Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Nichols.
Hi Leah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before COVID-19 rocked the world, I was a food and beverage manager at a major hotel in downtown Atlanta. I started out as a barista and worked my way up. I began to love coffee and everything about it: where it’s sourced, how to make different drinks and the ins and outs of running a successful shop. After being furloughed, I started writing out ideas of “What if I did this? What if I open a coffee business?”. So I jumped down a Pinterest wormhole trying to find information about how to start a mobile espresso business. I eventually found Carlos and Ashlea Cannon, owners and operators of Fuel – Mobile Espresso Bar. They were doing exactly what I was dreaming of! I met with them and they became my mentors but more importantly my friends. Carlos built my cart that I use for all my events and has helped me with equipment needs/suggestions. Ashlea has been incredibly helpful with finances, creating contracts for events, marketing ideas, etc. I couldn’t ask for better mentors! After a lot of research and planning, Backwoods Barista was established. One of the most important things about this business is giving back to the community and people that helped me get here. When people see Backwoods Barista, I want them to know that this is a local business that gives as much as they get. Backwoods Barista is coffee-driven and community-focused. I started out only selling cold brew to friends and family and it has blossomed into a full on espresso bar for weddings and events. My five years plan is to have a coffee truck to be able to play music and drive through neighborhoods like I always wanted as a kid.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been struggles along the way. Starting a business is scary no matter what is going on but starting it during a pandemic has its own unique challenges. I had thoughts all the time of “People are already struggling, what makes you think they are going to buy your coffee?” or “Does this even taste good or are my friends and family just nice to me?”. From the beginning, I knew I did not and could not go into debt for this. I did not want another loan; student loans are enough for me. After speaking with a financial advisor, I made a risky decision to pull money out of retirement to fund this venture. I chose to look at it as an investment in myself and my future retirement. I struggled with marketing ideas because I’m terrible at social media. I struggled with finding festivals to go to. However, I have a truly outstanding group of friends and family that pushed me, researched for me, asked their friends and family for ideas, help, information, etc. to help me overcome these obstacles. I’m terrible at drawing so I reached out to my friend Kristen Jenkins to design my logo and she did a fantastic job listening to my idea and translating it into a great logo. There have been struggles like not realizing I didn’t have a trailer hitch hookup until the day before my first festival or constant price increases on raw materials. It’s been tough with lots of tears and stress but I wouldn’t change anything about this experience.
We’ve been impressed with Backwoods Barista, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Backwoods Barista is a mobile espresso bar offering espresso drinks, pastries, and much more for your weddings, business events or festivals. We partner with local bakers, roasters and tea suppliers to ensure high-quality products and support of other local businesses. We partner with several community outreach programs to provide school supplies to teachers, clothing and food to our neighbors, and much more. Our vision is Coffee Driven – Community Focused and we are proud to say that we continue to reflect that in our work and service. In a world that is constantly changing, Backwoods Barista is flexible and adaptable to any event, location, and need. We can go wherever you go by offering delivery or homemade customizable drinks, menus, and services based on preference or need. We also strive to support local businesses by featuring them in our weekly social media posts.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you like coffee, keep us in mind for your next event or wedding. Follow us on social media and check out our website to see where we will be next. Also, if you are a photographer or event planner, we would appreciate any recommendations for your events. We have several years of experience in food and beverage that allows us to provide a quality and high standard of service. If you know of any local festivals or events to recommend, we would appreciate it!
Contact Info:
- Email: backwoodsbarista@gmail.com
- Website: www.backwoodsbarista.com
- Instagram: @backwoods_barista
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=backwoods%20barista
