Has the “coffee boom” changed your business in any way? In 1990 we inherited a coffee machine but the level of training and experience was very, very different back then! Coffee has always been an integral and important part of the business but we now have a superb new machine supplied by Doppio and only well trained and very experienced staff make the coffee as this more than anything is often a benchmark for people’s opinion of the business! Ingleside isn’t just a cafe / bakery let us a little about the other side of the business. Ingleside is a bakery and café but we also have walls full of art bought by Steve at auction or supplied on consignment. We sell predominantly Tasmanian produce, honey, jams made in Evandale, jewellery made exclusively by one of our staff, local wines, beers, ciders, whiskeys etc. What is the most popular item you sell from your bakery. Most popular item from the bakery would be our Tasmanian scallop pies or the traditional pasties and old favourites like the Banbury slice. Do you have any major plans for the business We must always keep evolving and improving, it’s a constant thing. This season we have introduced the Van Diemen’s land creamery ice creams which are a top quality product and going very well. Other plans we have are to expand our outside eating area into the remaining car park to increase seating capacity and for the retail of garden ware and plants also to develop the old fire station into a shop and accommodation. Market day must be busy for the venue? Sundays are constantly our busiest day of the week, a lot of regulars come to Evandale for their big breakfast and others to visit the market. We have nine staff working Sundays including myself! Evandale has some excellent events that have evolved over the years, particularly the Glover which draws a huge crowd over two weeks. Penny-farthing is often the single most busy day of the year. Evandale has never looked more beautiful, customers often say it has such a great feel, so unspoilt and well cared for. What advice would you give to someone considering entering the hospitality industry? Be sure you know what you are getting into!! This industry is very hard work for small profit as it is highly labour intensive and it is easy to burn out quickly. Fortunately for me I do not need to be too involved
in the food side as that is not my strong area but I surround myself with a great team who are led by Merilyn, our chef who is always full of inspiration! My strengths lie in customer relations, which I constantly love and never tire of, the financial running of the business and staff management. Ingleside is perfect for Steve with his passion for the creative which shows in so many areas of the business and in his humour which is a welcome aspect to us all and very important in work environment! These elements have been key to our longevity and our attitude to “never give up and never give in”. Steve is the ideas person and I am the action one and we have always be prepared to take a risk and never stand still, always looking out for opportunities. One crazy example of an opportunity we said yes to was in 1991 when a Japanese company liked our raspberry jam we had for sale and asked if we could produce 22,000 jars for them in a variety of Tasmanian quince, pears etc. We somehow managed to do this until the Japanese company went bankrupt when we reached 19,000 jars, although they were honourable and did pay us! For Steve who had been a production manager in his previous career he was endlessly frustrated by the double and triple handling but we do like to say yes to opportunities! Other important factors are to keep an eye on margins, upgrade machinery, keep implementing more efficient systems and keep our humour always. Always be prepared to let go and move forward and to turn negatives around. Would you say your marriage / partnership with Steve has been a catalyst for success? I still remember the fear sitting in our solicitor’s office feeling like I was signing my life away in November 1990 although at the time we only planned to run Ingleside for a couple of years … well, how wrong we were!! 28 years later and having been married for 30 years we are still in the business and still married and happier than ever so I guess we should be very pleased as it takes a very special relationship to work and live together with the intensity of a business like this.
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enquiries@tha.asn.au 03 6220 7300
Hospitality Review
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