We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keishia Lewis-Crabtree. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keishia below.
Keishia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?
I have some unique custo’s we like to call Trap’n Buds! Our Custo’s understand the grind,enjoy aunties cooking and come to get the real from Fish Trap’n!
Certain Trap’n Buds stick with us through it all and we love and appreciate them! Everytime we hear our Trap’n Buds say they drove waaayyy from “wherever” to eat us out,it warms my heart even more. To me that’s validation that I’m not out here doing this in vain! When this happens, we like to give a little extra and or offer a discount for the next visit. These are the best Buds you can ask for because you know they are truly your Custo’s and they will definitely be referring people to you! That’s a perfect way to scale up!
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.
Oooweee! Let me tell ya, going around selling your “FAT CAT” aint for the weak, but we love it! Since opening in 2021 God has opened so many doors! It’s been a ride and I know we haven’t even reached the top. We’re still going uphill and at a steady incline!
Knowing that we came from pots, camp burners,no tents,no staff etc has been eye opening! The strength you need to conscientiously keep going is a tall order to fill in itself. The faith you thought you had increases with every lesson you learn along the way. The financial burden smacks you right across the face but you have to keep going. The reward of it all is watching your Custo’s grow with you and watch you blossom in your craft.
What has helped me was my branding. I made sure that what I put out became household conversations. Authentically crafting my brand was the best thing I could of done in my LIFE! More importantly watching everyone’s eyes light up,and its followed up with a chuckle is what I live for! We walk around in this world like robots, and when they see my brand,it breaks up that mundane of living and thinking.
To see “COME EAT ME OUT” OR “HOME OF THE BEST CAT” walking in a food setting is bound to get the knee jerk reaction of all walks of life. Some people try to side eye the table but then come back with a friend and point and laugh, this time, taking a pic!(We call that a Threesome lol)
Lol I’ve seen older Custo’s look and head right to the table lol the older couples love to eat with us, as they say, we take them back in their days of grandma cooking for them. The younger generation is attracted to the openness,boldness and authenticity I possess. Folks my age 35-45 just love having a “friend” cooking them a good meal and having good conversations while not breaking their pockets. So it’s interesting going through this journey.
Lastly, watching how God is directing my path and opening doors is amazing! Who would of thought the world needed me to come along and put my “FAT CAT ” in their mouth lol I remember when I first started I would be so down because I thought certain people should of did this, that and the third, that I forgot I had the “Juice” to begin with and my gift would make room for me. Baby, I screwed my head on straight, got on my knees and begin watching things unfold. I can’t tell you to much right now, but keep your eye on Fish Trap’n! We got some things brewing and I think it’s gonna shock the world some more.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
Ok lol so I was determined to prove to myself that wherever I go, I could authentically make my mark. So I found out about a Farmers market 2 hours away in Wichita Falls,Tx!! Lol I forgot I had an old co-worker down there(Yolanda) and I just met another friend(Ivy) 2 weeks prior to me heading down there lol OK boom! Every first Thursday of the month there is a Arts Walk After Hour Market,I contacted Downtowns farmers market and they approved my crazy ass to come down! Aight, I said hey, maybe I can crash at Yo-yo house to save money,so I called her,we reconnected like we never left(cause that’s what alignment is about) and we were set for the first pop up!
Wosah! So,I knew I needed something to shake they ass up in Wichita Falls and prepare them for my crazy ass to touch down and clown lol so I came up with a bomb ass advertisement post hit some of their groups in wichita,had my friends share and OMG!! The people had shared my post over 30 times! This was in a 2 day span. I read every comment,every re-share and they were freaking loving it! I did this days before I was to appear. It was a risk all together but a well taken risk in this instance.
Aight, fast forward. I get there and immediately meet Sharon G (Rustic Trails)as she was setting up her booth next to me. I was so worried about helping her I forgot it was just me having to set up my things too. Lol we talked as we set up and seemed to hit it off. When she looked up she said,”Damn,gurl you strong!” LOL (I often have to do events by myself and that means loading and unloading my equipment) She said I like your hustle. I told her I admired her doing the same. That showed me that no matter your age,if the hustle is in you, nothing can stop you, not even age. Sharon was out there hustling them weenies in the 100 degree weather. We both out there about to pass out but we helped each other through it. Love ya Sharon! Keep going!
Anywho, I’m all set up and as soon as it’s go time, I looked up and 5 people were in my line. Then I looked up again and about 15 people were in my line. I said,alright now,brace yourself bihhh, they about to come eat you out gurl! It’s not even 30mins into the market and I’ve sold 40 fillets. Lord have mercy, I had to speed it up, now I got Familia Gutierrez on the right of me,selling their tacos,not knowing they had a restaurant around the corner and already in the community. Our lines were neck and neck,but it’s just me by myself lol the whole damn family over there,folding tacos,flipping tacos,dressing tacos and I’m over here humping these “FAT CATS ” dropping them in hot grease,taking orders, handing out orders etc lol.. By this time, my hand done got to cramping and crinkling up like them fries lol but guess what,my new Trap’n Buds stepped up. They was checking themselves out with my guidance and I was able to start dropping and plating orders in a constant flow to where I looked up,and was out of 180 fillets with an hour to spare! They ate me tf out!! Lmao
I was so grateful that for the first time of stepping out on faith and following my vision, I reached a whole new level in my Journey. I did this for the next 3 months and each time, I had to take more and more fillets but would always be sold out. I loved that community so much that I felt I had to do something to give back in a small “Kizzy” unique way! For the last 3 I would see people in need and have them a plate or money to help along their journey. For the last 2 events, I hired my new Trap’n Bud (Jerry),he works for odds and ins and boy do I know about the hustle! Jerry stepped right in and helped me break down and pack up. I gave him a ride home, food in his belly and some change to hol’ em over. He told me when I needed him,he would be there! Well Jerry just didn’t know,I was about to pull his card because I was coming back next month with a job for his ass lol
It was laid on my heart to do something for their love and support,that I decided to throw a BLOCK PARTY!
Real quick let me tell you how God works! So the first time I came me and yo-yo stayed up talking and I mentioned a block party of some sort and she said,”Gurl we own land on Jblock” we can throw it there!! GTFOH!! Free land,a live dj,good food,cards, dominoes maaaaaannnnnnn say less!!! Lol I said “Bet” let’s make this happen. (Alignment,IYKYK)
So it’s my last art walk, they came out one last time and supported! I told everyone I couldn’t reach on social media that day that the Block Party was going down for #FridayNightFishFry on Jblock! The custo’s was so excited they went and shared the post some more and now it’s on and popping. Friday is here baby!!
Alright so we get the road blocks up,dj Icy-A was set up,funnel Cakes from (Funnel Vision) we had cotton candy with (Twisted Suga) a 360 booth by Robinson 360 and of course FISH TRAP’N with the “FAT CAT” smack in the middle. We had the big round tables in the street,blues playing in the background and a line to cook for,for days! The block was hot,you hear me!! Even when the temperature dropped,people was still rolling up to see what the vibe was about! My (Bestiesiscousin) came to the rescue! She snuck down and drove in from dallas. God gonna always have you a ram in the bush! Baby she came right on time because the line had reached at least 30 feet long because both of my tents had people standing in that line. I looked up and I felt like I was feeding everybody with my 5 loaves and 2 fish! It reminded of a time where peace existed. Where drama didn’t have to be the main factor for a gathering. Where kids were able to run around and play while grown folks still had a good time. It was safe,freeing and honoring to be able to trust in myself and that community into making this happen! Wichita Falls will always have a special place in my heart because they believed in me, even when I thought things would come crumbling down. Jerry worked with me all day!! 3pm-2am! I paid and fed him REAL GOOD!! He said Keishia we made that money tonight lol I said Yea buddy we did lol Jerry will always be my Trapn bud! He got him a Fish Trap’n shirt to prove it!
By me taking this risk and putting myself out there, I gained so many followers and more people that are now rooting for my success.
SN:
As I drove down to WF,I would pass through the city of Henrietta. Henrietta is the name of my Grandma that I miss dearly and have been asking her to come talk to me and help me on this journey. It wasn’t until I realized a customer said they drove from Henrietta to come try me,it even existed. I be rolling on the freeway with my music blaring,singing off key to ever notice it. When I drove back one month, I finally seen her name big as day and I just started bawling. It just seemed like she said,”See,I’ve been here all of this time SWEET PEA” . Oh boy, that did something to me in a good way. I gave God the glory for the aligning and for Grandmas prayers that are still covering me today! I believe Henrietta had something to do with this Wichita Falls alignment and I’m forever grateful for me taking that journey and finally saying Thank you Grandma!! You will always be my “Sweet Pea” ~Henrietta Lewis
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
June 2023 is a month I can’t forget! I quit my job mid-week and had no money saved lol I had been struggling and fighting myself to where I began to feel defeated but while I was doing something(you’ll see soon),in Oklahoma,I told myself it was time! I was in a room full of billionaires and other entrepreneurs that were balls to the wall for their dream. I looked around and wondered why God had me in a place like this and all he said was, “You belong here”. Good things were happening, that validation was present again. I was in my element and in that moment I said,”F that job” and sent in my email, live and while being recorded for a show lol I went out in true Scorpio fashion lol
I done lost my black ass mind is what I said when it all settled in lol I said,now who gonna quit they good job to struggle. I looked at myself and said,”You guh”! Lol Welp, time to put that work in,is what followed. I started to get a game plan together and I’m just working it. The opportunities are coming in and I’m still learning but I can’t say that I regret leaving a place that was mentally draining and not being my full authentic self. Now I can curse people out and who gonna fire me,no damn body lol This hasn’t been easy peasy but I wake up everyday fighting for what’s truly mine and every now and again there are things that let me know I’m on the right track but I gotta keep pushing. If you find that you are feeling that you have greater in you, trust that and make it your business to go after that! If not, somebody else will!
Contact Info:
- Website: Fishtrapn.com
- Instagram: Fish_Trapn
- Facebook: Fish Trap’n