Tara Longo and Mario Fiorucci: Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneurs

Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneurs are Tara Longo and Mario Fiorucci, who left their jobs as an investment banker and corporate lawyer, respectively, to launch The Healthy Butcher in 2005. Here’s what inspired their career route and where they see their business in five years…

Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
After we opened our first location, I guess you could say I then put on the “business development” hat. I opened our second and third physical stores within three years, and then the big project I’ve been working on in the last few years was building RealFoodToronto.com, what I think is the world’s best eGrocer. – Mario Fiorucci

I’m the top level manager for the operations of our retail butcher shops. – Tara Longo

Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
We started the Healthy Butcher in 2005. My partner, Mario Fiorucci, and I both left our jobs (he as a corporate lawyer and me as an investment banker) to open an organic butcher shop on Queen Street West. We couldn’t find the meat we wanted to eat – we wanted quality, healthy meat from ethical sources.  – Tara Longo

Tara answered this perfectly. Tara and I were our own target market. – Mario Fiorucci

What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Looking at the people shopping in our stores or talking to the people using our online store, knowing that you are making a difference to their health and lifestyle. It’s nice to see people appreciate good food and slow down, making food the central part of their day. 

The most challenging part is change, or more to the point, knowing how to change. We are always trying to innovate and improve, whether it be new products or new sales channels. In business you have to be nimble; we have a core strength and that core – healthy meat – has been the same since day one. But how you build on that core is the difficult part. – Mario Fiorucci

Best part is eating. I eat some of the best food in the world on a daily basis. – Tara Longo

The most challenging part is definitely staffing. We do a lot of customer education, and it’s important that are staff are thoroughly knowledgeable in the meat we sell from the moment they start working with us. We spend a lot of time training and teaching, and if people leave after six months, for whatever reason, the whole process starts again… it’s very time consuming and challenging. – Tara Longo

What is one sign that you’ve seen over the years to suggest that your work/life balance is off?
Tara would say I’m stressed out 90% of the time. She’s probably right. – Mario Fiorucci

I actually don’t think it is off. I’m lucky; I have two kids and I spend time with them. My weekends are off. But that’s after 10 years of working like a crazy woman. – Tara Longo

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Having built a solid business that makes a difference in people’s lives. – Mario Fiorucci

We’re going to continue to grow our stores and online business. We should be at $20 million in sales within five years. – Tara Longo

What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
You’ve hit the nail on the head by asking about the work/life balance. That’s really the biggest hurdle. I’m a type-A personality, and if I don’t hold myself back, I’ll get completely consumed in my work. To overcome it, I’ve become really good at prioritizing and using my calendar effectively. Truthfully, using time effectively and knowing when to flick the switch and enjoy life, and leave the stress in your briefcase, is an art I’m still trying to master. Mario Fiorucci

That “I’ll just do it myself” attitude. You need to teach and empower everyone in your organization. Sure, it’s easy to often do things yourself, but then you don’t spend time on growing and doing the things that will push your business to that next level. – Tara Longo

What does success look like to you? Does Money = Happiness?
Success is the feeling of accomplishment, knowing you’ve created something good, that you’ve improved the world in some way big or small. Money definitely doesn’t buy happiness, but it sure helps to reduce stress. – Mario Fiorucci

Money does not buy happiness. Happiness comes from loving life. That said, the ability to vacation and rejuvenate at least three to four times per year is critical. So if I couldn’t afford to do that, I’d be unhappy. – Tara Longo

What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
March 2005, opening the doors to our first store; then, in 2008, opening the doors at our second store, then our third, and then in 2011 flicking the switch on for our online store. I’ve yet to achieve the milestone I can classify as the “most memorable”… it’s coming up though, I feel it. – Mario Fiorucci

Being finalists in the national Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award a few years ago was nice. It was relatively fresh in our business, and it was nice to be recognized by the corporate world as having done something notable. – Tara Longo

Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Keep learning. Every day, learn something new. – Mario Fiorucci

When you’re young you have all the energy in the world to go out there and do your own thing. So don’t hesitate. If you have ambition to do something entrepreneurial, go for it. You can always go back to your career if you need to. – Tara Longo

Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
Richmond Station, started by one of my former employees, Ryan Donovan, and Top Chef Canada winner Carl Heinrich, who also worked a while in our stores and won the final competition on Top Chef using a roast he purchased at The Healthy Butcher. The food is always delicious, and the vibe is always warm and fun. – Mario Fiorucci 

Oh boy, there are so many amazing places in Toronto today. I’m really a fan of the food and vibe combo of Patria on King West. – Tara Longo

When you’re not working how do you love to spend your “Me” time?
Fishing. I love fishing. I don’t do enough of it! Check out my site, fishingobsession.com. – Mario Fiorucci

Running. Rain, snow, it doesn’t matter. – Tara Longo

Where is your favourite place to travel? Why?
Europe; Italy and France. Food! – Mario Fiorucci

Europe. I just love the architecture, history and the food is generally spectacular. – Tara Longo

If you had to choose a theme song, what would it be?
One Piece At A Time – Johnny Cash.  It was my dad’s favourite song. I say it all the time to break down projects – “one piece at a time.”  – Mario Fiorucci

I have no idea… – Tara Longo

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing, what would you be doing?
I certainly enjoy public speaking. Maybe I’ll follow in Tony Robbins’ shoes or something – Mario Fiorucci

I think in my next life I’d like to be a food importer. Travelling, finding the best of the best, and bringing it places for others to try. Basically what I do now plus the travelling. – Tara Longo

Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you? 
Cancer charities; I lost my dad to cancer. We need to find a cure. – Mario Fiorucci

Yes, I do. I support several cancer charities. We’ve had too much of it in my family, so I tend to help all the time. – Tara Longo

What to you is notable?
Making the world a better place. No matter how you do it, or how small the change, if it improves our society you’ve done something notable. – Mario Fiorucci

In nine years, creating a quality butcher shop, featuring local, organic, and 100% grass-fed products; the cleanest and healthiest meat you can get in the GTA. – Tara Longo

Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other? 
Android. I like to control everything in my life. I admire what Apple does with their products, but I don’t like to be told how things should be. And I’m a big fan of Google. (Hey, Google… did you hear that? Will this improve my SEO?) – Mario Fiorucci

iPhone. I’m not a tech-y, so it’s so easy. – Tara Longo

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