Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mark Miller.
Hi Mark, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I got my start by accident while I was studying Business at the U and working as a bartender. A friend asked if I would come and make drinks for a special dinner for Pat Bagley.
I made cocktail pairings for three of the courses and had a lot of fun! I loved expressing creativity in cocktails, which I wasn’t getting in my main job. This gave me the entrepreneurial itch, and that very night, I began researching, putting together a website, and telling people about my new venture. The company took traction pretty quickly, allowing me to quit my job four months later and graduate that same year.
I’ve made plenty of good choices and bad choices, but I’m thrilled to say that after seven years, I’ve grown every year, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. We operate out of a commercial space (no longer my garage) and have the greatest team of 25 who represent our company with pride. In 2023, we had our greatest year yet with over 300 successfully executed events.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road has been quite bumpy, especially with the pandemic, which not only halted all business for months but also changed the dynamic of every event.
Clients were dialing back their guest counts to comply with state regulations, which, in turn, lowered our profitability. We had to get creative and offer other services that clients could add in order to keep our invoice average high enough. So, we offered new services and procured enough equipment to do more events in a single night instead of fewer, larger events.
As you know, we’re big fans of Copa Bar Service. For our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand, what can you tell them about it?
At Copa Bar Service, our mantra is “Care-Free Luxury.” We provide your event with a turnkey bar service that includes everything needed and none of the stress so that you can focus on what matters most- entertaining your guests, cocktail in hand!
We specialize in creating interesting craft cocktails and mocktails that appeal to a wide range of people and are designed to be served quickly in large group settings. Pairing these yummy beverages with numerous bar rental options, we’re sure to fit the vibe!
Lastly, we now offer a tap truck rental, which has already been such a hit! It’s a vintage Piaggio Ape that was originally used in an Italian vineyard. It has made its way to Utah and boasts a beautiful serving area and four taps that can serve any cold beverage. It’s also the cutest thing you’ve ever seen! If you’re looking to incorporate an easy and polished bar at your events, then the Copa team is here for you!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Pandemic aside, I was also inexperienced as a business owner when I began. I quickly learned how important it was to outsource the things I did not enjoy. For me and my company, this included shopping logistics, cocktail batching prep, bookkeeping and accounting, and later, client correspondence, document management, and billing. Hiring for these items allowed me to focus on what I truly enjoy, which is business development and outreach.
I also learned to say “no” when a client requested something outside our wheelhouse. The temptation is to always say yes, but I did not foresee that I now have an entire warehouse area full of equipment I used once instead of telling the client “no” or simply renting the item rather than purchasing it. These items take up valuable space, and at the end of the day, I lost money on them because their cost only makes sense if you can use them multiple times.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.copabarservice.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/copabarservice
- Other: www.therollingtaps.com
