How Chris Andrews Built A Food Tour Business To $300K/Year [Alabama]
Who is Chris Andrews?
Chris Andrews, the founder of Bienville Bites Food Tour, grew up in Saraland, Alabama, and initially worked various jobs, including HVAC technician and crane operator at a steel mill before diving into entrepreneurship inspired by his love for history and local culture. He learned about the food tour concept from a friend's experience in Savannah and, despite having no formal business education, pursued this idea passionately by leveraging online resources and local networking, eventually creating a successful business that highlights Mobile's rich culinary and historical tapestry.
What problem does Bienville Bites Food Tour solve?
Bienville Bites Food Tour addresses the challenge visitors face in discovering the rich culinary and historical tapestry of Mobile, Alabama, by providing an expertly curated walking tour of the city's best local eateries and historic landmarks. This alleviates the overwhelming choice and lack of knowledge, offering a seamless, engaging, and immersive experience that highlights both the city's diverse food scene and its storied past.
How did Chris come up with the idea for Bienville Bites Food Tour?
Chris Andrews, the founder of Bienville Bites Food Tour, grew up with a strong passion for Mobile's rich history and local cuisine. This fascination was constantly nurtured by his curiosity about historical sites and local eateries. The spark for his business ignited after a friend's captivating tale about a food tour in Savannah, Georgia, which seamlessly blended local history with culinary adventures.
The thought of Mobile's untapped potential gnawed at him, especially since the city had a combination of deep history and vibrant food culture. Determined to bring a similar experience to Mobile, Chris scoured the internet for insights on starting a food tour and stumbled upon a Chicago-based training program called Food Tour Pros. He flew to Chicago to take their course, gaining crucial knowledge on how to start and run a successful food tour.
Armed with newfound skills and an unwavering belief in his dream, Chris began crafting his food tour, actively seeking feedback during initial tours with friends and family. Despite initial anxiety and a few challenges like unpredictable weather, he remained undeterred. Chris's journey is a testament to the importance of pursuing your passion, validating your idea, and maintaining perseverance through the early phases of creating a business.
How did Chris build the initial version of Bienville Bites Food Tour?
Chris Andrews built Bienville Bites Food Tour through a methodical approach to product development and community engagement. Starting in the summer of 2017, he attended a specialized course by Food Tour Pros in Chicago that provided comprehensive training on launching and managing food tours. This program included lessons on creating legal entities like an LLC, handling insurance, and setting up proper tour logistics, effectively condensing a vast amount of necessary business knowledge into a digestible format.
Chris's first prototype tour, known as the LoDa Stroll, launched in October 2017 as a friends-and-family event, where he gathered feedback and fine-tuned the experience. He used an online booking platform called Fair Harbor to manage ticketing and payments seamlessly, which is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency. Building company relationships with local restaurants was initially challenging but essential. He scheduled meeting owners during off-peak hours and emphasized that tours would take place during slower periods, ensuring minimal disruption to regular business operations.
Despite the low startup cost, which made this venture feasible, he had to overcome the fear and unpredictability of new business. He spent around three months before the first public tour, focusing on logistics, restaurant partnerships, and crafting a compelling local history narrative. His genuine passion for the city and its culinary heritage helped forge strong community ties, which became one of the bedrock principles for sustaining and growing Bienville Bites Food Tour.
What were the initial startup costs for Bienville Bites Food Tour?
- Website and Booking Platform: Chris invested in a website and a booking system, likely costing around a few thousand dollars upfront.
- Business Coaching: He spent on coaching and training from Food Tour Pros in Chicago.
- Legal and Incorporation: Expenses for creating an LLC and business insurance.
- Networking and Marketing: Initial marketing efforts, primarily organic social media and networking within the local community.
- Launch Expenses: Costs associated with launching the first 'friends and family' tours to work out the kinks.
How did Chris launch Bienville Bites Food Tour and get initial traction?
Word of Mouth and Community Engagement
When Chris Andrews started Bienville Bites Food Tour, he focused heavily on word of mouth to get things rolling. He reached out to friends and family, conducting a "friends and family" tour as the first official event. This helped him iron out any last-minute operational issues and get initial feedback and support. His family and friends were encouraged to share their experiences through social media, primarily Facebook, which helped build local interest and credibility.
Networking and Relationships
Chris knew the importance of building strong relationships with local restaurant owners. He approached them during off-peak hours with a clear, practical proposal. His first successful pitch was to a community-minded restaurant owner, which gave him the confidence to approach others. Mentioning this initial partnership in subsequent conversations made it easier to get additional restaurants on board. By the time his first public tour launched, he had secured partnerships with seven local eateries.
Focus on Local Media and Podcasts
Chris also leveraged local media and podcasts to spread the word about Bienville Bites. He appeared on podcasts like "Living in Mobile, Alabama" and "The Side Hustle Show," where he shared his journey and promoted the food tour. These appearances not only helped in reaching a wider audience but also lent credibility to his new venture. Each podcast episode had the potential to reach a different segment of the community, helping him attract more locals who were likely to become repeat customers.
Social Media and Online Presence
In addition to organic Facebook marketing, Chris maintained an active online presence through his website and social media profiles. He posted content highlighting the food, the restaurants, and the experiences people could expect on the tour. Visual content attracted more engagement, which in turn attracted more participants. Reviews and testimonials from early tours were prominently featured, further boosting credibility.
In the first few months, his concerted efforts across these various tactics led to consistent bookings, and he conducted tours every weekend. Specific metrics like having participants from 50 states and 20 countries show the broader appeal and effectiveness of these grassroots strategies. Impressive early numbers helped him build momentum, growing from local tours to conducting five to six tours each weekend, some even tailored for special themes or corporate events.
What was the growth strategy for Bienville Bites Food Tour and how did they scale?
Social Media
Chris and the Bienville Bites Food Tour relied heavily on organic social media, particularly Facebook, to get the word out about their tours. Chris emphasizes the importance of engaging with the community and sharing posts that highlight the food, the tour experiences, and the personal stories of the guests. This strategy effectively leverages the power of community shares and personal recommendations, which are highly trusted among peers.
TripAdvisor Reviews
From the onset, Chris understood the importance of gathering customer reviews to build credibility. He worked hard to ensure guests left positive reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Google. This focus on customer feedback helped increase their visibility in search rankings and built a trustworthy reputation. Chris emphasized directly asking for reviews at the end of tours, finding this personal approach to be more effective than QR codes or business cards.
Themed Tours
In addition to regular food tours, Chris introduced themed tours such as haunted tours in October, Mardi Gras tours, and a Jimmy Buffett-themed tour. These specialized tours not only appealed to locals looking for unique experiences but also attracted tourists interested in specific themes, thereby diversifying their audience and increasing overall bookings.
Partnerships with Corporate Events
A significant portion of Bienville Bites' business comes from corporate and team-building events. Chris proactively reached out to local corporations and businesses, often through email marketing and networking, to offer his tours as a fun and engaging team activity. Partnering with companies like Airbus helped bring in large group bookings, providing a steady and substantial income stream.
These channels have collectively contributed to the growth and success of Bienville Bites Food Tour, making them a prominent player in the tourism and dining scene of Mobile, Alabama.
What's the pricing strategy for Bienville Bites Food Tour?
Bienville Bites Food Tour offers a 3-hour walking tour covering seven local restaurants in downtown Mobile for $59 per person, emphasizing historical storytelling and culinary experiences.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Bienville Bites Food Tour?
- Start Small, Think Big: Chris Andrews began with just a single tour focusing on the Lower Dauphin Street Historic District. Starting in a manageable scope helped iron out kinks, build confidence, and test the concept.
- Leverage Local Charm: Using the rich history and unique culinary landscape of Mobile, Chris created a tour that was not only about food but also about the city's stories and culture, which made the experience more engaging and memorable for participants.
- Strong Networks Matter: Building strong relationships with local restaurant owners and community stakeholders was crucial. This required excellent communication and persuasive skills to ensure restaurants saw the benefit of participating in the food tour.
- Adapt and Innovate: Chris didn’t stop at just offering a basic tour. He expanded into themed tours such as haunted tours and a Mardi Gras-themed culinary journey, which appealed to repeat customers and deepened local engagement.
- Lean on Technology for Scalability: Utilizing a booking platform like Fair Harbor helped streamline operations and manage logistics efficiently. This is a key takeaway for aspiring founders to use technology to handle repetitive tasks and scale operations.
- Resilience in the Face of Challenges: Chris faced significant challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic but managed to bounce back by maintaining a flexible and innovative approach, showcasing the need for resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship.
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More about Bienville Bites Food Tour:
Who is the owner of Bienville Bites Food Tour?
Chris Andrews is the founder of Bienville Bites Food Tour.
When did Chris Andrews start Bienville Bites Food Tour?
2017
What is Chris Andrews's net worth?
Chris Andrews's business makes an average of $25K/month.
How much money has Chris Andrews made from Bienville Bites Food Tour?
Chris Andrews started the business in 2017, and currently makes an average of $300K/year.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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