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

Jasmyne, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

When I first launched Mixy Chix in May 2017 I had no idea it would be where it is today. As we enter our 5th year of business this year, reflecting on the growth makes me so happy that I never gave up. Before the pandemic we were booked consistently but after the pandemic, business picked up tremendously and we had our first 6 figure year in 2021.

Mixy Chix is a mobile bartending company but in order to make 6 figures, every business owner must learn how to scale their business. I scaled by offering products, mentorships, classes and more. A lot of individuals including other bar companies always expressed how they admired me and had questions about the business so I decided to create Mixy Academy. It is an online mentorship that teaches you how to start, manage, and maintain a Mobile Bar Company. There are 6 modules that are spread over 6 months and it teaches you everything you need to know from registering your business to invoicing your first client. I also started to teach bartending classes for those who were interested in the field. The many products that I have launched are Recipe book, T-shirts, Planner, and Lemonade to name a few. I knew that in order to scale, I had to expand on doing more than just servicing events.

Another vital piece to scaling is having a team. No successful business can operate without a hardworking staff. It took a few years for me to get a solid team which allows me to take on more events. Over time, I’ve definitely had Bartenders no call no show, walk out in the middle of events, or wait until 5 minutes before the start of the shift and say they can’t make it. In this business, I don’t give chances, 1 strike and you’re out because this is a service based business and these events are to create everlasting memories. When something goes wrong, my business reputation is on the line and it can make or break my company. It’s hard handling every position but I always get the job done.

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

I am Jasmyne, the owner of Mixy Chix mobile bartending based in Atlanta, GA. We’ve been in business 5 years and we bring a one of a kind Bar Experience to your event. We service Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Corporate Events and a host of other event types. Our speciality is creating a personalized aesthetic to match the Event theme which includes customized bar items (cups, napkins, stirrers, menu), signature drinks, themed bars, professional and friendly staff. We work with our clients throughout the entire planning process to ensure that we over deliver on event day.

I am most proud of the creativity and thought that I put into the aesthetic for each event. I always try to make sure that each event is different. We have done a variety of themes from Garden, Boho, Winter Wonderland, Casino, Cartoons, Floral, and so much more. Mixy Chix is the leading Mobile Bar Company in Atlanta and we are on our way to traveling across the US so that everyone can Experience all we have to offer.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

When it comes to managing a team the first key is to understand that you will have to deal with various personalities but you must lay the rules down before hiring so you can set the standard for your company. Offering a competitive pay is also a major factor because you want your staff to feel valued. Bartending may seem easy and in fact, it is as you get used to it, however, there is so much work that goes on behind the scenes that the guest don’t get to see. We have to set up prior to the event start time, cut fruit, load and unload the van, sometimes a staff member may have to leave and get more items if we run out, and clean up. With that being said, staff typically gets paid an hourly amount but it needs to be a fair rate taking into consideration the amount of work that goes into events.

I also like to plan team outings 1-2 times a year so that everyone can connect and meet. It’s good to let loose and have fun. When you work a lot you have to make time for a personal life as well. Balance is important and that’s how I maintain morale within my team.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been consistency and referrals. I’m consistent with my setup and making sure that it is unique and aesthetically pleasing, which clients love an Instagram worthy photo moment. Once I provide great service to them, they will continuously support me and refer me to their friends and family. When I first started my business, majority of my clientele came from Instagram. Now, I would say 50% of my clients are repeat clients or referrals. I also partner with venues and planners as their preferred Bartending company so that helps me to stay booked on a more consistent basis as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mixychix.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixychix/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MixyChix/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWiA6sXb9H5gRPZj8ZVRfHg