5 Minutes With Sam Demetriou From Cheeky Poke
SAM DEMETRIOU, CHEEKY POKE FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
“FITOUTS SELL BOWLS”!!
What are the top three tips to know when starting any restaurant project?
Be organised. It’s very different now, opening a second (you understand the importance of being so organised). Surrounding yourself with a good team, staff, build, design – everyone. You have to trust everyone to do their job. There are always going to be mistakes but organisation is key to keeping these down. If you’re organised from the beginning, it gets you off on the right foot – you are prepared for any errors.
Have your budget and make sure you have a little bit extra!
Dan Cox (Director DCB Developments) – this is so important. You have to be ready with your budget. You waste your time pricing something for someone who doesn’t have a budget – if you aren’t ready to go. It will hold you back.
What should people look for when choosing their shop fitters/developers?
Someone who gets sh*t done! This is something that really sticks with me about Christian (DCB Developments, General Manager). Same as the girls from Archie Bolden – they get it done. Your shop fitters have to have your best interest at heart; mutual trust. DCB Developments came on board far earlier than any other builder so they are over everything from the get go. Experience in the industry helps to mould the design and build, I had a concept and it developed from sitting down with DCB and them taking me through ideas that sped up the flow of bowls reaching tables etc. DCB came with me to each site visit way before we even confirmed the chosen site.
This is your fourth build with DCB now, what made you choose them again?
Yes, Newstead, West End, Production Kitchen and now here (Westfield Garden City) with a few more coming! It comes down to dollars and cents – they have got my best interest at heart. Getting them involved in the very early stages – their transparency, trust and the advice they have given me along the road has added a lot of value to my business. I’m not a huge company, I have a budget, they look after that for me. It’s easier having a team that supports you from the very beginning. They aren’t just building me a shop, they come with me on every single step and choice I make from the very beginning. Christian has been with me for every single meeting in leading up to picking my interior designers and team.
Watch this space for 5 minutes with Hayley Richards from Archie Bolden, Interior Designers for Garden City Cheeky Poke.
