March 20, 2024 • 34 mins
When you get a golden idea - run with it. That's what Rachel Stahle and Kelsey Watson did, leading to the creation of Snap Wagon. Embark on a journey with us and discover how a mobile photo booth became the cornerstone of a thriving business. This episode unravels the tapestry of their hard-won success, detailing the metamorphosis of a simple concept into a community-connecting phenomenon and marketing powerhouse. Rachel and Kelsey's passion for local growth and their unique blend of volunteering spirit and marketing ingenuity are nothing short of inspiring.
Picture this: you're at an event, and a photo booth captures your most joyous moments. That's the experience Rachel and Kelsey have perfected with Snap Wagon, transcending traditional photography to craft unforgettable memories in a cozy environment. Our candid discussion uncovers the heart of creating a business that resonates with each smile snapped. The duo shares pearls of wisdom for budding entrepreneurs, emphasizing the harmony of shared visions and diverse strengths. Their story is a roadmap for anyone dreaming of turning their entrepreneurial aspirations into reality, complete with practical advice on leveraging valuable resources.
As we wind through the narrative of these inspirational women, we also celebrate the power of community in the world of business. Their stories attest to how engagement with local initiatives and a collaborative spirit have been pivotal for Snap Wagon's triumph. From personal tales of nonprofit involvement to strategic networking, Rachel and Kelsey exemplify what it means to intertwine professional success with meaningful community contributions. So, grab a cup of java from the QC Coffee Trail, and tune in to an episode that's rich with the aroma of entrepreneurial spirit, community collaboration, and the joy that comes from capturing life's best moments.
Find the Snap Wagon on social media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesnapwagonquadcities
Instagram - thesnapwagonqc
TikTok - thesnapwagonqc
Or on their website at thesnapwagonqc.com
QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region.
Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And I asked her do we have this in the Quad Cities?
And she's like no, we do not.
And so a week later shemessages me again and she's like
so are we doing this?
And to come to find out, we hadthe next week later we had an
LLC, an EIN, a credit card and abusiness plan.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's where.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Welcome to QC.
That's where I'm, katrina, yourhost.
I'm so excited to be back forour new season with Rachel
Staley and Kelsey Watson,co-owners of the Snapwagon.
Hello, how are you guys doingGood?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
thanks.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
So we were talking a little bit before and I think
it's only fair to throw itimmediately to you guys to
really peel back the layer ofonion of what you guys do
outside of the Snapwagon andthen let's bring it back to
Snapwagon.
So, kelsey, who are you?
What are you talk about?
Your background?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Yeah, so I'm Kelsey Watson.
I am a full-time marketingspecialist, but on the side I
just joked a little bit ago I'ma professional side hustler.
So while I do own this photobooth business of Snapwagon with
Rachel, I also have a littlesocial media LinkedIn
optimization company calledSparkle Sophisticate.
And then I also do weddingplanning on the side and I'm
(01:42):
also planning my own wedding.
So it comes in handy, and I'vebeen in the QC for over 20 years
.
I'm not a native, but basicallyam, and I love all things local
, I love the Quad Cities, I loveliving here and I don't ever
plan on leaving.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So and my name is Rachel Staley and I've been born
and raised in Vent, north Iowa.
I've lived a few differentplaces, but I've always ended
back up here in the Quad Cities.
I have a few entrepreneurialideas, so I also own Candle
(02:20):
Company, which is a travelingcandle workshop company
benefiting local businesses.
I come to you to put on acandle workshop, which is just
like something fun to do, andthen also owning the Snapwagon,
which actually opened up Octoberof 2023.
So it's been a really fun ride.
(02:41):
Also heavily involved in theJCs as well and love to
volunteer other nonprofits andthe Quad City community.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So I'm like getting from you both of you that you're
very like interpersonal centric.
You have, you've put a lot ofstock and weight into serving
people through your hobbies,through your businesses,
nonprofit world.
Let's start with the Snapwagon.
What was the idea behind it andwhat is it for?
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So actually the Snapwagon kind of originated
when I went to a wedding inDallas for a friend and they had
a mobile photo booth that was aactually a camper van, a mini
camper van and I texted Kelsey,who obviously does wedding
planning on the side she's theco-chair of the JCs wedding expo
and I asked her do we have thisin the Quad Cities?
(03:34):
And she's like no, we do not.
And so a week later shemessages me again and she's like
so are we doing this?
And to come to find out, we hadthe next week later we had an
LLC, an EIN, a credit card and abusiness plan and we really
kind of tried to decide who isour?
(03:56):
Who do we want to sell to?
Right, and it's really.
We found out that it's afantastic marketing tool.
We thought weddings would beour bread and butter, right, but
because we can put logos on ourtemplate and they can upload
them to social media, it's afantastic marketing tool for
(04:17):
nonprofits to have the Snap Lakein there as well as other
corporate events as well, localbusinesses to kind of spread
their logo and their mission aswell.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
So that's how that started Visually like
everybody's been to an eventwhere there's like a photo booth
, you know the classic, wherethere's a table of props and
what have you Like.
So walk me through.
What is different that the SnapWagon does.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Yeah, the Snap Wagon is a seven by 11 foot trailer.
It's our little Dorothea.
If you're Swifty, I had to.
I had to go with the name thatwas in a Swifty sound, so we
love her so much.
She used to be a little redthing and she is now pearly
(05:05):
white.
We have like taken advantage ofall the relationships that we
have, basically, and in a goodway.
We're giving people businesstoo, but just making this kind
of vision come to life.
Rachel and I work on Turbo mode, so I don't know if that's a
good thing or a bad thing.
We probably don't.
We balance each other on everyway, except probably that we're
(05:27):
both very like go, go, go, go go.
But the trailer itself it haslike little barn doors that open
in the back and you just kindof we have little steps so you
climb in.
We built a bench and I say webecause you know Rachel did most
of it but we really did putlike our blood, sweat and tears
(05:49):
into this trailer when we wereremodeling it.
Luckily it already had thevinyl flooring.
If we had to do that ourselves,I'm not quite sure if we would
still be in business today,because it was just I joke, but
it was.
It was definitely a process toremodel, to remodel the trailer.
We put wallpaper in, we paintedthe whole thing, sanded the
(06:10):
whole thing.
Our vision.
We first started we did alittle L bench when you walk in,
so it's very homey, comfy, it'saesthetically pleasing.
We have a little florawallpaper that we did and we
mounted.
Her way friend actually builtus this little contraption and
we were able to mount our iPadon the wall across from the
(06:33):
bench to save room.
So we didn't need to purchaselike an actual photo booth shell
, as they call it, or an iPadshell, because it's all powered
by an iPad.
So with the aestheticallypleasing part, we've got like
cute pillows in there.
And then we do have a littletrunk of props and we're always
looking to add to our littleinventory Like unique and
(06:54):
different and fun.
So that's kind of we're justhere to add some flair to the
way you make memories.
That's really what we're allabout.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I like that.
That's really cool.
So, okay, you do not haveobviously, being kind of a
mobile, portable, like asset.
You don't have a brick andmortar, you don't have like an
office where people can go, comein and say, hey, do you?
So how does marketing look andhow does like getting your word
out?
Look in that space when youreally just are a virtual kind
(07:25):
of company.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Do you want me to take that one Rach?
Yeah, you can go ahead and dothat one, Okay.
So Rachel and I, we both splitup our responsibilities very
evenly.
I feel I kind of spearhead themarketing aspect of the business
, being that I've been.
I majored in communication andpublic relations and journalism
(07:49):
in college, so I really havelived in that realm since like
20, I don't want to age myself.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
So I'm not going to say that I graduated college Do
it age yourself.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
We want to hear it.
I went to Monmouth College andI graduated in 2015.
So I act like I'm really old, Ifeel old, my knees hurt.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
That's just being busy.
That's done that to you, Ithink.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
So I've lived in that marketing realm for all these
years and I fell intohospitality.
I am now in a position inmarketing, have been for three
years now and I really it's funbecause I market for a
technology company and it's alot different than marketing for
this little passion, passionatebrainchild of ours that Rachel
and I have kind of dreamed up.
(08:37):
And I want I mean we I think weboth I can speak for Rachel too
we want to do this work all thetime.
Like if we could keep oursalaries, keep our benefits and
ideally that'd be the dreamright and just do this full time
, I think we would both sayabsolutely yes.
So with the marketing aspect, Iam you know, I'm pretty I'm
(09:00):
getting better at TikTok, have alot of TikToks.
We primarily post on Facebookand Instagram and then we also
have a LinkedIn.
So of course, audiences are alldifferent on all those
platforms.
Linkedin being we want totarget more of, like, those
corporate event planners, peoplethat plan events for their own
companies, and then Facebook andInstagram is more of a younger
(09:23):
crowd, the late night scrollers.
It's all about just kind offiguring out when, the when our
audience is online and what theywant to see when they're online
.
So we've been very heavy in themarketing, I feel, I mean, and
we're only going to get evenmore heavily involved in it.
Not having a brick and mortar,I don't think affects that at
(09:46):
all, because we have thisdigital age that we can live in.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So Kelsey does a really nice job at all the
TikToks and Instagram posts andthings like that and keeping
people engaged and things likethat.
And something to note is before, when we initially thought we
would be doing weddings andthings like that, we didn't have
a LinkedIn.
And we kind of thought, well,we should be having a LinkedIn
because, you know our, our mainfocus really is corporate events
(10:14):
and nonprofit you know,nonprofit corporations so things
like that.
So why not have a LinkedIn tofocus our marketing towards them
and things like that?
So that kind of came out offruition later on, but it's been
growing our engagement and ourviewers daily.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah, I think one thing too with marketing is just
reaching out to the people thatare planning the events already
and just simply asking, becauseusually somebody that's
planning an annual event wantsthat unique, different touch and
that's exactly what we canoffer.
And then we want to retain thatand keep it going, because,
guess, the events that we'vedone, guess, love it.
(10:58):
Because all you hear is likelaughs.
And we got a review justrecently from hand in hand shout
out to Ashley at hand in hand,but she left us a fabulous
review.
Just, you know, people arestill talking about it and
that's exactly what we want.
We want to leave that mark onpeople's events.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Have you had an event that you've been at?
That was maybe like a surpriseto you, like I never would have
thought you know that we wouldbe of service to you.
Know, lex wire's a.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Well, our debut.
We actually debuted at MadeMarket, the December Made Market
, and that was kind of before.
You know.
We thought we would be doingweddings but people were in and
out of that, laughing theirbutts off, having a great time,
even the people who didn't wantto go in, right, the husbands
who were begrudgingly forced togo in and take a photo.
And then we got all theserequests like what about a
(11:48):
Kingston year or a retirementparty?
And we kind of really thoughtabout, well, what else could we
be doing?
There's this the opportunitiesare endless with the snap wagon,
the mobile photo booth business.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Where do you guys see yourselves?
You know like long term, withthe snap wagon, bigger events,
more weddings, like what do youguys think is going to come of
it?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah, we've definitely talked about this, so
hopefully we'll be adding a newservice by the end of 2020.
Well, mid 2024, we'd like to.
We've actually recently added asnap audio service, which is an
audio book, which is like thevoicemail phone that you can
leave a voicemail to your lovedones at a wedding, things like
(12:34):
that.
So that's a new service that weoffer.
We would love to also offer alike, an open like, a retro open
air booth to kind of competewith the others.
You know, other photo booths inthe area and potentially we'd
love, you know, by 2025, wewould love to grow our fleet of
(12:56):
mobile.
You know, photo boothspotentially have an actual
camper, van or Volkswagen bus,you know, determined, but that
is where we'd love to be and Idon't know, Kelsey, if you
wanted to add on to that.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
No, I just I think I have to laugh because Rachel and
I have had many conversationsabout this and we will continue
to because that's the way ourbrains work.
But if you let Rachel keeptalking for about five more
minutes about it, she would saywe'll have a franchise and you
know we'll be in other you knowbig cities and other things like
that which you know it's notfar off.
Obviously, like you know, youhave to start somewhere and I
(13:36):
just kind of echo what Rachelsays, that we would like to grow
our fleet more than anythingyou know in the near future,
within the next couple yearsyear to I'm still amazed at how
quickly you got it going.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
You said it went from text to LLC and credit card in
the span of like seven days.
So you've already got plans toexpand, which is absolutely
admirable.
It's so cool.
I think it's a really fun idea.
Love hearing that people arelike getting in there and
laughing and just creatingmemories and I have to say like
visit Quad Cities.
(14:11):
That's what we're all about.
So like this is going like verymuch in conjunction with our
goal for people when they comehere whether you're a visitor,
you're a resident, whatever wewant you to make a memory, a
lifelong, lasting memory.
Whatever brought you here,whatever you're here for, we
want you to just have like havea good foundation of you know,
(14:35):
happy, positive memories doingwhatever it is that you're doing
.
And you guys are adding to thatspace, which is just so cool
because it goes right in linewith what we are passionate
about here.
I have to know I mean this itwas such a quick endeavor.
Was there anybody and you don'thave to name names, but just
was there anybody that was likeRachel and Kelsey, like are you
(14:55):
out of your mind?
This isn't going to go?
Well, you're doing this tooquickly.
Was there anyone that was likehey, hold up stop.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
I mean, I can think of a couple of just like little
comments.
You know, just kind of, yeah,like you're going, you're going
at this too quickly, like you'rekind of in over your head, or
you know the, the smallinvestment that we have made.
I think Rachel and I both lookat it this way it's going to pay
off in the long run and I don'tsee how it couldn't and I don't
(15:26):
think Rachel does either seehow it couldn't pay off.
It's just like you said.
It's and we say this every day.
It's just like a we're our ownlittle niche niche.
Have you ever been topronounced that, canada?
I don't know.
But we're just, we're different.
We are a photographer.
We're not here to be yourphotographer, we're here to get
the behind the scenes moments atyour event.
(15:47):
We're here to provide you withthose moments that you're not
involved in, maybe on yourwedding day.
It's just those things andseeing all the people and all
the fun that they're having inthe photo booth, when you
weren't able to experience ityourself.
So it's just, that's just asmall part of what we do, but it
makes it really special to usand we have, like you said, we
(16:07):
contribute well to, you know,just making memories in the
space and the Quad Cities.
We have a little rug and itsays it's always happy hour here
, and it's not meant for alcohol, it's meant because you're
always smiling when you're inthe photo booth, so you're
always happy.
That's so true, I love that.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
So you two.
I love to kind of dig into likehow far your background goes
you two are.
It is a woman owned business.
You two came together andyou're making it happen.
So congratulations on that.
Like the success you guys havealready seen so far is really
great.
Looking forward to seeing whatcomes next of your fleet.
(16:47):
Take us back to Rachel andKelsey of yesteryear.
Where did this all begin?
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Yeah.
So I actually joined the JC'sin 2020, september of 2021 and
really hit the ground running.
In fact, I got rookie of theyear for that year and then
Kelsey was running the weddingexpo and needed a co-chair, so I
kind of stepped in and werealized then like we worked
very well together, like justsimultaneously.
(17:16):
I was able to catch on quickly.
She was, you know, we're veryorganized, we're go getters, and
so we came really close friendsand then over time we just we
were on the board together lastyear at the JC's and then Just
stayed in touch and I'm like youknow, if I ever go into
(17:37):
business with anyone, it will beKelsey Watson and sure enough,
october that that happened.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Yeah, we both found Like a passion that we really
aligned well with.
We do work really well togetherand I don't think I could go
into business with someone elseother than Rachel either,
because we both bring things tothe table that the other doesn't
, and we aligned very, very muchon so many things.
It's kind of it's kind of adream partnership, and I'm I'm
(18:06):
really grateful that we foundeach other and we're able to go
in on this together.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
So, being new, relatively new business owners,
what would you guys say is yourbest piece of advice for
somebody who wants to look intostarting their own thing?
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, I would certainly Look to someone that
you work well with and thatyou've worked with well in the
past and and there's actually alot of free resources that you
can utilize, like we've utilizedscore we have a fantastic
mentor who's helping us out, andI'm sure, kelsey, do you have
anything you want to add to that?
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Well, I think, too, like piggybacking off of finding
a good partner to work with.
If that's the route you want togo, I highly recommend working
with a partner, because there'sthings that Rachel does in the
business that I know I wouldn'tbe as great at or Like I at
least don't want to say as hardYep.
So I think that finding someonethat you align with on a lot of
(19:06):
your values, when it comes downto like Even as simply as like
you know, when we make X amountof money, we're gonna do this
and you know, have like physical, tangible goals, it's just nice
to have a partner you canbounce ideas off of and you're
not.
You know, if you're in your ownhead, you can, you can talk to
them and they'll be like no,this idea is crazy.
(19:27):
But in a but in a more like youknow, meaningful aspect, I
think, just like Rachel said,fighting those like free
resources, really shoppingaround to see what you can get
the best bang for your buck for.
When we were even shopping forthe trailer, we, we I think we
(19:49):
visited two or three places to,or maybe one other trailer, but
we really did like that out.
You know, even like we had tovet down as far as, like another
weight of the trailer, how longwas make sure that our vehicles
could carry.
So Just doing a lot of researchon like what, what can I take?
And, yeah, and if what you'rewanting to bring to the space
(20:12):
that you're in and like the areathat you're, your community,
you're part of, is it going tobe successful.
So having some sort ofmarketing strategy, which we
also Excuse me also got fromscore.
It's helping us lay out a lotof the groundwork for what we
can hopefully have a successfulbusiness with.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
You mentioned you know a little bit ago, kind of
all the collaboration that ittook to like getting the wagon
off the ground and, you know,refurbishing and what have you,
and just other like you knowresources that you sought out at
the beginning.
And I think that that's such atestament to like starting a
business in the Quad Cities,because it is such like a Like a
(20:55):
diverse community as far asexpertise goes, because we've
got like we've got a ton ofhigher education where people
are being built up for differentfields, different expertise,
there's people that are willingto help out each other.
It's a neighbor helpingneighbor kind of vibe around
here.
I hear that a lot from businessowners that like, yeah, there's
(21:17):
more Collaboration and likerising tide than there is like
trying to, like, you know,compete or cut down or, you know
, invade a space.
It's like, yeah, there's youknow 14 craft breweries in the
community, but guess what?
There's room for all of them.
They all have their own kind ofthing, they all have their own
(21:39):
niche.
Everybody, you know, has theirown favorite, so to speak.
So I think I'm kind of feelingthat from you guys in your, in
your like testimony aboutstarting up.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Yeah, it's definitely community over competition in
every sense of that phrase.
There is room for every levelof whatever is being offered,
Because there's an audience forit, you know.
So when we were getting startedreferencing back to, you know
who kind of helped us kind ofget off our feet and or get up
(22:11):
on our feet or whatever you wantto call it.
We actually worked with severalJC's members.
So just making thoseconnections, you know even
McKinney insurance he helped uswith ensuring our trailer.
We work with Drew Grace at IHMississippi Valley Credit Union.
They're both JC's members andwe appreciate their help so much
because a lot of the thingsthat they help us with we
(22:32):
wouldn't have been able tofigure out on our own.
And just making thoseconnections, networking, just
getting your foot in the doorit's all Sounds cliche but it is
very much A necessary tool.
Yeah and yeah, the Quad Citiesis definitely a place that I
think can foster that.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
What's our catchphrase Hashtag bring it QC.
Like any idea is no idea is adumb idea.
You know we want to heareverything.
There's somebody to help Alongthe way, you know.
Thank you guys for that.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
We're definitely lucky to live in an area where
local businesses are supportedand there's a lot of
collaboration involved withdifferent businesses as well.
So we look forward to what's tocome with other Local
businesses and, in acollaboration aspect, where does
your like passion project startor passion for?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Personal service.
Start individually like Kelsey.
Could you start like take usback, why nonprofits?
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Well, I started with JC's of the Quad Cities,
probably back in like 2017, andI really got involved because of
the Bridal Expo now calledWedding Expo.
I wanted to be on the committee.
I was a vendor already and Iwanted to just get more involved
with a group that you know doesgood things in the community
and the JC they were.
You know, they're a group ofpeople ages 21 to 40.
(24:04):
I was like, okay, cool, checkthat off the list.
They do the Bridal Expo check.
You know it just hit a lot ofchecked a lot of boxes for me as
to what I was looking for insome of the organizations to
join.
So I joined and I've been in itfor now.
Oh, this is my seventh year.
Oh my God, oh my gosh, it's along time.
(24:25):
I have been involved with JCCfor seven years and so I was
president last year.
I'm sure a woman this year,last year, is nominated for the
top, one of the top presidentsof the, of the I don't know what
you call it semester orwhatever it's called.
Rachel, I think you nominatedthese Of Iowa.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Yeah, you were top president of Iowa.
Yeah, for 2012.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
That's awesome, yeah.
So and then I am also involvedwith Lead Her, I have a mentor
and she's really sweet, and I'malso a big sister and my
brother's big sisters.
I think what it all boils downto is I'm a type one on the
Enneagram, which I don't know.
If you're familiar with theEnneagram, rachel and I are very
(25:10):
passionate about the Enneagram.
There's nine differentpersonality types.
I'm type one which is calledthe idealist or the
perfectionist, but my favoriteterm for it is the reformer.
So at my core, I just likeleaving things better than I
found them.
So that's really, I think, whatit boils down to.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Awesome, rachel, take us back.
Where does your passion comefrom?
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I've always been really involved with nonprofits,
like in high school.
I was president of Key Club fortwo years.
I was in future businessleaders of America Banner of
High School and really I learneda lot.
And then, when I moved backhere, I wanted to create a new
(25:56):
friend group and so I joined theJCs of the Quad Cities.
I work for Royal Neighbors ofAmerica, which is really
philanthropic focused, and wehave a chapter system which we
can donate to a variety of areanonprofits and things like that.
So I love working for RoyalNeighbors and being part of that
, as well as having theopportunity to volunteer as well
(26:18):
in my free time, and I mean theJCs really also has opened that
up.
I've learned about a lot of newnonprofits that we can be
focused on.
I kind of led the I think itwas 2022 initiative for the JCs
to donate money towards a 180,it's what's it called like a
(26:41):
jumble gym at 180.
So always been heavily involvedwith the community and that's
where kind of Kelsey and I align.
In fact, we're happy to workwith nonprofits and provide
discounts and things for that,because that's where we kind of
started, that's how we met andthat's where we really want to
focus.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, oh, that's awesome.
Well, thank you guys for likekind of encapsulating what the
snap wagon is, how you guys cameto be partners with it.
I'm looking at your socialmedia as we speak right now and
I just I'm loving the likeanatomy of Dorothea and just the
really fun like inside that gota lot of likes that way.
(27:22):
I think that did so wellbecause like it really it's,
when you're talking about itverbally it's a little difficult
to like picture understand.
I mean, you laid it out reallywell, kelsey, when you like were
you know, explaining the, thepearl color and the flooring and
kind of the aesthetic.
It's really helpful to take alook at this picture.
(27:45):
So the snap wagon mobile photobooth is that your like handle
across all platforms.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
So it's the snap wagon QC on Instagram, linkedin,
tiktok and snap wagon QuadCities on Facebook.
And, honestly, it's because Imessed up and made the wrong
Facebook account at first and Icouldn't make it with QC, so it
had to be the snap wagon QuadCities.
But yeah, and if you're goingto ask about how the name came
(28:15):
to be because I feel like that'swhere this is leading, but
maybe I'm wrong- no, you're onthe right track.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Hit me.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Um, well, rachel and I were seeing names and you know
, once we're like are we doingthis?
And then like on a you know,name, business name generator,
because, as one does, you go ona business name generator on
Google and we were like theflash bar, the snap bar that you
know.
We were just thinking of, allthese things were like we're not
(28:44):
a bar.
I love the word bar, but we'renot a bar.
Yeah, we're not a mobile Bar.
There are, there's a mobile barcalled wheelie boozy.
Shout out to Jill Um, we arenot that.
She does a great job doing thatand her name is so cute.
We just liked the name from agenerator.
(29:05):
That's where this is going.
Oh my gosh.
Yep, yeah, wagon situation.
Yeah, oh, I love it, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
You know there's no other, there's no better way.
If you the name comes upon youand it works and it fits and you
like it, then that's perfect.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Yeah, we both love that one.
I don't know, I don't rememberwhat the other options were
outside.
I remember liking flash bar,but also that could be
completely misinterpreted.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
That's, that's where I was coming from with them,
like preferring the snap wagonover the flash bar.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
That's the snap wagon after hours.
Yeah, oh, my gosh.
Okay, I have a couple more foryou guys.
Okay, so off business.
Just think free time, kelseyRachel, fun time.
You're just doing what you wantto do.
What is your favorite thing todo in the Quad Cities?
(30:00):
If someone comes to you,they're from out of town.
Kelsey Rachel, what do I do?
I've got an afternoon to spend.
What do you say, can they?
Speaker 4 (30:09):
come like around brunch time, sure, whatever you
want.
So I would absolutely take themto 392 Coffee Bar Cafe.
392 Cafe.
Get the vanilla ice signaturelatte Large, because you'll need
it, and the breakfast burrito.
If you want to add chorizo, gofor it, get wild.
Then I would probably take themto Like, go thrifting like at
(30:34):
different shops around the QuadCities, because that's just like
what I love to do in my freetime and Go get your nails done,
if you want.
And then you go to lunch hungryhobo I Do love me some hungry
hobo, yes.
And then number 11, night.
Number 11, regular with cheddarfries, the combo pack, yep,
(31:01):
yeah, so like eating.
I just like a coffee shop.
You can, you can't really gowrong.
Coffee shop number one place.
I'm gonna take someone to go,that's like you know.
Even my friend was just in townon Saturday.
You went to 392.
I also went to the lastSaturday, so and it's a local
business and it's in downtown,which is a great area to explore
if you're looking to kind ofhang out, and, yeah, awesome.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
I would.
I would see, I would say Iwould take them to the farmers
market.
I love the farmers market.
Got hit up lady teas for some.
You know all the brownies, ohmy gosh, I have a sweet tooth.
My, it's my weakness.
And then, if we're gonna, youknow, have brekkie, where you
would go to Jimmy's pancakehouse, yes, and have the pancake
(31:49):
of the month, because they,their pancakes, are unlike
anybody else's pancakes,although, you see, pancake house
does do a really good.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Yeah, you do.
Our next, our next businessmeeting, can be there.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
I agree, yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
Over some cinnamon roll pancakes yes, sure, and in
order of biscuits and gravy,because they put bacon in their
gravy and it's so good.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Thank you for telling me to your next business
meeting, please.
Awesome suggestions.
Thank you, guys.
I always like to ask that from,like Amy said, you're not like
fully and Accusing native, butlike close enough you've.
You've been here for many yearsand it's really nice to get
(32:38):
that insight.
So I'm gonna I'm gonna ask youone final question on this
podcast.
Qc, that's where, fill in theblank, whatever strikes you,
rachel, you go first.
Qc, that's where.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
You come back and raise your family yes, love it.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Okay, qc, that's where you go out for coffee,
that's what.
That's the first thing thatcame to my life that suits you.
I mean, I like I.
I work at coffee shops like atleast twice a week, so I always
have to try, like all of the newones, all of the ones I've not
been to, I love it.
(33:23):
The QC coffee trail.
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Yes, I was just about to.
Yes, we fully support that.
The QC coffee trail.
There are so many awesomeoptions on the QC coffee trail.
Qc coffee trail dot com.
You can like, sip your way toprizes.
You can come in and see us andwe will help you sign on if you
want a little help.
But yeah, it's really easy,just an on-your-phone thing.
So thank you for plugging that.
(33:47):
That's fabulous.
Yes, drink coffee in the QuadCities.
Thank you guys so much.
I'm gonna link all of yoursocial media To the description
of this podcast.
If you're listening or ifyou're watching on YouTube, just
look down in that descriptionand you can find the snap wagon
Rachel and Kelsey.
Thank you again so much forbeing part.
(34:07):
Keep an eye out on their socialfor upcoming fun stuff and the
anatomy of Dorothea and we willsee you guys again soon.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's where a podcast poweredby visit Quad Cities Text visit
QC to 38314 for insider events,activities and updates sent
straight to your phone.
That's the IS it QC.
One word to 38314.
(34:37):
Message and data rates mayapply.
And I asked her do we have this in the Quad Cities?
And she's like no, we do not.
And so a week later shemessages me again and she's like
so are we doing this?
And to come to find out, we hadthe next week later we had an
LLC, an EIN, a credit card and abusiness plan.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's where.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Welcome to QC.
That's where I'm, katrina, yourhost.
I'm so excited to be back forour new season with Rachel
Staley and Kelsey Watson,co-owners of the Snapwagon.
Hello, how are you guys doingGood?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
thanks.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
So we were talking a little bit before and I think
it's only fair to throw itimmediately to you guys to
really peel back the layer ofonion of what you guys do
outside of the Snapwagon andthen let's bring it back to
Snapwagon.
So, kelsey, who are you?
What are you talk about?
Your background?
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Yeah, so I'm Kelsey Watson.
I am a full-time marketingspecialist, but on the side I
just joked a little bit ago I'ma professional side hustler.
So while I do own this photobooth business of Snapwagon with
Rachel, I also have a littlesocial media LinkedIn
optimization company calledSparkle Sophisticate.
And then I also do weddingplanning on the side and I'm
(01:42):
also planning my own wedding.
So it comes in handy, and I'vebeen in the QC for over 20 years
.
I'm not a native, but basicallyam, and I love all things local
, I love the Quad Cities, I loveliving here and I don't ever
plan on leaving.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So and my name is Rachel Staley and I've been born
and raised in Vent, north Iowa.
I've lived a few differentplaces, but I've always ended
back up here in the Quad Cities.
I have a few entrepreneurialideas, so I also own Candle
(02:20):
Company, which is a travelingcandle workshop company
benefiting local businesses.
I come to you to put on acandle workshop, which is just
like something fun to do, andthen also owning the Snapwagon,
which actually opened up Octoberof 2023.
So it's been a really fun ride.
(02:41):
Also heavily involved in theJCs as well and love to
volunteer other nonprofits andthe Quad City community.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So I'm like getting from you both of you that you're
very like interpersonal centric.
You have, you've put a lot ofstock and weight into serving
people through your hobbies,through your businesses,
nonprofit world.
Let's start with the Snapwagon.
What was the idea behind it andwhat is it for?
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So actually the Snapwagon kind of originated
when I went to a wedding inDallas for a friend and they had
a mobile photo booth that was aactually a camper van, a mini
camper van and I texted Kelsey,who obviously does wedding
planning on the side she's theco-chair of the JCs wedding expo
and I asked her do we have thisin the Quad Cities?
(03:34):
And she's like no, we do not.
And so a week later shemessages me again and she's like
so are we doing this?
And to come to find out, we hadthe next week later we had an
LLC, an EIN, a credit card and abusiness plan and we really
kind of tried to decide who isour?
(03:56):
Who do we want to sell to?
Right, and it's really.
We found out that it's afantastic marketing tool.
We thought weddings would beour bread and butter, right, but
because we can put logos on ourtemplate and they can upload
them to social media, it's afantastic marketing tool for
(04:17):
nonprofits to have the Snap Lakein there as well as other
corporate events as well, localbusinesses to kind of spread
their logo and their mission aswell.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
So that's how that started Visually like
everybody's been to an eventwhere there's like a photo booth
, you know the classic, wherethere's a table of props and
what have you Like.
So walk me through.
What is different that the SnapWagon does.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Yeah, the Snap Wagon is a seven by 11 foot trailer.
It's our little Dorothea.
If you're Swifty, I had to.
I had to go with the name thatwas in a Swifty sound, so we
love her so much.
She used to be a little redthing and she is now pearly
(05:05):
white.
We have like taken advantage ofall the relationships that we
have, basically, and in a goodway.
We're giving people businesstoo, but just making this kind
of vision come to life.
Rachel and I work on Turbo mode, so I don't know if that's a
good thing or a bad thing.
We probably don't.
We balance each other on everyway, except probably that we're
(05:27):
both very like go, go, go, go go.
But the trailer itself it haslike little barn doors that open
in the back and you just kindof we have little steps so you
climb in.
We built a bench and I say webecause you know Rachel did most
of it but we really did putlike our blood, sweat and tears
(05:49):
into this trailer when we wereremodeling it.
Luckily it already had thevinyl flooring.
If we had to do that ourselves,I'm not quite sure if we would
still be in business today,because it was just I joke, but
it was.
It was definitely a process toremodel, to remodel the trailer.
We put wallpaper in, we paintedthe whole thing, sanded the
(06:10):
whole thing.
Our vision.
We first started we did alittle L bench when you walk in,
so it's very homey, comfy, it'saesthetically pleasing.
We have a little florawallpaper that we did and we
mounted.
Her way friend actually builtus this little contraption and
we were able to mount our iPadon the wall across from the
(06:33):
bench to save room.
So we didn't need to purchaselike an actual photo booth shell
, as they call it, or an iPadshell, because it's all powered
by an iPad.
So with the aestheticallypleasing part, we've got like
cute pillows in there.
And then we do have a littletrunk of props and we're always
looking to add to our littleinventory Like unique and
(06:54):
different and fun.
So that's kind of we're justhere to add some flair to the
way you make memories.
That's really what we're allabout.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I like that.
That's really cool.
So, okay, you do not haveobviously, being kind of a
mobile, portable, like asset.
You don't have a brick andmortar, you don't have like an
office where people can go, comein and say, hey, do you?
So how does marketing look andhow does like getting your word
out?
Look in that space when youreally just are a virtual kind
(07:25):
of company.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Do you want me to take that one Rach?
Yeah, you can go ahead and dothat one, Okay.
So Rachel and I, we both splitup our responsibilities very
evenly.
I feel I kind of spearhead themarketing aspect of the business
, being that I've been.
I majored in communication andpublic relations and journalism
(07:49):
in college, so I really havelived in that realm since like
20, I don't want to age myself.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
So I'm not going to say that I graduated college Do
it age yourself.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
We want to hear it.
I went to Monmouth College andI graduated in 2015.
So I act like I'm really old, Ifeel old, my knees hurt.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
That's just being busy.
That's done that to you, Ithink.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
So I've lived in that marketing realm for all these
years and I fell intohospitality.
I am now in a position inmarketing, have been for three
years now and I really it's funbecause I market for a
technology company and it's alot different than marketing for
this little passion, passionatebrainchild of ours that Rachel
and I have kind of dreamed up.
(08:37):
And I want I mean we I think weboth I can speak for Rachel too
we want to do this work all thetime.
Like if we could keep oursalaries, keep our benefits and
ideally that'd be the dreamright and just do this full time
, I think we would both sayabsolutely yes.
So with the marketing aspect, Iam you know, I'm pretty I'm
(09:00):
getting better at TikTok, have alot of TikToks.
We primarily post on Facebookand Instagram and then we also
have a LinkedIn.
So of course, audiences are alldifferent on all those
platforms.
Linkedin being we want totarget more of, like, those
corporate event planners, peoplethat plan events for their own
companies, and then Facebook andInstagram is more of a younger
(09:23):
crowd, the late night scrollers.
It's all about just kind offiguring out when, the when our
audience is online and what theywant to see when they're online
.
So we've been very heavy in themarketing, I feel, I mean, and
we're only going to get evenmore heavily involved in it.
Not having a brick and mortar,I don't think affects that at
(09:46):
all, because we have thisdigital age that we can live in.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
So Kelsey does a really nice job at all the
TikToks and Instagram posts andthings like that and keeping
people engaged and things likethat.
And something to note is before, when we initially thought we
would be doing weddings andthings like that, we didn't have
a LinkedIn.
And we kind of thought, well,we should be having a LinkedIn
because, you know our, our mainfocus really is corporate events
(10:14):
and nonprofit you know,nonprofit corporations so things
like that.
So why not have a LinkedIn tofocus our marketing towards them
and things like that?
So that kind of came out offruition later on, but it's been
growing our engagement and ourviewers daily.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah, I think one thing too with marketing is just
reaching out to the people thatare planning the events already
and just simply asking, becauseusually somebody that's
planning an annual event wantsthat unique, different touch and
that's exactly what we canoffer.
And then we want to retain thatand keep it going, because,
guess, the events that we'vedone, guess, love it.
(10:58):
Because all you hear is likelaughs.
And we got a review justrecently from hand in hand shout
out to Ashley at hand in hand,but she left us a fabulous
review.
Just, you know, people arestill talking about it and
that's exactly what we want.
We want to leave that mark onpeople's events.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Have you had an event that you've been at?
That was maybe like a surpriseto you, like I never would have
thought you know that we wouldbe of service to you.
Know, lex wire's a.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Well, our debut.
We actually debuted at MadeMarket, the December Made Market
, and that was kind of before.
You know.
We thought we would be doingweddings but people were in and
out of that, laughing theirbutts off, having a great time,
even the people who didn't wantto go in, right, the husbands
who were begrudgingly forced togo in and take a photo.
And then we got all theserequests like what about a
(11:48):
Kingston year or a retirementparty?
And we kind of really thoughtabout, well, what else could we
be doing?
There's this the opportunitiesare endless with the snap wagon,
the mobile photo booth business.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Where do you guys see yourselves?
You know like long term, withthe snap wagon, bigger events,
more weddings, like what do youguys think is going to come of
it?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah, we've definitely talked about this, so
hopefully we'll be adding a newservice by the end of 2020.
Well, mid 2024, we'd like to.
We've actually recently added asnap audio service, which is an
audio book, which is like thevoicemail phone that you can
leave a voicemail to your lovedones at a wedding, things like
(12:34):
that.
So that's a new service that weoffer.
We would love to also offer alike, an open like, a retro open
air booth to kind of competewith the others.
You know, other photo booths inthe area and potentially we'd
love, you know, by 2025, wewould love to grow our fleet of
(12:56):
mobile.
You know, photo boothspotentially have an actual
camper, van or Volkswagen bus,you know, determined, but that
is where we'd love to be and Idon't know, Kelsey, if you
wanted to add on to that.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
No, I just I think I have to laugh because Rachel and
I have had many conversationsabout this and we will continue
to because that's the way ourbrains work.
But if you let Rachel keeptalking for about five more
minutes about it, she would saywe'll have a franchise and you
know we'll be in other you knowbig cities and other things like
that which you know it's notfar off.
Obviously, like you know, youhave to start somewhere and I
(13:36):
just kind of echo what Rachelsays, that we would like to grow
our fleet more than anythingyou know in the near future,
within the next couple yearsyear to I'm still amazed at how
quickly you got it going.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
You said it went from text to LLC and credit card in
the span of like seven days.
So you've already got plans toexpand, which is absolutely
admirable.
It's so cool.
I think it's a really fun idea.
Love hearing that people arelike getting in there and
laughing and just creatingmemories and I have to say like
visit Quad Cities.
(14:11):
That's what we're all about.
So like this is going like verymuch in conjunction with our
goal for people when they comehere whether you're a visitor,
you're a resident, whatever wewant you to make a memory, a
lifelong, lasting memory.
Whatever brought you here,whatever you're here for, we
want you to just have like havea good foundation of you know,
(14:35):
happy, positive memories doingwhatever it is that you're doing
.
And you guys are adding to thatspace, which is just so cool
because it goes right in linewith what we are passionate
about here.
I have to know I mean this itwas such a quick endeavor.
Was there anybody and you don'thave to name names, but just
was there anybody that was likeRachel and Kelsey, like are you
(14:55):
out of your mind?
This isn't going to go?
Well, you're doing this tooquickly.
Was there anyone that was likehey, hold up stop.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
I mean, I can think of a couple of just like little
comments.
You know, just kind of, yeah,like you're going, you're going
at this too quickly, like you'rekind of in over your head, or
you know the, the smallinvestment that we have made.
I think Rachel and I both lookat it this way it's going to pay
off in the long run and I don'tsee how it couldn't and I don't
(15:26):
think Rachel does either seehow it couldn't pay off.
It's just like you said.
It's and we say this every day.
It's just like a we're our ownlittle niche niche.
Have you ever been topronounced that, canada?
I don't know.
But we're just, we're different.
We are a photographer.
We're not here to be yourphotographer, we're here to get
the behind the scenes moments atyour event.
(15:47):
We're here to provide you withthose moments that you're not
involved in, maybe on yourwedding day.
It's just those things andseeing all the people and all
the fun that they're having inthe photo booth, when you
weren't able to experience ityourself.
So it's just, that's just asmall part of what we do, but it
makes it really special to usand we have, like you said, we
(16:07):
contribute well to, you know,just making memories in the
space and the Quad Cities.
We have a little rug and itsays it's always happy hour here
, and it's not meant for alcohol, it's meant because you're
always smiling when you're inthe photo booth, so you're
always happy.
That's so true, I love that.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
So you two.
I love to kind of dig into likehow far your background goes
you two are.
It is a woman owned business.
You two came together andyou're making it happen.
So congratulations on that.
Like the success you guys havealready seen so far is really
great.
Looking forward to seeing whatcomes next of your fleet.
(16:47):
Take us back to Rachel andKelsey of yesteryear.
Where did this all begin?
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Yeah.
So I actually joined the JC'sin 2020, september of 2021 and
really hit the ground running.
In fact, I got rookie of theyear for that year and then
Kelsey was running the weddingexpo and needed a co-chair, so I
kind of stepped in and werealized then like we worked
very well together, like justsimultaneously.
(17:16):
I was able to catch on quickly.
She was, you know, we're veryorganized, we're go getters, and
so we came really close friendsand then over time we just we
were on the board together lastyear at the JC's and then Just
stayed in touch and I'm like youknow, if I ever go into
(17:37):
business with anyone, it will beKelsey Watson and sure enough,
october that that happened.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Yeah, we both found Like a passion that we really
aligned well with.
We do work really well togetherand I don't think I could go
into business with someone elseother than Rachel either,
because we both bring things tothe table that the other doesn't
, and we aligned very, very muchon so many things.
It's kind of it's kind of adream partnership, and I'm I'm
(18:06):
really grateful that we foundeach other and we're able to go
in on this together.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
So, being new, relatively new business owners,
what would you guys say is yourbest piece of advice for
somebody who wants to look intostarting their own thing?
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, I would certainly Look to someone that
you work well with and thatyou've worked with well in the
past and and there's actually alot of free resources that you
can utilize, like we've utilizedscore we have a fantastic
mentor who's helping us out, andI'm sure, kelsey, do you have
anything you want to add to that?
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Well, I think, too, like piggybacking off of finding
a good partner to work with.
If that's the route you want togo, I highly recommend working
with a partner, because there'sthings that Rachel does in the
business that I know I wouldn'tbe as great at or Like I at
least don't want to say as hardYep.
So I think that finding someonethat you align with on a lot of
(19:06):
your values, when it comes downto like Even as simply as like
you know, when we make X amountof money, we're gonna do this
and you know, have like physical, tangible goals, it's just nice
to have a partner you canbounce ideas off of and you're
not.
You know, if you're in your ownhead, you can, you can talk to
them and they'll be like no,this idea is crazy.
(19:27):
But in a but in a more like youknow, meaningful aspect, I
think, just like Rachel said,fighting those like free
resources, really shoppingaround to see what you can get
the best bang for your buck for.
When we were even shopping forthe trailer, we, we I think we
(19:49):
visited two or three places to,or maybe one other trailer, but
we really did like that out.
You know, even like we had tovet down as far as, like another
weight of the trailer, how longwas make sure that our vehicles
could carry.
So Just doing a lot of researchon like what, what can I take?
And, yeah, and if what you'rewanting to bring to the space
(20:12):
that you're in and like the areathat you're, your community,
you're part of, is it going tobe successful.
So having some sort ofmarketing strategy, which we
also Excuse me also got fromscore.
It's helping us lay out a lotof the groundwork for what we
can hopefully have a successfulbusiness with.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
You mentioned you know a little bit ago, kind of
all the collaboration that ittook to like getting the wagon
off the ground and, you know,refurbishing and what have you,
and just other like you knowresources that you sought out at
the beginning.
And I think that that's such atestament to like starting a
business in the Quad Cities,because it is such like a Like a
(20:55):
diverse community as far asexpertise goes, because we've
got like we've got a ton ofhigher education where people
are being built up for differentfields, different expertise,
there's people that are willingto help out each other.
It's a neighbor helpingneighbor kind of vibe around
here.
I hear that a lot from businessowners that like, yeah, there's
(21:17):
more Collaboration and likerising tide than there is like
trying to, like, you know,compete or cut down or, you know
, invade a space.
It's like, yeah, there's youknow 14 craft breweries in the
community, but guess what?
There's room for all of them.
They all have their own kind ofthing, they all have their own
(21:39):
niche.
Everybody, you know, has theirown favorite, so to speak.
So I think I'm kind of feelingthat from you guys in your, in
your like testimony aboutstarting up.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Yeah, it's definitely community over competition in
every sense of that phrase.
There is room for every levelof whatever is being offered,
Because there's an audience forit, you know.
So when we were getting startedreferencing back to, you know
who kind of helped us kind ofget off our feet and or get up
(22:11):
on our feet or whatever you wantto call it.
We actually worked with severalJC's members.
So just making thoseconnections, you know even
McKinney insurance he helped uswith ensuring our trailer.
We work with Drew Grace at IHMississippi Valley Credit Union.
They're both JC's members andwe appreciate their help so much
because a lot of the thingsthat they help us with we
(22:32):
wouldn't have been able tofigure out on our own.
And just making thoseconnections, networking, just
getting your foot in the doorit's all Sounds cliche but it is
very much A necessary tool.
Yeah and yeah, the Quad Citiesis definitely a place that I
think can foster that.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
What's our catchphrase Hashtag bring it QC.
Like any idea is no idea is adumb idea.
You know we want to heareverything.
There's somebody to help Alongthe way, you know.
Thank you guys for that.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
We're definitely lucky to live in an area where
local businesses are supportedand there's a lot of
collaboration involved withdifferent businesses as well.
So we look forward to what's tocome with other Local
businesses and, in acollaboration aspect, where does
your like passion project startor passion for?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Personal service.
Start individually like Kelsey.
Could you start like take usback, why nonprofits?
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Well, I started with JC's of the Quad Cities,
probably back in like 2017, andI really got involved because of
the Bridal Expo now calledWedding Expo.
I wanted to be on the committee.
I was a vendor already and Iwanted to just get more involved
with a group that you know doesgood things in the community
and the JC they were.
You know, they're a group ofpeople ages 21 to 40.
(24:04):
I was like, okay, cool, checkthat off the list.
They do the Bridal Expo check.
You know it just hit a lot ofchecked a lot of boxes for me as
to what I was looking for insome of the organizations to
join.
So I joined and I've been in itfor now.
Oh, this is my seventh year.
Oh my God, oh my gosh, it's along time.
(24:25):
I have been involved with JCCfor seven years and so I was
president last year.
I'm sure a woman this year,last year, is nominated for the
top, one of the top presidentsof the, of the I don't know what
you call it semester orwhatever it's called.
Rachel, I think you nominatedthese Of Iowa.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Yeah, you were top president of Iowa.
Yeah, for 2012.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
That's awesome, yeah.
So and then I am also involvedwith Lead Her, I have a mentor
and she's really sweet, and I'malso a big sister and my
brother's big sisters.
I think what it all boils downto is I'm a type one on the
Enneagram, which I don't know.
If you're familiar with theEnneagram, rachel and I are very
(25:10):
passionate about the Enneagram.
There's nine differentpersonality types.
I'm type one which is calledthe idealist or the
perfectionist, but my favoriteterm for it is the reformer.
So at my core, I just likeleaving things better than I
found them.
So that's really, I think, whatit boils down to.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Awesome, rachel, take us back.
Where does your passion comefrom?
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I've always been really involved with nonprofits,
like in high school.
I was president of Key Club fortwo years.
I was in future businessleaders of America Banner of
High School and really I learneda lot.
And then, when I moved backhere, I wanted to create a new
(25:56):
friend group and so I joined theJCs of the Quad Cities.
I work for Royal Neighbors ofAmerica, which is really
philanthropic focused, and wehave a chapter system which we
can donate to a variety of areanonprofits and things like that.
So I love working for RoyalNeighbors and being part of that
, as well as having theopportunity to volunteer as well
(26:18):
in my free time, and I mean theJCs really also has opened that
up.
I've learned about a lot of newnonprofits that we can be
focused on.
I kind of led the I think itwas 2022 initiative for the JCs
to donate money towards a 180,it's what's it called like a
(26:41):
jumble gym at 180.
So always been heavily involvedwith the community and that's
where kind of Kelsey and I align.
In fact, we're happy to workwith nonprofits and provide
discounts and things for that,because that's where we kind of
started, that's how we met andthat's where we really want to
focus.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Yeah, oh, that's awesome.
Well, thank you guys for likekind of encapsulating what the
snap wagon is, how you guys cameto be partners with it.
I'm looking at your socialmedia as we speak right now and
I just I'm loving the likeanatomy of Dorothea and just the
really fun like inside that gota lot of likes that way.
(27:22):
I think that did so wellbecause like it really it's,
when you're talking about itverbally it's a little difficult
to like picture understand.
I mean, you laid it out reallywell, kelsey, when you like were
you know, explaining the, thepearl color and the flooring and
kind of the aesthetic.
It's really helpful to take alook at this picture.
(27:45):
So the snap wagon mobile photobooth is that your like handle
across all platforms.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
So it's the snap wagon QC on Instagram, linkedin,
tiktok and snap wagon QuadCities on Facebook.
And, honestly, it's because Imessed up and made the wrong
Facebook account at first and Icouldn't make it with QC, so it
had to be the snap wagon QuadCities.
But yeah, and if you're goingto ask about how the name came
(28:15):
to be because I feel like that'swhere this is leading, but
maybe I'm wrong- no, you're onthe right track.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Hit me.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Um, well, rachel and I were seeing names and you know
, once we're like are we doingthis?
And then like on a you know,name, business name generator,
because, as one does, you go ona business name generator on
Google and we were like theflash bar, the snap bar that you
know.
We were just thinking of, allthese things were like we're not
(28:44):
a bar.
I love the word bar, but we'renot a bar.
Yeah, we're not a mobile Bar.
There are, there's a mobile barcalled wheelie boozy.
Shout out to Jill Um, we arenot that.
She does a great job doing thatand her name is so cute.
We just liked the name from agenerator.
(29:05):
That's where this is going.
Oh my gosh.
Yep, yeah, wagon situation.
Yeah, oh, I love it, yeah.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
You know there's no other, there's no better way.
If you the name comes upon youand it works and it fits and you
like it, then that's perfect.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Yeah, we both love that one.
I don't know, I don't rememberwhat the other options were
outside.
I remember liking flash bar,but also that could be
completely misinterpreted.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
That's, that's where I was coming from with them,
like preferring the snap wagonover the flash bar.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
That's the snap wagon after hours.
Yeah, oh, my gosh.
Okay, I have a couple more foryou guys.
Okay, so off business.
Just think free time, kelseyRachel, fun time.
You're just doing what you wantto do.
What is your favorite thing todo in the Quad Cities?
(30:00):
If someone comes to you,they're from out of town.
Kelsey Rachel, what do I do?
I've got an afternoon to spend.
What do you say, can they?
Speaker 4 (30:09):
come like around brunch time, sure, whatever you
want.
So I would absolutely take themto 392 Coffee Bar Cafe.
392 Cafe.
Get the vanilla ice signaturelatte Large, because you'll need
it, and the breakfast burrito.
If you want to add chorizo, gofor it, get wild.
Then I would probably take themto Like, go thrifting like at
(30:34):
different shops around the QuadCities, because that's just like
what I love to do in my freetime and Go get your nails done,
if you want.
And then you go to lunch hungryhobo I Do love me some hungry
hobo, yes.
And then number 11, night.
Number 11, regular with cheddarfries, the combo pack, yep,
(31:01):
yeah, so like eating.
I just like a coffee shop.
You can, you can't really gowrong.
Coffee shop number one place.
I'm gonna take someone to go,that's like you know.
Even my friend was just in townon Saturday.
You went to 392.
I also went to the lastSaturday, so and it's a local
business and it's in downtown,which is a great area to explore
if you're looking to kind ofhang out, and, yeah, awesome.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
I would.
I would see, I would say Iwould take them to the farmers
market.
I love the farmers market.
Got hit up lady teas for some.
You know all the brownies, ohmy gosh, I have a sweet tooth.
My, it's my weakness.
And then, if we're gonna, youknow, have brekkie, where you
would go to Jimmy's pancakehouse, yes, and have the pancake
(31:49):
of the month, because they,their pancakes, are unlike
anybody else's pancakes,although, you see, pancake house
does do a really good.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Yeah, you do.
Our next, our next businessmeeting, can be there.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
I agree, yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
Over some cinnamon roll pancakes yes, sure, and in
order of biscuits and gravy,because they put bacon in their
gravy and it's so good.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Thank you for telling me to your next business
meeting, please.
Awesome suggestions.
Thank you, guys.
I always like to ask that from,like Amy said, you're not like
fully and Accusing native, butlike close enough you've.
You've been here for many yearsand it's really nice to get
(32:38):
that insight.
So I'm gonna I'm gonna ask youone final question on this
podcast.
Qc, that's where, fill in theblank, whatever strikes you,
rachel, you go first.
Qc, that's where.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
You come back and raise your family yes, love it.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Okay, qc, that's where you go out for coffee,
that's what.
That's the first thing thatcame to my life that suits you.
I mean, I like I.
I work at coffee shops like atleast twice a week, so I always
have to try, like all of the newones, all of the ones I've not
been to, I love it.
(33:23):
The QC coffee trail.
Yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Yes, I was just about to.
Yes, we fully support that.
The QC coffee trail.
There are so many awesomeoptions on the QC coffee trail.
Qc coffee trail dot com.
You can like, sip your way toprizes.
You can come in and see us andwe will help you sign on if you
want a little help.
But yeah, it's really easy,just an on-your-phone thing.
So thank you for plugging that.
(33:47):
That's fabulous.
Yes, drink coffee in the QuadCities.
Thank you guys so much.
I'm gonna link all of yoursocial media To the description
of this podcast.
If you're listening or ifyou're watching on YouTube, just
look down in that descriptionand you can find the snap wagon
Rachel and Kelsey.
Thank you again so much forbeing part.
(34:07):
Keep an eye out on their socialfor upcoming fun stuff and the
anatomy of Dorothea and we willsee you guys again soon.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's where a podcast poweredby visit Quad Cities Text visit
QC to 38314 for insider events,activities and updates sent
straight to your phone.
That's the IS it QC.
One word to 38314.
(34:37):
Message and data rates mayapply.
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