Taking Care of Business – talking to Linn Williamson of Grill 48
When did you set up your business? What made you do it?
I set up Grill 48 in May 2011. Having my own restaurant has been a life long dream of mine and I was determined to do it by the time I was 30, and I opened Grill 48 exactly one month after my 30th Birthday.
Describe your typical customer
Someone who lives in Dunfermline and enjoys and appreciates a good home cooked meal in a relaxed friendly, lively atmosphere.
Do you use social media for business? Why?
Yes, social media is our main form of contact with our customers and our marketing forum. It allows us to change our business quickly depending on the weather or what’s on in town. It allows us to get the word out there quickly.
What did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to own my own restaurant.
What advice would you give to someone setting up in business today?
Write all your ideas down and although they may not fit in with your business right away they will do one day. Never say no to anything you get asked to do just say yes and deal with how you’re going to do it later.
What’s the most significant threat to businesses like yours today?
Most significant threat to my business can be the weather, if it rains no one comes out and if it is too sunny everyone sits in the garden and has a BBQ.
Ideal business partner – Alan Sugar, Richard Branson or Michael O’Leary? Why
My ideal business partner would be Karren Brady as I love her spirit and management style. However out of those three it would be Richard Branson as he is diverse in what he does and has great ambition.
What do you listen to in the car?
Whatever CD I have recently bought, at the moment it is Pink and Stereophonics.
What are you working on at the moment?
Getting customers in for Daunder and Dine each Wednesday evening. It’s a daunder around the historical town of Dunfermline with Jack Pryde from Discover Dunfermline where he shows you all the nooks and crannies of our town. It’s followed by a traditional Scottish buffet back at Grill 48.
What would you do if you were totally fearless?
If I was totally fearless I would take more time off and go on holiday myself.
A bit more about Linn and Grill 48
I am a 32 year old restaurateur with great ambition and vision. I have worked very hard to be where I am today but I am loving the rewards of being my own boss.
Grill 48 on the web – www.grill48.com
On Facebook – facebook.com/grill48
