We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Holly Carpenter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Holly below.

Holly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea of Carpenter Hospitality Consulting did not form overnight- it formed over months, maybe even years and morphed over time as I formed the foundation of what this dream company would be. Then in the fall of 2021, as I sat in meetings as a Senior Sales Manager for a company where I had to defend the need for sales managers, I saw the writing on the wall. I had reached a point where I felt undervalued and underutilized. It broke my heart knowing I was leaving behind all my invested effort and energy. I helped create what a true sales team looked like: I updated menus and packages and managed the process of finding a more efficient CRM for the business. So I decided to visit a good friend in Idaho and take time to decide what my next step would be if I had to make a job change. We spoke over the course of the trip about multiple job opportunities. I had some jobs that offered less than what I wanted to make but had growth opportunities, some were the same I had been doing the past 10 years for multiple restaurant groups that I worked for. Then on one of the last days, I mentioned that I toyed with the idea of starting my own business. I explained how time and time again people tell me I should consult other companies because of my experience and contacts. On one occasion, I told a friend I was going to meet with a sales manager because she wanted to pick my brain on sales efforts and he said “stop giving your brain away for free.” That comment stopped me in my tracks, because I knew he was right. But the thought of going out on my own terrified me. I’m a single mom and homeowner with bills and responsibilities. My friend in Idaho pointed out how the only time my face lit up with excitement was when I would talk of the potential of starting my own business. So, we sat down and started creating what Carpenter Hospitality Consulting would look like. When I left Idaho, I decided I would keep the job I had for the time, and start CHC as a side gig with the intention of it eventually becoming my full-time job. Then on November 18, 2021, (my birthday) my company eliminated Sales Managers. My team and I all had the opportunity to stay with the company as Front of House managers for each of the restaurants but no commission would be paid. I took it all in and left the meeting to have a drink (ok maybe 3) and started creating a plan to start CHC in February 2022 FULL TIME, four months earlier than planned.

I called on several friends in the hospitality industry and told them my business idea of being a fractional sales executive for businesses in the industry. I would target companies where the owner was working in the business not on growing the business. Through these conversations, my first 2 clients signed on by my launch date.

I don’t think this business would be able to be what it is today had COVID not happened. COVID taught us that you don’t need to be working at the physical business to make sales. CHC is a remote consulting business. We do mostly video chats, phone calls and emails while building relationships and creating sales for our clients.

The other difference of CHC as a consulting firm is that we are all things hospitality- we don’t focus on just restaurants or hotels. Our industry consists of anything that is considered entertainment to a guest- We have clients that are DJs, custom gifting, restaurants, teepee tent rentals and even Glamping.

CHC offers years of experience from multiple facets of hospitality. We have a rolodex of contacts in and outside of the industry. Our strength is understanding what the customer wants to see and how to make a seamless booking experience. And now that I am just about to hit my year of starting this venture, I understand the ups and downs of running a business. I can listen to our clients and feel their struggles and successes, because I have felt that as well.

Carpenter Hospitality has had its own growing pains this year, but we have started 2023 with a real handle of what we can and cannot assist our clients with. And for the things we can’t, we have found amazing partners to help in those areas.

I am excited to see where CHC goes in its Toddler Years and beyond!

Holly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got my start when I was sixteen years old- my dad drove to the local IHOP and told me to get a job. After realizing I didn’t want to be an elementary school teacher, a dream of mine when I was younger, I fell into majoring in hospitality. I took Intro to Hospitality where I learned about Gaylord Entertainment and knew I wanted to move to Nashville one day to work for Gaylord Opryland. I have held a range of positions including Wedding Sales Manager for the historic Hotel Northampton, and Catering Manager at Gaylord Opryland where I served on the evaluation and reopening team during the 2010 Nashville Flood.

Most recently, I was Senior Catering and Sales Manager for over four years before venturing out on my own. 

With over two decades experience in all facets of hospitality, I am well known for my incredible sales and management skills in my adopted hometown of Nashville, TN and beyond.

I like to say I am a natural-born planner, growing up with my mother who is the queen of throwing a great theme party and making lists! I didn’t realize until I got older how making a list kept me organized and on top of everything.

I am also great at task management and setting up automation, which is a huge factor clients sign to work with CHC.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My personality for sure! I don’t think I have ever met a stranger. I am that person that will strike up a conversation with anyone and ask questions to learn about them. I’m that person that goes to an airport to catch a flight and end up with 3 new contacts between getting a drink at a bar, talking to someone when waiting to board a plane, and chatting to the person sitting next to me on board (but not in the annoying let’s be besties on plane) My parents say when I was younger I used to talk to trees, if that gives you a visual.

I listen to what people have to say – ask questions. More than just the “how is your day, what’s new.” I like to connect people who can work together or partner on a project.

I’m that person people call to say do you know someone that does this – because I usually do. Or if I don’t I will find someone that does.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I hired an amazing social media team. As a consultant, I had to consult myself when starting my business. What is my strength – sales, relationship building, organization. What is my weakness – social media, branding, taking a cell phone picture. One of the first things I did was find some friends that were also starting a business with social media and marketing and say “I want to hire you.” They created my website and run my social media (including my tik tok which I refuse to have the login information for LOL)

I knew that having a social media presence was very important for CHC and I knew I wouldn’t have the time and energy to give it the justice it needed, so I found the people that could.

And man do they kill it. When I get my monthly calendar to review I think “damn they make me look like I know what I am doing!”

Contact Info:

• Website: Carpenterhc.com
• Instagram: carpenterhospitalityconsulting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carpenterhospitalityconsulting
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carpenter-hospitality-consulting/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@carpenterhc

Image Credits
Kinzley Communications