Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Swinyer & Alyssa McMillan.
Hi Carol & Alyssa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was getting married in 2020 and I wanted a draft beer at our reception. I think draft beer is much better than cans and bottles! I could not find a caterer who offered it so I asked my daughter if she wanted to start a business. We decided because of all the barn venues in the area that a pick-up truck would fit perfectly.
I walked into our local tap bar and asked who did their draft system and the owners said the man sitting at the bar! I introduced myself and asked if he could help us put a system on the back of a pick-up truck. He said sure! We were so excited! We found our first truck on the Facebook marketplace right in our hometown. He is a 1960 Ford F-100 named Ole Blue. He has a 460 motor with no power brakes or power steering and a lot of patina!
So we were ready to go BUT it was Feb 2020 and Covid hit! No weddings! Alyssa is a social media genius though and joined a lot of local groups on Facebook. A neighborhood posted that the food truck that was coming canceled and did anyone know someone else.
Alyssa asked what about a beer truck and they were very excited! So because restaurants and bars closed we were able to go to neighborhoods and sell beer and wine! We got so busy after the first year we had to get a second truck and because Ole Blue was a Ford, we had to get a Chevy!
Once again we found Lucky Lass on the Facebook marketplace She’s a beautiful 1953 Chevy 3100 all original, 3 on the tree, a starter on the floor! And now going into our 3rd year we’re looking for entrepreneurs and trucks to expand with us. Our dream is to serve all over the East Coast
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest obstacle was starting the business in Feb 2020 right before the pandemic. Most weddings were postponed. We only booked 6 that year. We felt so badly for some of the couples who decided to still get married.
One bride’s parents did not come to her wedding and she walked down the aisle by herself, crying. It was a sad time.
We were actually empowered though. We realized if we could survive that year, we could make it and we have been very blessed!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Traveling Taps?
We’re a Mother-Daughter team even though I tell customers she’s my sister, I’m pretty sure they know she’s my daughter. We have fun! When I say she’s my sister, she’ll say I’m her Grandma! So I don’t say that much! We love working together! We’re a great partnership! We both feel very very blessed and grateful and I think it shows in everything we do.
We were the first mobile draft bar here in the upstate! Traveling Taps not only has the most unique beautiful classic trucks that drive, but we also offer cold draft beer, wine, and cocktails right from the taps on the bed of our trucks. We serve with smiles, laughter, and professionalism! We go above and beyond to make sure everyone is happy and feels special.
Traveling Taps always offers the best selection of drinks from IPAs to margaritas. We had wedding guests call us after the event to see if they could buy our margarita! Guests ask us how we keep the beer cold or how we make our drinks and we say it’s magic filled with love. Traveling Taps trucks are always decked out with decorations either seasonal or wedding decor. We love pictures!
We have merchandise like cup koozies and shirts and love it when people come to events with them! We both work hard behind the scenes, from keeping the trucks running, the drinks cold, updating our social media daily, marketing, obtaining the licenses, ordering supplies, to showing up with enthusiasm and smiles, we do it all!
The head turns and people asking us to take pictures at gas stations never get old. We love their stories of their parents or grandparents having a truck just like ours. It’s a little scary when we’re driving and a person in a car next to us is taking pictures or a video. Both trucks do not have power steering or power brakes, a gas gauge, or a speedometer.
We follow our other car so we know how fast we’re going. Neither trucks have heat or air conditioning. I think my daughter has purchased every neck fan amazon has to offer. Our Chevy is all original with 3 on the tree and a starter on the floor. I have driven a manual when I was younger so it was easy for me to learn how to drive her and I love it!
Lucky has the cutest horn, you have to hear it! Our Ford has a 460 motor in him because he was a race truck so he’s loud, heavy, and fast! Thank heavens he has two brakes to use! His gas pedal is afoot! I’ve noticed I have started going on and on about our trucks lol. I guess that’s part of our uniqueness… the love and appreciation we have for them!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
We’re learning every day! We had to learn the draft system. My daughter said the other day that when we first started she never thought she would remember everything and now we feel like experts. We had to learn the licensing laws and the process to obtain special event licenses. I’ve built relationships with cities and county law enforcement teams and know all the liquor ordinances!
And we had to learn what works and what doesn’t work. We had to learn the best ROI! And again we’re still learning. We have great mentors though, from our draft professional to our lawyer to the wedding festival team, we have the best! We have learned the most though from the small businesses, and the food trucks who have teamed up with us to help us learn.
We couldn’t be more appreciative of the ones that refer people to us like Sonny’s Grill and Mac Attack! And all the event and wedding coordinators who have us as preferred vendors like the Ole Blue Truck Farm, Charlyn Farms, Bent creek farms, Aurora Farms and Bellview Meadows! And all the businesses who continue to invite us to join them like Greenville Christmas trees, Hartness, Holly Jolly, Easley Utility, Cherokee speedway, Braselton antique festival, and many more!
I’ve been a nurse for 39 years and I love people! I love their stories and their individualism. I’ve known how important relationships are and still every day I learn something new. I’ve learned a lot about my daughter too. She has a full-time job as a Nanny and works very hard at keeping our business thriving! She also loves people. I watch her interactions with them and I couldn’t be prouder!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TravelingTapsSC.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelingtapssc/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/107734987486608/
