during these times. Stop micromanaging your teams and choose what’s important to focus on. This keeps everyone engaged, embracing ownership, and proud of their contributions… especially when we use them, and they see them at an event. Encouraging our team to propose and implement these “micro-innovations” fosters a creative environment, even during the busiest times, and adds a spark of excitement to the routine helping to keep them from burning out.

We need to help each other thrive along the way. Catering is a hustle, but it’s one filled with passion, purpose, and opportunity. Let’s keep growing one delicious event at a time!