We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Loveland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

How did I get the name for my company, Lovie’s? It corresponds with my last name in a sense…. My freshman year of high school, one of my football coaches just randomly decided to call me Lovie. It caught on all around the school and city. So by default everyone from my hometown did and still does call me Lovie. It’s honestly my own personal brand and I can’t be more thankful for that happening.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I moved to the Grand Rapids, Michigan area in 2016 when I was 20 years of age. My Father had lived in the area for many years before I moved here. He was the General Manager at a locally famous hotdog joint called Yesterdog for 20 years or so. About a year after I moved here, in 2017, he opened his own restaurant, 1 Bun Restaurant. Unfortunately that did not become successful. But my time running and operating that restaurant with him taught me a lot of what I did and did not want to do with my life. It gave me the base for my menu and how I wanted to style my own business. I originally was going to open “Lovie’s Diner…” a sit down/counter service style restaurant…. But then the COVID-Pandemic hit in 2020 and everyone’s life changed. I shifted my business plan to a food truck instead of a restaurant and the rest is history! Starting my business, all on my own (and still all on my own) was a challenge. But I put my head down and took everything on with full force. As any business owner knows, there were and still are many bumps along the road of owning a business. Always will be. But it’s how you respond to adversity and push yourself to be committed to the grind that helps you set your sights on the right path to success…

How did you build your audience on social media?

Content…. Content….. CONTENT! It is so important, especially in today’s world, to have a social media presence. Especially in business… Social Media is the signal most important and most cost effective form of advertising. At least a year before I even officially opened my business, I had all my social media platforms created and was posting content letting people know my plans and posting my content. I use Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as my main social media platforms. I also integrated gaming into my business as well. So I grow not only my local audience/customer base, but I can slowly grow my name/business presence on a regional, national and international scale over time….

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Be consistent…. Show up when/where you’re suppose to be, when you say you’re going to be there…. It’s also important you provide delicious food and you make customers feel like they’re getting their bang for their buck… People are fine with paying a little extra for delicious and fresh food with good portions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://loviesfoodtruck.wixsite.com/loviesfoodtruck
• Instagram: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck
• Facebook: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck
• Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck
• Twitter: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck
• Youtube: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck
• Other: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck

Image Credits
Michael Loveland & Lovie’s