NEW ROCKHAMPTON STALLHOLDER PROFILE FOR BINNEYS TORNADO POTATOES

Stallholder Profile for Binneys Tornado Potatoes

Your name:  Steve and Nyree Binney

Your business name and facebook/website name and link:  Binneys Tornado Potatoes - https://www.facebook.com/Binneys-Tornado-Potatoes-522600444563196/ 

The suburb/town you live in now: - Toogoom, just outside Hervey Bay

What is it that you make and what skills do you use?:  Slinky potatoes spiralled onto a stick, placed into a light batter, deep fried and topped with a selection of 9 different flavoured salts.

What inspired you to start your business?:  Steve has been a painter for over 30 years and ran his own business and I had always worked in an office environment.  We had talked about doing something like this but had no idea where to start.  It was total luck that we made good friends with some locals who had been running a food stall and the rest is literally history.  They helped us get started and we have never looked back.  We are very grateful to have connected with these people.

How long have you been creating?:  Steve had been working on the business for 1 year and 3 months and I quit my full time job to join him in June last year. 

Is it a full time/part time hobby or business?:  This is our full time job

Where do you sell your creations?:  We travel up and down Queensland for work, our potatoes work best with music festivals, school fetes, car shows, food and wine festivals and of course The Hand Made Expo.  We are so grateful that most of our work comes out of Rockhampton and the CQ area 

What makes you so special or different?:  I don't think we are anymore special that anyone else that does the same product.  We have found what works for us, it differs to what others do with how we prepare our potatoes, we hand pick every spud from local produce farmers to create a streamline product that people enjoy. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?:  Hands down it has to be the people we meet and the places we get to travel to.  Everyone is happy to be there, friendly and having a great time

What is your favourite product to make?:  As we only specialise in the one product, it has to be our slinky potato. My favourite salt flavour would have to be Sour Cream and Chive, closely followed by Salt and Vinegar.  At times we also make real fresh cut potato chips, gluten free with nothing added other than the real taste of potato and your choice of flavoured salts 

Do you teach classes or workshops?:  No