November 25, 2024 • 18 mins
Taylor’s love for coffee started at a very young age when she would enjoy a cup (mostly milk and sugar, of course) with her grandma. They would often enjoy a good laugh or two as well. She looked forward to these mornings and still do to this day. Transitioning to her career, Taylor is no stranger to the early morning, fast-paced working environment. To kick start the day, a perfect cup of coffee and tasty pastry is essential. These moments are what inspired Taylor to open “Procaffeinated CoffeeHouse LLC”. It simply means “not starting anything important until you have had a cup of coffee”. The perfect cup + good conversation sounds like the right way to go every day.
CONNECT
Website: pchmobilecafe.com
Instagram: @the_procaffeinated
Facebook: Procaffeinated CoffeeHouse
CONNECT
Website: pchmobilecafe.com
Instagram: @the_procaffeinated
Facebook: Procaffeinated CoffeeHouse
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a Braaly Black podcast and I'm your host,
Danny d. Joined today by Taylor King, the creator and
owner of Pro Caffeinated Coffee House.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
How you doing today, I'm well, how are you doing?
Amazing and just glad to have you on.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
And you are two years in with your business, right
that's correct, I know that's right.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Congratulations to you.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Now. Pro Caffeinated Coffee House is a mobile cafe designed
to curate any space into a community. Now you know
that's in simple terms right there, but you are the owner,
go ahead and expand on that.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
So by definition pro cafee it means don't start anything
until you've had a really good cup of coffee. And
it is a mobile cafe experience. It's actually the only
mobile cafe in the state of Illinois, and I'm proud
to say that we offer our limited beverages by a
signature barista, So anything that you could typically find at
a storefront brick and mortar cafe, you can get it
(00:54):
from me on your lattes, cappuccino, Americano, cortado. We also
serve tea hot chocolate as well for those who are
just not coffee drinkers, but they still want the experience,
and we also serve pastries and co press, juices and refreshers.
So you know, we just want to bring good coffee,
good vibes to any zip code, any venue.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I love this so much. So you're strictly mobile.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, So we have a few different carts that we
can bring out. We have a nice Tiffany blue one
and a white one that our brides really like, and
then we have our standard one that looks like you're
actually walking up to a storefront so it's more inviting.
But yeah, we have like an eight foot cart that
we bring out that we set up at any venue
and we serve unlimited beverages for our guests and it's
(01:40):
really bringing the community together. So we started out, like
I said, I wanted to just really bring good coffee
to people. So I am originally an educator. I spent
over a decade education teaching pre K through ninth grade,
educational leader in Chicago public schools. And when the pandemic hit,
it just really changed the outlook of what education is.
(02:04):
And to be completely honest, it drained me. It was
daunting to get up in the middle of the morning
just to start my day.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
And the only thing that really got me.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Up was anticipating a good cup of coffee, because if
I didn't have that first sip, anybody could get it
that day. So I needed that coffee to set my
day off well and have a nice little kickstart. And
I was just looking for something to bring me some
joy in the morning. Different flavors, different types of coffee,
and I figured if that was my experience, that was
(02:34):
probably experience for others too. So I wanted to just
start out bringing good coffee to people. And I was
looking for a really nice brand of coffee that wasn't
bitter or didn't have like a bad aftertaste to it,
or something that you had to dip.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
A whole bunch of cream and sugar into it.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
So we proudly served Black and Bold Coffee, which is
becoming a nationwide fanatic. Dion Standards just came on board
as a co founder and they have partnership with Marvel
and the NBA, so very proud to serve their beans
and also the flavors that we offer. If you look
on the back of those labels on some of those
you know, syrup companies, it's a lot of chemicals, a
(03:12):
lot of things that you cannot pronounce, and so I
wanted to make sure that I had clean ingredients, clean labels.
So we created our own syrup collection called Hello Monday.
So we have our own syrup brand as well.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Girl, I love that. And you mentioned the ingredients.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
That's important now more than ever because you know, everybody
is really health conscious, which is a great thing.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So it's good to know that.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
We have something in our community that we can enjoy
and that we also know where the ingredients are coming
from exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
And you know, it's called simple syrup for a reason.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
It doesn't have to have all these additives in there
for it to taste good. And by definition, sugar already
is not that great for you, So where are we
adding even more things to it to make it worse?
So with my brand, you know you got something clean,
it's good, it tastes great, and you can add it
to your coffee. Have flavors like peach cobbler that's pretty
all popular, French toast, almond joy a, raspberry mocha, rose
(04:08):
carlom and so we're always thinking about things too that
you can't typically find at your brick and mortar cafes.
But you know, just to enhance that cup. You can
also add it in oatmeal, pancakes and waffles. If you're
a baker, you can add it in there, just to
step it up a little bit. You know, we'll always
try to make it exciting and fun.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
But yeah, you got a lot going on, and I
love that. I mean, it just started from you wanting
that sip in the morning and now you got all
of them.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Well, congratulations to you.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So that was the inspiration behind your business.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
But let's keep it real as well, because we know
that it's not always easy to have your own. So
what would you say was your first challenge that you faced?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Funding? Funding was the one, two, and the three.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Because when you hear small business for black and brown individuals,
small business is different than your white counterparts. So when
you're going for grants or loans, typically the criteria for
a small business is you make less than a million
dollars in revenue. That's all small businesses in the black
and brown community. But you also have to have a
(05:13):
certain minimum revenue, and sometimes that's fifty thousand, one hundred thousand.
Sometimes you have to have a certain amount of staff
on board before they even consider you as legitimate so
when I was going for funding, it was slim to none.
So I had to self start my business. I poured
around twenty to twenty five thousand dollars of my own
money into this business to buy my equipment, to get
(05:36):
the branding together, to create my logo, and so that
was a sacrifice that I had to make, but it
was a sacrifice I was willing to make for myself
and I had to bet on myself but the business plan.
So I enrolled myself into a cohort through Sunshine Enterprises.
Shout out to them because they have been a tremendous
help and they helped me really talk about finances, the
(05:57):
cash flow, profit loss, profit margins. And when I was
speaking to my CPA, initially our our language was not connecting.
I knew nothing about what this man was trying to
tell me about my business and how to keep it
afloat and make it sustainable. But after that twelve week program,
I was shooting out languages and you know, things to
him that he understood. And he was like, wait a minute,
(06:20):
who have you been talking to and.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Who's been teaching you disease? Because it's not what you
were talking about last year.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
So that company really helped me understand like what is
my break even number?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
What what do cost me to.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Be and how do I make sure I have good
inventory so that if I do have clients and I
intend to grow, that I can keep up with the demand.
So I would say for sure, funding, but also just
the support to have a sustainable business was a little
challenging up until I found Sunshine.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Well, shout out to them and look at you.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now you're learning and then you're also teaching as well
right now in this moment. So what in pack do
you want to leave on your community when it comes
to your business.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I think about that often, and I feel that black
and brown entrepreneurs really have a responsibility to work with
each other and be sustainable together, because you know, we
have this mentality that you have to safe keep all
this information and everything that you've learned to yourself. And
it's like, well, I had to go through this and
so you have to go through it too. But everybody
(07:26):
else doesn't work that way. But for some reason, we
have that mindset whereas like the struggle is there's greatness
in the struggle. It's like, sure, but I don't have
to intentionally struggle to be successful, I can help somebody else,
especially if we're not in the same industry. Okay, So
I just want people to know that coffee is not
(07:46):
this white, male dominated industry that you think that it is.
There are Black people who drink coffee and love it
and can brew it just as easily as anybody else.
But I want people to understand that black women are
not just here for.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
The in the beauty industry.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That's real.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
We are the number one most highly decorated, educational, decorated
demographic for a reason, and especially when you come across
a black mom. There's nothing that we can't do once
we put our minds to it. So I really want
people to understand that black female entrepreneurs, it's not a flame,
it's not a one off. We are here and we
(08:24):
are standing out making a difference in all of our
communities that we served.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Since it's speaking right now, go ahead, Taylor, But seriously,
I love that you're talking about the togetherness of the community,
like there's enough success to go around.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Absolutely, and this is a brilliantly black podcast.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I am your host, Danny d with Taylor King, who
is the owner of Pro Caffeinated Coffee House, now, Taylor,
what does it mean to you to be brilliantly Black?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
It means that you are profound, that you are enough.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You are great just because you're black, just because of
who you are, and you decided to start that business.
You are greatness as it is. And you don't need
a certificate. You don't need a criteria or any type
of guideline to tell you that you are a great.
By definition, you are standing alone. And so when I
(09:18):
was named one of a Brilliantly Black AWARLD recipients, it
was shocking at first because I think often around like
what legacy I want to leave for my kids. To
have a four year old boy and I have a
seven month old daughter, and I just want them to
be able to say, like my mom did that, Yes,
(09:39):
like my mom is the ish like she did that.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I mean, I'm not a Barissa by trade.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I taught myself how to brew coffee, how an extractor,
espresso shot. Sure, I talked to others around the equipment
I should be using and what it looks like, what
it founds like to brew good coffee. But this was
not my initial career or industry, and I I just
I want to leave a legacy for my kids to
be proud of, but a legacy whereas like they can
(10:06):
use that as a stepping stone to create whatever it
is they want to do.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Taylor, you got it.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
I feel like that's one of the major keys to life,
setting up the next generation. So for someone out there
who is thinking about starting a small business or just
a business in general, what advice would you give to them?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Make the plan, make it simple, write it down, and
make it as simple as possible, because you want the
plan to be able to be picked up and moved
with or without you with ease. You don't want to
be the only person who can drive that machine itself, right,
But you also have to be confident in your plan,
and it has to be strong and clear and concise.
(10:46):
There are a lot of great ideas out there and
a lot of great entrepreneurs who are promising who have
you know, great models and great strategies. But because it
is not clear and concise, because there's no confidence driving it,
it falls short. And no amount of money grants resources
(11:06):
can drive that machine unless you can back it yourself
and speak well about your business. So that's the first
thing I would say, Make it simple, make it clear.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
And concise.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That's a great first tip.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
On The second thing is you gotta work.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
No one is out here saying let me give you
a million dollars just because you're black and you're a female.
No one is out here is saying let me let
me help her. Right, you have to take the risk
on yourself, sure, but you have to prove that the
risk that someone is taking on you it is worthwhile.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
And the third thing that I would say is don't
give up.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
There's going to be a lot of nose before you
get one, yes, and if you get intimidated by those nose,
if you get discouraged by that, then maybe this is
not the industry that you should go into. But you
got a grid and bear it and keep pushing and
know that your idea is one of the best and
only you can do, no one else can. So I
(12:01):
think if we start with those three ideas, a lot
of black businesses could be thriving a lot better than
they are today.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Very good advice.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
And like you said, you have to believe in yourself
for anybody else to hop on board and believe in
you too.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
I mean, this business has only been around for two
years and I've already secured, you know, close to fifty
thousand dollars in funding fundy that I don't have.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
To give back. It was free.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I've grown my business from just me to five people already.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
We have a social media marketing manager.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Now that I've hired, because you know, the AI is
not for me, but there are other people who are
doing that very well, and that's their world.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
I will not doublance that my world is coffee.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
We have a few corporate clients that we serve on
a monthly basis.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
And we are taking on more. In twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
We've served sixteen weddings this year, which is huge. Yet
I did not I think I would go onto the
wedding industry because you know, we think about weddings.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
You think open bar, right, you don't think coffee.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
So last year I just decided to go to a
wedding expo, you know, just to see what the interest
would be, and they loved it.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
I think we had seven weddings last year. We did
it again to another bridal lexpo in January and from
their sixteen weddings, and we're already booked for like May
of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Look at you booked and busy.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Love, it's growing so quickly and so like I say
that not to brag, I do want to be humble,
but I shared that because in two years we've made
that much progress and there's still so much to gain
and so much to do, but it can be done.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
And your proof of that is definitely not bragging, is
definitely inspiring. And that's why you were one of our
awardees for the Bridley Black Awards. So that's a big thing.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Thank you. It was. That award is pretty heavy and
it's really nice.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I'm loving it. I look at it all the time
and I walked out the door. It's like, man, that
I really did something.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
You did and you still are.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
And somebody really recognized me. And I'm thankful for that.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
It's our pleasure and we're thankful for you. I mean,
we wouldn't have a Brilliantly Black Awards without our Brintley
Black owned businesses. And I know one thing, Taylor, I
definitely got to try some of that coffee and syrup.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Maybe I should stop buy and bring you guys some
and set up for you all in the morning before
you get started and drop you off a fee boxes
of syrup.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
We would love that and get our content going because
you know content now right, Yes, that's a big front
of the business now real quick, let's touch on that,
you know, because it is such a big part in
everything that we do. Now, how has that helped you
or how has hiring somebody to handle that content helped you?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
So far?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It is a breath of fresh air. And she's black
as well, and I love it. She created my logo,
so you know, I love that, and I just I
went to her and I went through exactly what I
wanted to do and how I wanted to do it,
and we.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Had a good conversation.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
She asked questions like what is your targeted audience, what
are the demographics, what areas do you want to reach?
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And how often do you want to post?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
And so I wanted it to be inviting and to procaffeinated.
I want to build community because when you think about coffee,
when you go to a cafe and you sit down,
what do you see smiles and laughs and good conversation
and you don't hear anybody arguing. You don't see anybody
(15:33):
in a bad mood, and if they are, after they
leave they're great, that's right, right, And so I wanted
my platform to be just that. I want people to
see it and be inspired to have a great day,
because I've quickly noticed that sometimes a smile is the
only thing that that person has going for them that day,
(15:53):
and I want to be that. I want to be
that for others, and so with my social media platform,
I just wanted to be inspiring. I wanted to be welcoming, inviting,
and bring joy with you wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
And I personally appreciate that, and I can tell that
that's exactly what you're about, just simply bringing joy, good vibes,
positive energy. We go through so much today, so it's
definitely need a tailor. And speaking of that social media,
where can we find you? What are your social handles?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
So Instagram it's the underscore Procaffeinated, and then on Facebook
it's just simply Procaffeinated Coffeehouse.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
And so we are always doing pop ups in the community,
especially in the western suburbs and the Chicago land region.
So follow us so that you can see where we
are and try these flavors that you've never had before,
and then you.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Can also invite us into whatever you have going on.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
So if you have a birthday party, a wedding shower,
a baby shower, you know, customer appreciation or employee appreciations,
we would love to join you. Like I mentioned with
the brides, sometimes we forget to feed.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Our wedding party in the mornings, especially with brides.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
You know, we get up at four five o'clock in
the morning getting our hair and makeup ready, and by
the time you realize it, I.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Could imagine you just forget to eat.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Two o'clock hits. You had had anything to eat. So
when you bring in procaffeinated, we provide, you know, a.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Nice little continental breakfast, something that's not too heavy on
your stomach, so you're not bloated, but you're not passing
out during the ceremony either. So we would love to
join join future brides and help them enjoy their day
as they prepare for one of the biggest days of
their lives.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
It's so important, Taylor, and I love that you do weddings.
So where can we book you? What's your website?
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Www dot PCH mobilecafe dot.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Com, pchmobile dot com. I got you.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Go to our website.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You can click on inquire Now fill out that little
two minute questionnaire giving us information about your event, what
you're looking for, what type of package you're looking for,
and then within forty eight hours we'll respond with a
quote and then we'll hop on the phone and hash
out the details.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Well, there you go. It sounds like a simple process
to me.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Taylor, you got it, girl, and we will see you
at many events around the area. I'm just so grateful
that you took time out of your busy schedule to
talk to me today.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Absolutely, I am just so honored to be here with
you to speak with you. You are doing so many
wonderful things for us in the community. So thank you
for doing what you do. Thank you for also being
a light to black female entrepreneurs. And I can't wait
to drop off that sample box for you so that
you can continue having a great morning.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Thank you so much, Taylor. Can't wait to see you soon.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
You my girl. Danny d
This is a Braaly Black podcast and I'm your host,
Danny d. Joined today by Taylor King, the creator and
owner of Pro Caffeinated Coffee House.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
How you doing today, I'm well, how are you doing?
Amazing and just glad to have you on.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
And you are two years in with your business, right
that's correct, I know that's right.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Congratulations to you.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Now. Pro Caffeinated Coffee House is a mobile cafe designed
to curate any space into a community. Now you know
that's in simple terms right there, but you are the owner,
go ahead and expand on that.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
So by definition pro cafee it means don't start anything
until you've had a really good cup of coffee. And
it is a mobile cafe experience. It's actually the only
mobile cafe in the state of Illinois, and I'm proud
to say that we offer our limited beverages by a
signature barista, So anything that you could typically find at
a storefront brick and mortar cafe, you can get it
(00:54):
from me on your lattes, cappuccino, Americano, cortado. We also
serve tea hot chocolate as well for those who are
just not coffee drinkers, but they still want the experience,
and we also serve pastries and co press, juices and refreshers.
So you know, we just want to bring good coffee,
good vibes to any zip code, any venue.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I love this so much. So you're strictly mobile.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, So we have a few different carts that we
can bring out. We have a nice Tiffany blue one
and a white one that our brides really like, and
then we have our standard one that looks like you're
actually walking up to a storefront so it's more inviting.
But yeah, we have like an eight foot cart that
we bring out that we set up at any venue
and we serve unlimited beverages for our guests and it's
(01:40):
really bringing the community together. So we started out, like
I said, I wanted to just really bring good coffee
to people. So I am originally an educator. I spent
over a decade education teaching pre K through ninth grade,
educational leader in Chicago public schools. And when the pandemic hit,
it just really changed the outlook of what education is.
(02:04):
And to be completely honest, it drained me. It was
daunting to get up in the middle of the morning
just to start my day.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
And the only thing that really got me.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Up was anticipating a good cup of coffee, because if
I didn't have that first sip, anybody could get it
that day. So I needed that coffee to set my
day off well and have a nice little kickstart. And
I was just looking for something to bring me some
joy in the morning. Different flavors, different types of coffee,
and I figured if that was my experience, that was
(02:34):
probably experience for others too. So I wanted to just
start out bringing good coffee to people. And I was
looking for a really nice brand of coffee that wasn't
bitter or didn't have like a bad aftertaste to it,
or something that you had to dip.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
A whole bunch of cream and sugar into it.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
So we proudly served Black and Bold Coffee, which is
becoming a nationwide fanatic. Dion Standards just came on board
as a co founder and they have partnership with Marvel
and the NBA, so very proud to serve their beans
and also the flavors that we offer. If you look
on the back of those labels on some of those
you know, syrup companies, it's a lot of chemicals, a
(03:12):
lot of things that you cannot pronounce, and so I
wanted to make sure that I had clean ingredients, clean labels.
So we created our own syrup collection called Hello Monday.
So we have our own syrup brand as well.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Girl, I love that. And you mentioned the ingredients.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
That's important now more than ever because you know, everybody
is really health conscious, which is a great thing.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
So it's good to know that.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
We have something in our community that we can enjoy
and that we also know where the ingredients are coming
from exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
And you know, it's called simple syrup for a reason.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
It doesn't have to have all these additives in there
for it to taste good. And by definition, sugar already
is not that great for you, So where are we
adding even more things to it to make it worse?
So with my brand, you know you got something clean,
it's good, it tastes great, and you can add it
to your coffee. Have flavors like peach cobbler that's pretty
all popular, French toast, almond joy a, raspberry mocha, rose
(04:08):
carlom and so we're always thinking about things too that
you can't typically find at your brick and mortar cafes.
But you know, just to enhance that cup. You can
also add it in oatmeal, pancakes and waffles. If you're
a baker, you can add it in there, just to
step it up a little bit. You know, we'll always
try to make it exciting and fun.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
But yeah, you got a lot going on, and I
love that. I mean, it just started from you wanting
that sip in the morning and now you got all
of them.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Well, congratulations to you.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
So that was the inspiration behind your business.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
But let's keep it real as well, because we know
that it's not always easy to have your own. So
what would you say was your first challenge that you faced?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Funding? Funding was the one, two, and the three.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Because when you hear small business for black and brown individuals,
small business is different than your white counterparts. So when
you're going for grants or loans, typically the criteria for
a small business is you make less than a million
dollars in revenue. That's all small businesses in the black
and brown community. But you also have to have a
(05:13):
certain minimum revenue, and sometimes that's fifty thousand, one hundred thousand.
Sometimes you have to have a certain amount of staff
on board before they even consider you as legitimate so
when I was going for funding, it was slim to none.
So I had to self start my business. I poured
around twenty to twenty five thousand dollars of my own
money into this business to buy my equipment, to get
(05:36):
the branding together, to create my logo, and so that
was a sacrifice that I had to make, but it
was a sacrifice I was willing to make for myself
and I had to bet on myself but the business plan.
So I enrolled myself into a cohort through Sunshine Enterprises.
Shout out to them because they have been a tremendous
help and they helped me really talk about finances, the
(05:57):
cash flow, profit loss, profit margins. And when I was
speaking to my CPA, initially our our language was not connecting.
I knew nothing about what this man was trying to
tell me about my business and how to keep it
afloat and make it sustainable. But after that twelve week program,
I was shooting out languages and you know, things to
him that he understood. And he was like, wait a minute,
(06:20):
who have you been talking to and.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Who's been teaching you disease? Because it's not what you
were talking about last year.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
So that company really helped me understand like what is
my break even number?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
What what do cost me to.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Be and how do I make sure I have good
inventory so that if I do have clients and I
intend to grow, that I can keep up with the demand.
So I would say for sure, funding, but also just
the support to have a sustainable business was a little
challenging up until I found Sunshine.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Well, shout out to them and look at you.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now you're learning and then you're also teaching as well
right now in this moment. So what in pack do
you want to leave on your community when it comes
to your business.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I think about that often, and I feel that black
and brown entrepreneurs really have a responsibility to work with
each other and be sustainable together, because you know, we
have this mentality that you have to safe keep all
this information and everything that you've learned to yourself. And
it's like, well, I had to go through this and
so you have to go through it too. But everybody
(07:26):
else doesn't work that way. But for some reason, we
have that mindset whereas like the struggle is there's greatness
in the struggle. It's like, sure, but I don't have
to intentionally struggle to be successful, I can help somebody else,
especially if we're not in the same industry. Okay, So
I just want people to know that coffee is not
(07:46):
this white, male dominated industry that you think that it is.
There are Black people who drink coffee and love it
and can brew it just as easily as anybody else.
But I want people to understand that black women are
not just here for.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
The in the beauty industry.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That's real.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
We are the number one most highly decorated, educational, decorated
demographic for a reason, and especially when you come across
a black mom. There's nothing that we can't do once
we put our minds to it. So I really want
people to understand that black female entrepreneurs, it's not a flame,
it's not a one off. We are here and we
(08:24):
are standing out making a difference in all of our
communities that we served.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Since it's speaking right now, go ahead, Taylor, But seriously,
I love that you're talking about the togetherness of the community,
like there's enough success to go around.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Absolutely, and this is a brilliantly black podcast.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I am your host, Danny d with Taylor King, who
is the owner of Pro Caffeinated Coffee House, now, Taylor,
what does it mean to you to be brilliantly Black?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
It means that you are profound, that you are enough.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You are great just because you're black, just because of
who you are, and you decided to start that business.
You are greatness as it is. And you don't need
a certificate. You don't need a criteria or any type
of guideline to tell you that you are a great.
By definition, you are standing alone. And so when I
(09:18):
was named one of a Brilliantly Black AWARLD recipients, it
was shocking at first because I think often around like
what legacy I want to leave for my kids. To
have a four year old boy and I have a
seven month old daughter, and I just want them to
be able to say, like my mom did that, Yes,
(09:39):
like my mom is the ish like she did that.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I mean, I'm not a Barissa by trade.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I taught myself how to brew coffee, how an extractor,
espresso shot. Sure, I talked to others around the equipment
I should be using and what it looks like, what
it founds like to brew good coffee. But this was
not my initial career or industry, and I I just
I want to leave a legacy for my kids to
be proud of, but a legacy whereas like they can
(10:06):
use that as a stepping stone to create whatever it
is they want to do.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Taylor, you got it.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
I feel like that's one of the major keys to life,
setting up the next generation. So for someone out there
who is thinking about starting a small business or just
a business in general, what advice would you give to them?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Make the plan, make it simple, write it down, and
make it as simple as possible, because you want the
plan to be able to be picked up and moved
with or without you with ease. You don't want to
be the only person who can drive that machine itself, right,
But you also have to be confident in your plan,
and it has to be strong and clear and concise.
(10:46):
There are a lot of great ideas out there and
a lot of great entrepreneurs who are promising who have
you know, great models and great strategies. But because it
is not clear and concise, because there's no confidence driving it,
it falls short. And no amount of money grants resources
(11:06):
can drive that machine unless you can back it yourself
and speak well about your business. So that's the first
thing I would say, Make it simple, make it clear.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
And concise.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That's a great first tip.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
On The second thing is you gotta work.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
No one is out here saying let me give you
a million dollars just because you're black and you're a female.
No one is out here is saying let me let
me help her. Right, you have to take the risk
on yourself, sure, but you have to prove that the
risk that someone is taking on you it is worthwhile.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
And the third thing that I would say is don't
give up.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
There's going to be a lot of nose before you
get one, yes, and if you get intimidated by those nose,
if you get discouraged by that, then maybe this is
not the industry that you should go into. But you
got a grid and bear it and keep pushing and
know that your idea is one of the best and
only you can do, no one else can. So I
(12:01):
think if we start with those three ideas, a lot
of black businesses could be thriving a lot better than
they are today.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Very good advice.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
And like you said, you have to believe in yourself
for anybody else to hop on board and believe in
you too.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
I mean, this business has only been around for two
years and I've already secured, you know, close to fifty
thousand dollars in funding fundy that I don't have.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
To give back. It was free.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I've grown my business from just me to five people already.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
We have a social media marketing manager.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Now that I've hired, because you know, the AI is
not for me, but there are other people who are
doing that very well, and that's their world.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
I will not doublance that my world is coffee.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
We have a few corporate clients that we serve on
a monthly basis.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
And we are taking on more. In twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
We've served sixteen weddings this year, which is huge. Yet
I did not I think I would go onto the
wedding industry because you know, we think about weddings.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
You think open bar, right, you don't think coffee.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
So last year I just decided to go to a
wedding expo, you know, just to see what the interest
would be, and they loved it.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
I think we had seven weddings last year. We did
it again to another bridal lexpo in January and from
their sixteen weddings, and we're already booked for like May
of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Look at you booked and busy.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Love, it's growing so quickly and so like I say
that not to brag, I do want to be humble,
but I shared that because in two years we've made
that much progress and there's still so much to gain
and so much to do, but it can be done.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
And your proof of that is definitely not bragging, is
definitely inspiring. And that's why you were one of our
awardees for the Bridley Black Awards. So that's a big thing.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Thank you. It was. That award is pretty heavy and
it's really nice.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I'm loving it. I look at it all the time
and I walked out the door. It's like, man, that
I really did something.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
You did and you still are.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
And somebody really recognized me. And I'm thankful for that.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You know what.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
It's our pleasure and we're thankful for you. I mean,
we wouldn't have a Brilliantly Black Awards without our Brintley
Black owned businesses. And I know one thing, Taylor, I
definitely got to try some of that coffee and syrup.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Maybe I should stop buy and bring you guys some
and set up for you all in the morning before
you get started and drop you off a fee boxes
of syrup.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
We would love that and get our content going because
you know content now right, Yes, that's a big front
of the business now real quick, let's touch on that,
you know, because it is such a big part in
everything that we do. Now, how has that helped you
or how has hiring somebody to handle that content helped you?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
So far?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It is a breath of fresh air. And she's black
as well, and I love it. She created my logo,
so you know, I love that, and I just I
went to her and I went through exactly what I
wanted to do and how I wanted to do it,
and we.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Had a good conversation.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
She asked questions like what is your targeted audience, what
are the demographics, what areas do you want to reach?
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And how often do you want to post?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
And so I wanted it to be inviting and to procaffeinated.
I want to build community because when you think about coffee,
when you go to a cafe and you sit down,
what do you see smiles and laughs and good conversation
and you don't hear anybody arguing. You don't see anybody
(15:33):
in a bad mood, and if they are, after they
leave they're great, that's right, right, And so I wanted
my platform to be just that. I want people to
see it and be inspired to have a great day,
because I've quickly noticed that sometimes a smile is the
only thing that that person has going for them that day,
(15:53):
and I want to be that. I want to be
that for others, and so with my social media platform,
I just wanted to be inspiring. I wanted to be welcoming, inviting,
and bring joy with you wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
And I personally appreciate that, and I can tell that
that's exactly what you're about, just simply bringing joy, good vibes,
positive energy. We go through so much today, so it's
definitely need a tailor. And speaking of that social media,
where can we find you? What are your social handles?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
So Instagram it's the underscore Procaffeinated, and then on Facebook
it's just simply Procaffeinated Coffeehouse.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
And so we are always doing pop ups in the community,
especially in the western suburbs and the Chicago land region.
So follow us so that you can see where we
are and try these flavors that you've never had before,
and then you.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Can also invite us into whatever you have going on.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
So if you have a birthday party, a wedding shower,
a baby shower, you know, customer appreciation or employee appreciations,
we would love to join you. Like I mentioned with
the brides, sometimes we forget to feed.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Our wedding party in the mornings, especially with brides.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
You know, we get up at four five o'clock in
the morning getting our hair and makeup ready, and by
the time you realize it, I.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Could imagine you just forget to eat.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Two o'clock hits. You had had anything to eat. So
when you bring in procaffeinated, we provide, you know, a.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Nice little continental breakfast, something that's not too heavy on
your stomach, so you're not bloated, but you're not passing
out during the ceremony either. So we would love to
join join future brides and help them enjoy their day
as they prepare for one of the biggest days of
their lives.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
It's so important, Taylor, and I love that you do weddings.
So where can we book you? What's your website?
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Www dot PCH mobilecafe dot.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Com, pchmobile dot com. I got you.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Go to our website.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You can click on inquire Now fill out that little
two minute questionnaire giving us information about your event, what
you're looking for, what type of package you're looking for,
and then within forty eight hours we'll respond with a
quote and then we'll hop on the phone and hash
out the details.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Well, there you go. It sounds like a simple process
to me.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Taylor, you got it, girl, and we will see you
at many events around the area. I'm just so grateful
that you took time out of your busy schedule to
talk to me today.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Absolutely, I am just so honored to be here with
you to speak with you. You are doing so many
wonderful things for us in the community. So thank you
for doing what you do. Thank you for also being
a light to black female entrepreneurs. And I can't wait
to drop off that sample box for you so that
you can continue having a great morning.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Thank you so much, Taylor. Can't wait to see you soon.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
You my girl. Danny d
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!