Who’s The Boss?
The Problem-Solver
by S.W.Kirch
Just like a person has a heart, brain and body, a thriving business needs to be run with all three in mind, as well. Karin embodies the best of all three attributes. First of all, she has a huge heart, so she cares deeply about her patrons and wants them to make wonderful, lasting memories at her restaurant. Next, when it comes to the body of interior design, Karin provides the one-of-a-kind cozy chalet appeal. Finally, none of it would function without a central control center, and that’s what Karin has been from the onset: the brains.
Meet the creative core of the Creperie: Karin Derly. Born and raised in Austria, soon after having completed her university studies, she headed west to the U.S., in order to further develop her English language acquisition. This was accomplished by not only taking classes, but by teaching, as well - whether on the slopes as a ski instructor, as a private tutor, or, most recently, by training staff as co-owner of the French Alpine Bistro - Creperie du Village.
The concept for the restaurant came together back in 2010, when Karin, and her French neighbor started to brainstorm ways to make Aspen, sometimes known as, “The smallest big town in the world” a bit more European. Both having grown up as avid skiers, they missed the cozy, alpine feel of many of the small mountain-town restaurants in the Alps.
Starting by researching how to put together a business plan, she was able to outline the necessary steps for establishing the restaurant. And, launch one she did, with very limited funds. That meant that a lot of problems had to be solved. “Usually”, Karin reflected, “when people talk about creativity, they mean art, but if you have a creative mind, that’s how you solve problems.” Problems such as what to do, when, two days before the restaurant was supposed to open, they needed one more table. Karin remembered having seen an old door someone had left outside their home. She and her neighbor went and got it, fitted it with table legs, bought a can a paint, and now, that door is one of the most-requested tables: #9.
No sooner was the table problem solved, though, then a dozen other challenges cropped up, demanding attention. These included the hiring of staff (being fluent in multiple languages, including Spanish, has helped immensely), negotiating with suppliers (writing abilities were always a strong-suit), and understanding customers (a degree in history allowed for more cultural understanding). Just how did Karin find the courage to even begin? “My family support level gave me confidence; I was brought up to believe I can do anything I want.” Bolstered by her parents’ gift of a solid foundation from which she could build her life, Karin’s been continually constructing the framework for the artwork.
Her original approach is in all aspects of the restaurant. In fact, not having had prior experience in the industry, it means that she does things differently than most restaurant owners, but in ways that make sense to her. For instance, with her background in education, she studied what fosters a successful restaurant, and found out that it’s due to standards and systems, which provide consistency. As a result, there are checklists and reasons for everything at the restaurant, from steps to be followed before they open, to the strategic placement of menu items (tip: the eye automatically goes to the top-right corner, first). Nothing is left to chance. It’s also why she’s the boss, who has created an oasis of accessible alpine beauty in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.