Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Randa Ayoub & Shalisa Wilson . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Randa Ayoub & , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Shalisa – While working as a cocktail server at the W Minneapolis, I decided I wanted start a business centered around people, celebrations and hospitality. The idea morphed many times over from a collaborative concierge list, to a social media cocktail page, local tours of instagram worthy bars, to the the final concept – a for hire bartending company. The idea lingered for about a year, then the pandemic hit. With lots of Idle time I named the concept “Toast Tours,” and as a professional procratisnaator, I felt I needed a good business partner. I had the baseline and vision but I needed the gas – so I looked to none other than my best friend!
Randa – At a time when I too was playing with business ventures and ideas of my own, Shalisa presented Toast Tours to me and we spent a lot of quarantine talking through the thought of thinking larger – to an event space or bar, discussed overhead costs, and researched. We both share a love for detailed customer service, events, meeting new people and a good cocktail so it seemed like something we could easily execute.
March 2020 – Toast Tours was official conceived on paper.
We spent the next 6 months saving up money. developing a brand identity, and ordering everything we needed to get started. We funded Toast Tours from our own personal funds with no loans or investments.
September 2020 – Toast Tours booked our first event! A beautiful outdoor baby shower.
We celebrated our 3 year anniversary in September 2023 and recently expanded into the Houston, TX market!
Randa Ayoub & , 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?
Toast Tours is a mobile bartending concierge service owned and operated by women of color who come from over a decade of service industry experience. Servicing corporate events, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and any other reason to gather! We have a full bar set up that is customizable for each event. We pride ourselves in attention to detail, exceptional customer service, and aesthetically pleasing drinks worth savoring.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Our reputation was built by simply being genuine to who we are as individuals, and a business – fun, professional, and knowledgeable. When Toast Tours shows up, we are showing up not only as an asset to the experience but as a guest of the celebration as well. We are customer centric and value our clients who have hired us for events big, small and in between. 60% of our clients are repeat clients and almost 100% of new clients come from referrals or those repeat clients. We have spent zero dollars on broad marketing and ad space and rely on word of mouth, social media and personal connections in the market.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
At Toast Tours, our commitment is centered around empowering and championing women. Within our dedicated team, we have a roster of mothers who anticipate working Toast Tours events. For them, it’s not just about the additional income; it’s an opportunity to temporarily step away from their daily responsibilities, revel in the joy of the moment, and engage in social connections.
Recognizing the importance of self-care, we actively encourage our team members to reinvest their Toast Tours earnings back into themselves, fostering personal well-being and fulfillment.
At Toast Tours, we aspire to leave a lasting impression on both our team members and event attendees. Our ultimate goal is for every staff member to walk away from each event feeling not just like a worker but as a contributor to a memorable experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: booktoasttours.com
- Instagram: Toast_Tours
- Facebook: Toast Tours