We Hit A Major Milestone And Surpassed 100+ Licensees Worldwide
This is a follow up story for Tap Truck USA. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published over 3 years ago, check it out here.
Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.
Hello, my name is Corbin O’Reilly and I am the co-founder of Tap Truck USA. My buddy Taylor Steers and I built ‘Tap Truck’ back in 2016, in San Diego California. We enjoyed refurbishing classic panel trucks and pick-up trucks. We decided to install a beer system and taps on the trucks and then offer a mobile bar service.
Tap Truck has been a fantastic journey, starting with very humble beginnings. Initially, we just wanted to bring our vintage beer truck service to local weddings, private parties, and an occasional festival. After serving the San Diego area, we quickly realized how big of a hit the idea was, people could not get enough of the Tap Truck.
The very next year we began to license our brand out to entrepreneurs around the United States, first in Boston Massachusetts, and then in San Luis Obispo California. Each year since then we have added to this squad we call the 'Tap Truck Family'! Starting with three in 2017, ten in 2018, the mid twenties in 2019, and 45 in 2020.
Now in 2023 we have hit a major milestone and have grown our business and brand to include over 100 licensees worldwide!
Tell us about what you’ve been up to. Has the business been growing?
Over the past few years and since we last spoke with you guys we have grown so much! We have been very busy and working hard to continue to grow our business and bring Tap Truck USA to new levels. We have been placing a lot of focus on developing and spreading our brand to as many places as possible.
Just this year we hit a major milestone. As you just read we reached and surpassed 100 licensees, ushering our brand all over the world! There is still so much room for growth! Some key areas we are looking to expand into include New York, South Carolina, Nashville Tennessee, and so many more locations globally. If you are interested in joining our team of Tap Trucks I'll leave the link here.
On the ground level, we have been serving and bringing our beer trucks all over! Bringing the Tap Truck experience to even larger events, and more impressive venues! Our capability to serve any beverage desired, like craft beers, customized cocktails, hot chocolate, and soft drinks, has been perfected.
What have been your biggest challenges in the last year?
Failure is simply an opportunity for growth and learning; it allows you to refine your approach and come back stronger than ever before.
Last year was a challenging and intense year in many ways. One of the biggest challenges I encountered was adapting to change. In the business world, it can mean taking on added responsibilities and juggling multiple tasks at once. In my case last year, I had to learn how to manage a growing business while caring for a new infant in my personal life. This duality of needing to adapt was difficult; I was constantly having to re-examine my approach and refocus my priorities.
As someone who is used to being independent and setting their own goals, having so many moving pieces felt overwhelming at times. Moreover, learning how to delegate and let go of certain aspects of my business was also something that I had to adapt to. Delegating certain tasks allowed me to free up time for more pressing matters. Adapting to change is never easy, but it can be done with hard work and focus.
Another challenge in the last year was continuing to foster a positive perspective and attitude toward business. It can be difficult to remain optimistic and maintain a professional demeanor when people betray your trust or play against you. However, by staying resilient and having faith in my vision, I have been able to remain focused on the goal ahead of me.
It's important to remember that failure is simply an opportunity for growth and learning; it allows you to refine your approach and come back stronger than ever before. Additionally, having a good attitude ensures that conflict can be handled with relative ease without compromising progress or morale.
Struggles with administrative duties and staying organized were another huge challenge for me last year. With such a broad range of responsibilities stemming from two different businesses, comes an abundance of paperwork, handling inquiries via email & phone, and organizing personnel to make sure the job gets done.
It is important to accomplish all of this and still make time for my family and personal life. It can be quite overwhelming at times trying to keep up with everything. Having systems in place that make it easier to obtain assistance with administrative tasks and stay organized, is crucial in helping me stay ahead of the curve.
Inside our community of mobile bar caterers, there are some unique challenges we faced as well. A common challenge faced within the mobile bar industry stems from the licensing enabling businesses to serve cocktails, beer, wine, and other beverages in a mobile facet. The laws surrounding liquor licenses, beer & wine licenses, or mobile permits, are so localized, each situation is special.
At Tap Truck USA we understand how important it is that each member of our mobile bar family feels confident in their ability to serve beverages by their state and local laws. This is why we make it our mission to help and guide new owners in their quest for the perfect license. We are well-versed in the legalities of mobile bars and can provide advice on what paperwork and other materials you'll need to acquire a permit. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, here's a blog that may provide some insight!
What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?
When it comes to succeeding in business, it is essential to capitalize on and make full use of your strongest skill set. Having a clear understanding of one’s unique strengths and skills can help a person stay focused on tasks that will lead to success, as opposed to expending energy or resources on those that will not. I learned this valuable lesson by trying to wear way too many hats in my businesses, and it distracted me from the areas I perform the best in. Put simply, I learned to double down using my strongest skill set.
Another lesson I learned was to hire people that fill the gaps in my weaker areas. Through some failures, I learned it is vitally important to hire people that are well-versed in your weak areas. Doing so can help create an efficient, successful, and innovative business operation. Additionally, having an individual with a different skill set on staff can promote creativity, as they may bring fresh ideas to the table which could potentially result in greater success. In short, leveraging people's strengths by hiring those that excel in my weak areas has been essential for our business's success.
All of these lessons point to the overall large lesson that I learned last year, assembling a great team! Working within a team can help bring out the best in people, as everyone has different perspectives and ideas that can be used to innovate solutions. I have learned all of these lessons and I will be implementing them into each of my businesses going forward.
What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?
At Tap Truck USA we have some very exciting projects that we will be working on this year. We will continue to grow as a brand and will continue to reach new areas and expand into new fields. This year we will be launching our very own Tap Truck spirit label, and will be working on launching our beer label as well! This is a massive move for us as we will be expanding our brand into the product market as well!
For Tap Truck USA, our vision is firmly rooted in continuing to lead the mobile bar industry. We strive to lead the way by continuing to offer top-tier mobile beer trucks that can be tailored to any occasion or event. Our company has operated since 2016 and we take pride in providing a quality mobile bar experience that is sure to delight any customer. Our commitment to service and craftsmanship has led us to be the most successful mobile bar brand in the world, and we are constantly searching for new ways to stay ahead of the competition.
Check out the Tap Truck reach; (All of our locations are listed here.)
What’s the best thing you read in the last year?
As I've gotten busier and busier, my capability to consume long-form content has decreased. Over the past year, I’ve found a lot of fantastic content and inspiration on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels. Watching and engaging with these creators has been incredibly rewarding for me. It has been so helpful to get an outside perspective and unique ideas from people who are passionate and experienced in various aspects of the business.
As an entrepreneur, I find great inspiration when I can witness people working through challenges that I'm also walking through. These platforms allow me to draw motivation from their journey and apply it to my situation!
Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?
When it comes to growing a business there are a few pieces of advice I would like to pass on to entrepreneurs. First, it's important to recognize that failure is a part of the journey. It's easy to take it personally and get frustrated when things don't go as planned. However, if you allow yourself to pause and reflect on what happened, you can foster growth and discover some of your biggest breakthroughs. Everyone experiences failure at some point, but the key is to learn from what happened and try again with increased knowledge and experience.
Another thing is networking or conversing with people who are knowledgeable in your industry. The most successful individuals are always looking for opportunities to expand their circle of contacts and seek wisdom from those with more experience. When you connect with other professionals, it can open up a wide range of resources, ideas, and advice you may not have considered. With the right network of contacts, there will always be someone out there who has gone through the same situation before and wants to help, so use this knowledge to your advantage!
Lastly, I would say, don't be afraid to take a moment and breathe. When growing business we may get so consumed in the situation at hand, that it could begin to impact our decision-making, and lead us to burnout. When you choose to pause and reflect, it helps to remove yourself from the situation and gives you a better objectivity for perspective. I can think of many times when taking a step back has allowed me to see the situation I am in with clarity, and regain my positive perspective.
Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?
We are always looking for ambitious, creative individuals that can help our company thrive. At Tap Truck USA we are also always looking for entrepreneurs to join our vintage beer truck family. If you are interested in a business opportunity where you can be your boss and run your own mobile bar business, look no further than Tap Truck USA.
We are the largest and most successful mobile bar brand in the world. We are constantly expanding all over and would love to have you as a part of the team. If you are interested click this link to learn more
Where can we go to learn more?
If you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
