Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Karst-Flynn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lisa , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?
The Candy Coach primarily services the event industry. The event industry is always changing, and living in a city like Los Angeles, the bar for creativity is set particularly high. In events, clients are usually looking for something new and different to have at their event. The trend of creating picture perfect events is not going anywhere, as people embrace life post pandemic and get back to celebrating the milestones of life. It is my job as an event industry vendor to create new and exciting ways to bring and serve up candies at events, and I am up for the challenge.
Lisa , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
It is safe to say that I have not carried the nickname ‘Sweet Lis’ around with me for nearly twenty-five years without reason. I like to think that it is equal parts my disposition and the fact that I have a serious sweet tooth. I love seeing people’s faces light up when they feel the same way I do about candy. Plus, it doesn’t get any sweeter than being able to add a little more fun and excitement to a couple’s wedding day or special event!”
The idea of The Candy Coach came to me several years ago now, and like most things I do in life, I jumped right in. With the endless support of my parents, the trust of my husband and the talent of a gifted carpenter, I was able to bring my dream of an old fashioned candy store on wheels to life. After stumbling onto the perfect trolley bus for sale fifteen minutes down the road from my childhood home, the stars seemed to align and the hard work began. In the beginning it felt like every task I set out to do took longer than the next, but after teaching myself how to drill, grind, sand, stain, seal, caulk and polish, everything from wheels to wood to brass, two times over, The Candy Coach started to take form and my dream became a reality.
THE CANDY COACH is a self-serve mobile candy shop creatively designed within a vintage-inspired trolley bus. When you enter the coach it takes you back in time to a fun and whimsical era when candy was a special treat to be enjoyed with close friends and family. Our coach boasts a truly unique mobile storefront which provides a one of a kind environment for indulging in a sweet moment while providing a unique backdrop at any event. The Candy Coach stocks over 100 different types of candy and offers endless customization options for a personalized touch!
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING YOUR SPECIAL EVENT A TRULY SWEET SUCCESS!
-Lisa Karst aka “Sweet Lis”
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Starting something that is truly new and one of a kind comes with a set of challenges you can anticipate, but never truly understand until you are deep in the process. When I say deep, I mean two far in to start over. These obstacles still come up on a regular basis, and that is part of owning and operating a small business. What was impossible to predict, and truly something that impacted the course of business at the time, was the pandemic. Like others, I was forced to pivot during this time. The Candy Coach was just starting to gain traction and show growth, when almost over night every booking and inquiry disappeared. It was during this time that I had no choice but to pivot. Large upscale events disappeared, and smaller micro events took their place. Large venues that would accommodate the coach stopped hosting events, and clients starting hosting smaller in events at home. This change lead me to introduce The Candy Cart Bike to my offerings. This allowed me to continue to service smaller events and keep a revenue stream alive, while The Candy Coach was stalled. The Candy Cart Bike, lead to another cart, and another candy wall, and another display. I now have 8 other candy service offerings my clients, and one is usually the perfect fit for any event needs.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
The process of creating The Candy Coach was no easy task, and I believe demonstrates resilience and fortitude on my part as the creator and those that helped bring my dream to reality. I had never seen a mobile candy shop to model a plan after, let alone a mobile anything created inside of a trolley bus. There are mobile retailers and foods trucks that use the standard box truck style automobile, and companies that build them out for you, but I felt as though the trolley bus style had more character and lent itself to the whimsical and retro vibes that I was trying to create in a mobile candy store. In an effort to keep start up costs low, myself and family did a lot of hands on work making the trolley bus sparkle again after we purchased it. We sanded and stained wood, polished and scrubbed brass, removed rust from the tires, painted, removed and re-caulked the 100’s of bolts holding on the roof, ripped out the bench seating, pulled up the flooring and laid down our own. I was willing to tackle anything at this point to make my dream a reality, and I had several huge hurdles left to pass. We kept the momentum going and worked with professional carpenter to build out the inside of the coach. With his expertise, I was able to get what was in my head on paper and then bring it to life. It became clear after build out that there was still a lot to figure out. Everything took longer than expected, and usually a little more money than what was estimated, but I was finally able to get The Candy Coach out to California and launched. Every step of the way, and to date, I am still problem solving. Creating and running a small business tests my resilience on a daily basis, but a hurdle is overcome the feeling of accomplishment always out weighs the struggle.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecandycoach.com
- Instagram: @thecandycoach