We were lucky to catch up with Corbin O’Reilly recently and have shared our conversation below.
Corbin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
Once my business partner Taylor and I had the idea to start Tap Truck, we took immediate action. I am the type of guy who just doesn’t hesitate once I have a good idea. Yes of course I had to do some research on how we could develop our beverage systems in the back of a vintage vehicle. But we wasted no time in experimenting and developing our first Tap Truck!
A story that comes to mind is when we decided we were going to pursue this idea, we executed the first step immediately. We didn’t waste much time sourcing an old 1952 Chevy Panel Truck. Once we found it we drove up to LA and bought the truck from an old biker guy, named Fred! This being the first Truck we purchased, there were some road bumps. For example, the individual selling the Truck wasn’t so honest about the condition of the engine, but that wasn’t going to stop us. We drove that baby back down to San Diego and got to work on the mechanics and bodywork immediately. My thought process was, what’s the worst thing that can happen, I have to resell a vehicle?
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
For those who don’t know us, we are Tap Truck USA. We are the biggest mobile bar brand. We love to take vintage vehicles and turn them into functioning mobile bars! Our Tap Trucks are the perfect addition to any event, party, or get-together. We can tap any beverage and elevate the experience for everyone! Our Tap Truck Family has grown signifiacantly since we started in 2016. We now have about 100 licensee locations in the US, Mexico, and Canada!
Our strong branding and rich history in the mobile bar/event industry truly sets us apart from the competition. We truly believe the Tap Truck experience is like no other, and we can not wait to bring the party to your next event.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Starting out, building a strong reputation in our local market was a crucial start for our brand. Using tools like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and other social media I was not only able to promote my services, but show a smiling face and personality behind the business! This truly helped us establish ourselves in our local market, and then helped us expand our business! Now we license the Tap Truck Brand out, empowering other like-minded entrepreneurs to start their own mobile bar venture.
Any advice for managing a team?
When it comes to managing a team it is crucial to hone in on your organizational skills. Using very simple tools like a calendar and templates to make sure all the boxes are checked at our events has served us well. I have also learned it really helps to trust the people you work with. When you trust your team, managing them becomes way easier.
Another aspect of being a team leader is keeping everyone’s morale high. If there is one thing I can say about that is, positivity is powerful! Each and every day all I can control is the smile on my face. No matter what is going on in business or my personal life, I can always encourage and empower my team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taptruckusa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taptruckusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TapTruckUSA
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tap-truck-usa/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/taptruckusa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@taptruckusa7677
- Other: Tik Tok: taptruckusa https://www.tiktok.com/@taptruckusa?lang=en