“I thought, I’ve gone on coffee tours in some of the places that I’ve visited,” Johnson says. “Then I thought, when people travel, they do want to check out local coffee shops and there are so many tours here, so why not coffee?”
So, Johnson started Asheville Coffee Tours. With three tour offerings, the business is highlighting the vibrant coffee scene happening downtown with hopes to expand to more parts of the city in the future.
Check out our full Q&A with Johnson below…
How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
I came up with the concept one day while I was working as a barista. I thought, I’ve gone on coffee tours in some of the places that I’ve visited and then I thought, when people travel, they do want to check out local coffee shops and there are so many tours here, so why not coffee?
What makes your business unique in its field?
I think what makes my business unique is the niche of enjoying coffee and there is a certain type of person that would take a coffee tour. There are many other tours focused on food and alcohol so I think it’s unique that a coffee tour would have its place in Asheville.
Where do you see your business in the next year? The next five?
In the next year I see my business doing tours five days a week. As of now, we are currently doing 3 tours. In the next 5 years I see myself expanding to doing coffee tours in West Asheville and the River Arts District.
Why did you decide to join the Chamber?
I decided to join the Chamber after doing more research about their offerings and how they have made small businesses grow. I also decided to join for the networking and connections and so far this has allowed me to meet other local businesses I didn’t know existed in return.
What is your favorite part about doing business in the Asheville area?
My favorite part about doing business in the Asheville area has always been the community. Without community, I would not have had the support for my idea and the resources to get it off the ground.
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