We recently connected with Ayu Susanto and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ayu thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

When I first launched Skye it was a one woman show. I was running the social media, writing invoices, prepping for events, and working events alone. Sure, it was overwhelming or stressful at times, but I was able to run my business the way I envisioned it. I was building my brand. setting expectations and rooting my business in the industry. Over time it came with learning curves and adjustments, but it has built Skye to what it is today.

Recruiting a team member for our brand was an exciting and meticulous process. During the hiring process I aimed to assemble a team of passionate and skilled professionals who would not only elevate your expierence with Skye, but also embody the essence of hospitality.

The journey began with interviews to ensure that each candidate had the expertise and personality that aligned with our brand’s values. Recruiting new team members was not just about filling the position; it was about curating a group of individuals who believed in our brand. The ladies behind Skye Mobile Bar each came to us through word of mouth and referrals. People who watched our brand evolve or referred us to someone who thought would align with our brand.

I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the process of adding to our team has been. The passion and excitement from all the ladies drives me to want to go harder and grow Skye.

Starting a business is a journey filled with valuable lessons and growth opportunities. I believe the decisions and actions we’ve taken have led us to where we are today an shaped our business’ unique path. While we embrace the idea of evolution and improvement, I wouldn’t change our past decisions. Instead I’d regard them as building blocks that have helped build our foundation and prepared us for the future. As we move forward, we will continue to build on this strong foundation, always striving for excellence and staying true to Skye.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hey sippers, my name is Ayu, pronounced “I-U”. I juggle the roll of being a mother and mobile bar business owner. What is a mobile bar business? We are a bartending service located in Sarasota, Florida providing clients with fresh sips and immaculate vibes. I started Skye Mobile Bar a little over a year ago, but before I dove into this industry I was a teacher for 8 years. Enjoying my career, but realizing I was cable of more encouraged me to start SMB.

I’ve alway enjoyed hosting and sipping on a good cocktail, who doesn’t? It got me thinking why can’t this be a thing. Creating a brand showcasing my love for decor, hosting, and a delicious cocktail. With months of planning and going back and forth with how I would tackle this idea, a lightbulb went off. I pictured a cute pop up satellite bar, fresh cocktails, and all the decor. I love a neutral aesthetic, incorporating natural elements and textures and figured I would bring this into my business.

I launched SMB as a one woman show. Starting small with my first bar and working out all the kinks. Pulling late nights, creating content, collaborating with other local business, you name it. Trying to create a name for myself in our community. Im so proud of SMB and how far we’ve come. Staying true to our brand while scaling our business.

What sets us apart from others is our commitment to delivering a luxe experience of fresh cocktails and top notch hospitality. We are not just a bartending service, we are in the business of crafting memories and curating each event for every client. Fresh sips, aesthetic decor, and memories to last forever.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building our social media has been a journey fueled by aesthetic content and genuine engagement. We prioritize creating high quality content and maintaining a consistent schedule to keep our audience engaged. Regular posts, stories, behind the scenes that remained within our brand. We love collaborating with other local business owners and being involved in styled shoots. It is so great to build relationships with friendors (vendor friends) combining our visions and creating magic together. These partnerships exposed our brand to new and interested audiences. Building a social media audience takes time, but with dedication and the right strategy, it’s a powerful tool for brand exposure and connection.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Maintaining a high morale is crucial for team productivity. By demonstrating the work, ethic, and professionalism you expect lays clear roles and expectations for your team . Having clear communication and transparency has helped me ensure that my team understand their roles, responsibilities, and expectations. Maintaining a team and sustaining high moral is an ongoing process. By fostering a supportive, respectful, and engaging work environment, you can create a team that is not only highly productive, but also motivated.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.skyemobilebar.com
• Instagram: @skyemobilebar
• Facebook: @skyemobilebar

Image Credits
@ashley.j.photo @luciaullivanphotography