Marketing
Assistant Intern
CNMI
SBDC
Laxmi
Shrestha of Everest Kitchen has been on Saipan for more than ten (10) years and
spent most her time working in the culinary industry. When asked, why did you decide to start your
own business? Laxmi replied, “I feel happy and satisfied when I serve my own food
to people”. Besides her experience and satisfaction of serving her tasteful
platters, as an employee she decided she had to do something for her family.
For
Laxmi, owning and operating a restaurant is no stranger to her. She stated, “My
husband and I established a restaurant in Nepal, and it turned out to be a
success. And during my time at Nikko
Hotel, I learned how to cook a variety of exotic foods, from Indian and Western
to Italian cuisines. “
How did
the CNMI SBDC and other resources help you? Laxmi statesd that “Mr. Daniel Hann,
a business associate, was the first person to lead me to the Small Business
Development Center, and Mr. Perry Inos, Jr.
helped us a lot with corporate documents, marketing, business planning,
financial management, human resources, and licensing. I attended several SBDC business training
seminars and all those seminars were helpful.
It was the most important part for me to start-up my business. They cleared all my confusion and they helped
me with every step.”
Although
Laxmi is familiar with running a restaurant she acknowledged that starting a
new business would not be an easy process. She said, “Opening a business was
itself a challenging experience. From
finding the right path, financing the business, and marketing and creating new
ideas were all part of my challenges.”
What is
your most memorable triumph in your start-up process? Laxmi stated that “the
day I cancelled my false start and the joined the right path with the
assistance of others and the CNMI Small Business Development Center (CNMI SBDC)
was the most memorable triumph in my start-up process.”
Everest
Kitchen’s short term plan goal is to focus on improving quality of organic food
and services provided to the customers. “I want to make sure that every
customer I serve is satisfied with our quality of service,” stated Laxmi. As for long term, her goal is “to not give up,
whatever the situation in the future and to maintain high food quality and to
target and serve more people every day.”
Lastly, her
advice to anyone interested in starting up their small business is: “To get
success we have to sacrifice, to work hard, and to keep moving on until we see
our dreams become reality.”
For further
information or reservations please contact Laxmi Shrestha at everest.ktchn@gmail.com or 233-2688. They are located in Garapan, Saipan alongside
Bridge Capital bldg. Hours of operation are from 8am-2pm. They are also open on Thursdays at the
Garapan Street Market from 5:30pm-9:00pm.
Want to
know how the CNMI Small Business Development Center can help you? Contact
Director Perry Inos, Jr. at 670-664-3018 or e-mail perry@pacificsbdc.com.
