Charrise Gordon, CEO of Toast A Mobile Bartending Service headquartered in the greater Chicagoland area.
Charrise
Gordon is a 33 year old entrepreneur, she is Founder and Chief
Executive Officer of Toast. She went full speed ahead with Toast at the
age of 32 after leaving a successful career at one of the top banks in
the world. Her idea for the business, however, was planted at the age
30. Mobile bartending is just the beginning of what the Toast brand has
to offer. Charrise is currently in the process of re-branding and
making changes to add other services to grow and expand Toast. Her
Mobile Bartending Service is available for bookings by private clients
for special events that include but are not limited to; bridal showers,
bachelorette parties, baby showers, weddings, private parties &
more. Toast provides signature alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
for all of your event needs. Toast will create an experience like
non other. Toast is not your typical, average mobile bartending
company. Charrise Gordon takes pride in the presentation of everything
associated with Toast. She is friendly, personable, and well versed in
mixology. She provides more than the customary drinks like say a vodka
and cranberry. Toast uses spices and other ingredients to create a
cocktail that is sure to tease your palette, leave you satisfied and
wanting more!
We recently interviewed the busy Chief Executive Officer, Charrise Gordon and here's what she had to say:
What is Toast!? Toast creates a personalized experience for our clients. One of my clients
told me, “you know no one else is doing this, the way that you do
this.” I pride myself on doing things the way that no one else is, it makes Toast stand out from your average bartending
service. That's why I love my logo too I believe it stands out.
Why did you start your business? While
working
at a bank, I had a customer, he was a bartender. He worked 3 or 4
days/week and would have $1700 to $2000 alone in tips that he was
depositing. At the time my mom was
working for an investment banking firm, she put together a lot
of events that involved bartending. I used to bartend in college,
I wanted to make more money, I was tired of my job and wanted extra
income. Then I thought about my mom and the idea for the business
came in as I had the idea of having a business with corporate clients.
What services does your business
provide? Bartending services for any private
events, all bartending needs. For more of a flair I do signature
drinks based on the event. Signature drinks ~ I get insight on
what the event is, whose event it is and the concept or idea for the
event. I ask clients what is their favorite spirit, flavor, spices and
also what they
don't like. The fun part is being able to create something that
appeals to the customer and being able to provide things they have
never thought of outside of the simple rum & coke type of drink.
What inspired you to go into business
for yourself? The #1 reason, I hated my J-O-B. The
#2 reason, I was dating someone that lit something under me. He asked
me, what's
holding you back? Then he told me, If you don't do it now, you probably
never will and you will just give yourself excuses to prolong it (not
doing it). Once I saw how easy
and fluid he was with it, it inspired me. He didn't tell me to quit my
job but his inspiration helped give me that extra boost. So I decided
to step out on faith and go for it.
What have been some of your challenges
as a small business owner? One thing that has
been a mistake of mine is that I didn't have a plan. “I would
encourage anyone to have a plan.” I am walking in faith and
learning as I go along. Have a vision of where you want your
business to be and how you want it to grow. Where do you see your
business years down the line. The other mistake I made was trusting people
a little too much and not trusting myself enough. I think its
necessary for the journey as well because you learn so much. My advice trust yourself before you trust anyone else. I will
definitely encourage people to research the industry they are
starting a business in, study your competition. Study the market and
go from there.
What is the greatest lesson you've
learned so far being in business for yourself? Not
having a written plan was not the best choice. Right now, I am kind of stuck and thinking
about the direction I want Toast to go in. I know I don't want
to be a 40 year old bartender, my dream is to have Toast for the
rest of my life but not to be a bartender. Now I find myself needing
to stop and re-create some things, maybe re-brand my business.
What advice would you give someone
looking to go into your industry? Find a
mentor, a really great mentor and do research. Well, first start
with research in order to see who is out there, what they do and seek
them out. Be open to learning and experiencing. Realize there is so
much more to it than just making drinks. One of the best things I did do
was find a mentor.
What inspires and motivates you? I
am still trying to find inspiration and motivation everyday. It is
becomes harder and harder to find. “When I think about my future,
how I want to grow, the things I want to do, how I want my family to
live and survive, it makes me want to do more, my current and future
family." Being happy motivates me, being free, and never having to
work a 9 to 5 and be under someone else rules. “Once you get a
taste of being free, you never want to go back!”
What is one quote, motto, or scripture
that you refer to often?
"If you haven't come close to quitting completely, then you haven't done anything that matters."
Is there anything else you would like to share you believe we haven't covered? I think its
important to never stop learning. Never take experience for granted. I think experience whether good or bad, is good just because of the experience. Keep
learning, developing, and growing, never think that you've reached
the glass ceiling of your business. Never feel that you are above
learning or have reached the top. Its important to give back and
show someone else the way. It is important to help others and pass
down the knowledge that you have learned.
To book Toast for your next event contact, Charrise Gordon, CEO:
Email: toast@toastin2life.com
Website: www.toastin2life.com
Phone: 855-Toast-99
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Toastin2life
Twitter: @Toastin2Life
Instagram: Toastin2Life
Peace, Love, Joy, Abundance, Health, Happiness, Success, and Vitality, Namaste!
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