Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kechelle Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kechelle, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
By me having a food truck, I have been at events where I was the only one that looked like me. I learned to be successful at these events because of effective communication prior to ever meeting in person. Whether the communication is verbal or written and as long as I am able to speak their food language for the event, we are all one. Once I am on site, my staff are the only ones that look like me. However, the guests trust that the organizer made a good decision by inviting Early Eats and once they taste the food, we all can agree good free brings all colors, shapes, and sizes together!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I was sitting at work one morning hungry and wishing I could walk outside of my office door to get something to eat. After extensive research, in 2017 I decided to start a food truck business to fill the need for breakfast in Nashville. Since the start of my journey, the focus has always been to give customers a feel of a home cooked breakfast. I quickly learned that most people can eat breakfast anytime of day. Which caused me to turn the focus to brunch. Brunch is a big deal in Nashville, therefore Early Eats found a way to get in on the deal. We have tried several menu items throughout the years but the brunch items such as the bourbon chicken bowl and BBQ beef brunch sandwich has proven to make the cut. Early Eats has had the pleasure of partnering with national brands to promote their brand and ours. We hope to have many more collaborations with other businesses, local and national, and continue to serve delicious brunch to our Nashville community.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
A very important skill to have in the food truck business is interpersonal skills. You have to give customers a pleasurable experience when they walk up to your truck. The first thing they need to see is a smiling face and they need to feel welcomed. It is so true that people may forget what you said or everything that is on the menu, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Fortunately, I have always been very social since I was a child. The child that tried everything and wanted to make sure everyone around me was having a good time too. One of the skills that I had to develop, especially while trying to settle of the best product to offer, is product pricing. This is a skill and an area of knowledge. Once you learn what goes into formulas and projections, it becomes a skill.
Another area of knowledge I started out lacking was how to build a following. Building a following is definitely more that just posting on social media every now and then. Effective marketing is a skill that I am still developing. The advice that I would give to someone thinking about starting or just getting started is to do a lot of pop ups. Get your name out there and gain followers before making such a big investment. Also, partner with other business that are doing well and can help leverage your business. Lastly, have a business mentor that can be an accountability partner and can give your encouragement along the way.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone that would like to provide a private brunch experience to their guests. I have enjoyed working with an airbnb community, post wedding gatherings, and company events. The organizer will cover the brunch and allow the attendees to enjoy with no worries.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.myearlyeats.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/myearlyeats
- Facebook: @myearlyeats
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kechelle-williams-85823488/
Image Credits
headshot- Kaptures By Kesha
