Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chelsea Schnyer, owner of Thirst Mobile Bar, located in Fort Worth, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Hey! My name is Chelsea, and I'm one of the owners of Thirst Mobile Bar. We're a mobile bartending service based in Fort Worth that operates from our renovated 1966 Shasta trailer. We've had the pleasure of serving at all different kinds of events, like: weddings, birthdays, graduations, fundraisers, HOA community nights, employee happy hours.
Tell us about yourself
My partner, Kenny, and I always wanted to be our own bosses and saw an opportunity to provide a unique opportunity in the event services industry. I'm particularly passionate about creating an inclusive drinking atmosphere for all of our guests, specifically upscale mocktails. A lot of times, people tend to get singled out based on the drink in their hand or have limited or children's beverage options to choose from. That's where we come in. No matter what's on the menu, we'll always provide upscale, non-alcoholic options. It's been pretty well received, and we've even had a number of clients request mocktails only.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Thanks to the power of our community and social media, we grew exponentially last year. We had people all over the world asking how we started our mobile bar business, so we saw an opportunity to create an online course to share what we had learned. There wasn't any information about mobile bars when we started, and we wanted to give back and help bring others along. It kept growing, and people asked for 1:1 coaching. So now, that's a big part of what we do! I've always wanted to help and positively impact people, and coaching has allowed me to do that.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things is staying outside my comfort zone. It's easier said than done, but all of our growth has come when we've taken a risk, put ourselves out there, been vulnerable, or taken on debt to scale. It's also come with anxiety, stress, long hours, and critical thinking, which we joke that it'll add a chapter to our book one day. It's ugly at times, but it's also allowed both of us to have immense personal growth, new skill sets and mindsets, and the push to keep learning.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The hardest part of starting any business is taking action. I sat in analysis paralysis for two whole years, being scared of taking a risk, losing money, and not having a consistent income. That was more dangerous than actually starting my this business! I laugh at that now, but I also see that in a lot of people I coach. It can be scary! I realized that many entrepreneurs before me have already been through that, so if they can make it, so can I.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We also started a mocktail kit service, in which you can try new recipes or learn to make classics. You choose your drink, how many servings you want, and enjoy! It's also been great to share (virtually) with friends who live across the county. Lastly, we share cocktail and mocktail recipes on our social media and love to see when y'all make them!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thirstmobilebar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstmobilebarllc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirstmobilebar/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thirstmobilebar/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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