Constant Innovation, Fearlessness, and Humor: Lessons from Mary Crafts, the founder of Utah’s Largest Off-Site Caterer

Getting to Aha! with Darshan Mehta

In this episode of Getting to Aha!, Darshan Mehta is joined by Mary Crafts, CEO of Mary Crafts, Inc, and founder of Culinary Crafts. Join them as they explore Mary’s experience of starting a multimillion-dollar catering company, overcoming the fear of failure, and the importance of vulnerability when connecting with others. Mary also talks about the value of continuous learning and creating unique customer experiences.

Mary Crafts has over forty years experience in the food and beverages industry. In 1984, Mary started Culinary Crafts, which has since grown into the largest off-premise caterer in Utah; Culinary Crafts is the recipient of 22 Best of State Awards, 13 “CATIE” (Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence) Awards, and International Caterers Association’s Caterer of the Year Award. Recently, Mary started Mary Crafts, Inc, a nonprofit that folds in Mary’s skills in business consulting, speaking, podcasting, author, and life coaching. Mary also hosts the podcast Crafting a Meaningful Life and has authored a book called Unbounded: From Sorrow to Summit.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

👉 Mary highlights the significance of vulnerability when creating genuine connections with others. By embracing vulnerability, she has been able to foster empathy, promote oneness, and encourage acceptance among her team and clients. This approach has not only strengthened her relationships but has also contributed to the overall success of her catering business.

👉Mary attributes her success to her unwavering commitment to learning and self-improvement. She urges individuals to remain aware of their motivations, seek opportunities for growth, and embrace new challenges to enhance their personal and professional lives. Mary's dedication to continuous learning has been a driving force behind her success and has allowed her to stay ahead in such a competitive industry.

👉Differentiation is key. Mary says that when she started her business, there were eighty catering companies that all served food that looked exactly the same. This means she noticed a gap in the market for gourmet-style catering that didn’t break the bank, and thought up new ways to present food that got customers excited.
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And connect with the host and guests here:

Darshan Mehta on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/darshan--mehta
IResearch Website - https://iresearch.com
Mary Crafts on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycrafts/
Mary Crafts website: https://marycraftsinc.com/

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Previous guests include: Kristin Luck, Shep Hyken, Whitney Dunlap-Fowler, Randy Krum, Gerard Ibarra, Jamie Flinchbaugh, Katie Anderson, Rebecca Brooks, Brooke Sellas, Dan Gingiss, Phil Irvine, Dan Fleetwood, Nicholas Zeisler, Katrina Noelle, Laura Beavin-Yates, Kalil Vicioso, Mo McKibbin, Bryant Leech and Louie Gravance.
Check out the 3 most downloaded episodes:

• Welcome to Getting to Aha!
• Making Good Decisions with Gerard Ibarra, Author of "Good Decisions, Better Outcomes”
• The Simplicity of Leadership with Katie Anderson

If you are interested in joining Getting to Aha! as a guest, please complete this form: http://fame.so/ire-guest