How I Landed My First Client as a Vegan Hospitality Consultant
/Text and photos by: Shriya Swaminathan, Certified Vegan Hospitality Consultant
Throughout the pandemic, many hospitality businesses have been struggling to stay open, to pay their employees, and to stay hopeful amidst dwindling customer visits. Budgeting to revamp their menu for vegans was probably among the last things on their minds. None of these deterred my excitement to sign up for the Vegan Hospitality™ Consultant Training Program. I was ready to learn all about how to create a vegan-friendly industry in my current city of St. Louis, Missouri (USA)! Little did I know that applying the skills I would learn over the 12 weeks of the course would be so valuable for my self-growth and confidence, both personally and professionally.
Shriya Swaminathan (right) with her first clients at The London Tea Merchant in St. Louis, MO (USA)
The virtual course was designed to afford trainees all over the world an array of skills, from reaching out to prospective clients to online promotions, and more! I was determined to get started right away in figuring out how to implement these skills to benefit businesses during one of the most challenging times in hospitality history.
Understandably, many local eateries didn't quite grasp how a vegan menu could support their business during this challenging time. I commented on posts, directly messaged local restaurants, introduced myself to them and shared my vision. During one of my “scrolling through Instagram” sessions, I came across a photo that a local cafe called The London Tea Merchant posted on their page. It is a local English-inspired cafe with a variety of teas, pastries, and eats. The photo’s caption read “It’s a beautiful day in Tower Grove South! Our door is open and we’re ready for the day. Come and grab some lunch to eat on our patio or pick up a cup of tea to enjoy on your walk through the park.” I left a comment inquiring about their vegan options. A prompt response followed that left me feeling optimistic: “At the moment we only have vegan scones and a vegan brownie, though all of our teas are vegan. We’re looking at adding more vegan food options, especially lunch items, in the near future!”
This was my lead to follow through and engage with their willingness to welcome vegan customers. I set up a time to meet with the management. They were receptive to discussing the differences between merely accommodating vegans as an afterthought vs. being genuinely welcomed to dine. I felt reassured of being the “vegan expert” in the room. Throughout our meeting, I was busting myths and misconceptions of what dining out as a vegan entails.
The team was keen on working with me barring the pandemic-sized concern of budgeting. To accommodate them, I offered to modify my services to fit their budget, providing the essentials to get them started with attracting vegan guests. We agreed that I would develop a vegan version of their weekend afternoon tea service. Social media promotions to the vegan and vegetarian communities and a first client special discount sealed the deal!
Assembling the new vegan pastries at The London Tea Merchant
Not long after, I was chatting with their talented baker and members of the staff. They were all excited about the prospect of welcoming more customers. Their enthusiasm to treat vegans to a fabulous English tea experience was undeniable. The kitchen crew provided the list of menu items they wanted veganized- from finger sandwiches to pastries. Researching recipes that would wow the crowd was a blast! I was in awe of the endless plant-powered creativity revolutionizing the culinary scenes. London Tea Merchant's in-house baking expert was up for the plant-powered adventure! Once I provided the vegan recipes and a list of vegan-friendly grocery items, scrumptious goodies were inevitable! She nailed the vegan macarons immediately, which typically take multiple attempts to master. Vegans would no longer miss out on a delightful victoria sponge cake, delicate pastry swan eclairs, and many more fanciful treats and eats.
The support and excitement from the local veg crowd was undeniably a huge motivation during moments of doubt. Folks were reaching out to me with inquiries about making reservations, the date of the launch, menu item requests, etc. It was heartwarming to know that my efforts would elevate the social experiences of the vegan crowd. Furthermore, the staff sampled the items and the result was an overwhelming thumbs up!
Within a couple of weeks, the vegan afternoon tea service launched and reservations with vegan requests were coming through. During a fortuitous follow-up visit, I met a vegan couple feasting on a tier of vegan pastries, sandwiches, and oat milk cuppa. At that moment, I felt proud of what I accomplished and grateful for my commitment, especially knowing that the staff and management were overjoyed with my services. The cherry on top was coming home to a kind message from the couple I had met. They thanked me for no longer having to compromise on traditional culinary experiences. I knew then that there was no stopping me from reaching out to businesses and creating the culinary change we need in the world!
To contact Shriya Swaminathan for local vegan consulting services in St. Louis, or for a virtual consultation, follow her on instagram @nourishbyshriya or send her an email at nourishveganconsulting@gmail.com.
Customers enjoying the new vegan items at The London Tea Merchant
To apply for a free 30 minute consult to discuss the potential for your business to enter the vegan market, simply fill out this form and you will be connected with a Vegan Hospitality trained consultant in your region. Our team works internationally and virtually.
If you are a vegan interested in entrepreneurship and want to learn to consult in your community, click here to request a brochure and application for our next Vegan Hospitality Consultant Training Program.
To book a vegan tea experience at The London Tea Merchant in St. Louis, click here to select a date and specify in the notes that you’d like the vegan menu.