We were lucky to catch up with Roxanne Brooks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Roxanne, thanks for joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

“If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to take time for your illness.” – Joyce Sunada

I read this quote often because I know this to be true, I’ve experienced it and so has my husband- that burnout phase is real and when you’re forced to take a break, it takes twice as long to recover. One of the biggest challenge for many starting out is how to change your mindset from being an employee to being the CEO. As an employee I allowed myself to take vacations because I felt I deserved it— but for some reason as an entrepreneur I didn’t feel like I deserved it, even though I’m working twice as hard. Trust me when I say— you deserve it! Listen to your body, you can only give your best when you’re at your best.

I’ve been lucky because my partner understands the importance of breaks. We have made it a habit to sit down at the beginning of the year to block out 7-10 days for a big vacation together, we sprinkle in a few days off when we need it and never judge each other for needing time to recharge. Lastly, we always make it a point to block off our birthdays and holidays so that we can spend that time with our families.

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

My name is Roxanne, I’m the owner and operator of Sip Tap Tow- a mobile bar and bartending company based in Seattle, WA. I run this company alongside my amazing husband, Gary- a bartending veteran who’s opened up many of Los Angeles’ and Seattle hotspots over the last 2 decades. The hospitality industry runs deep in my veins- my family owns and runs a restaurant in Las Vegas, NV and I of course would eventually marry someone who’s been in the service industry for most of his adult life.
Together, we created Sip Tap Tow because of our deep connection to the hospitality industry and the desire to bring all the things we love about an elevated bar experience to a mobile format. Our adorable vintage inspired trailer, Olive adds instant charm and character to every event, but the real treat is the cocktails. We love creating inspired cocktails that are unique and nuanced using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. We believe that the bar is where ideas are born and where people connect- in fact we met at the bar so the bar always holds a special place in our hearts, so we wanted to able to bring that experience to our clients and be there for them at some of life’s most important moments.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I’m a firm believer in community over competition. There are a lot of mobile bars out there- there’s about 20 in WA State (that I know of) and we’re all uniquely different in our own way. We may be in the same industry but our target clientele/ style are all so different. Events happen simultaneously and I know that I can’t be at all the events and neither can they. I foster my relationships with other mobile bar owners because we can only help each other out- I want to be able to recommend clients to them and vice versa. Thinking of my “competitors” as peers brings a newfound respect in the industry.

How did you build your audience on social media?

We started our social media account months before we even got our business up and running. We showed progress of our bar build which created excitement and a following. We created cocktail videos and have followed through and continue to do so every Sunday. Find your niche and stay consistent. When people scroll, will your followers know that’s you without seeing your name? If they do- then you’re doing something right.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://siptaptow.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siptaptow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086744317074&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Photo: MyStache Photo