Today we’d like to introduce you to Connie Bally.
Connie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2017 I retired from a career in finance and was also an empty nester. Being a life long foodie I thought it would be fun to start a Facebook group where I might meet a few people who would go out to dinner with me to try the new restaurants that were opening around town. Around this same time, I decided retirement wasn’t for me and started looking for a new career in B2B sales, a task that proved more difficult that I anticipated. I suspect ageism had something to do with it since the job market was strong and my resume was very presentable.
I started driving for Uber and along the way, by chance, picked up people who were leaders in the business community who urged me to monetize Fort Worth Foodies, a group which had grown by the thousands organically. I was also directed to a mentorship program (SCORE) and other resources which have been central in my developing Fort Worth Foodies into the dynamic group of 11,000 it is today. The future is very bright for the group and for me as far as monetization is concerned. The enterprise is in its infancy as business ventures are concerned but I am surrounded by a great team and have a solid business background to realize the potential and to steer this amazing group in the direction where it will be a tremendous asset to the community with regards to commerce, consumerism and community.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like any start-up, the first years have been an important learning experience. Being nimble and being able to course-correct on the fly is an important skill set to have. There have been many struggles, financially and emotionally almost every day. Building an enterprise from scratch requires sweat equity, determination, street sense and business savvy. Some days I’m stronger in certain areas than the others.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fort Worth Foodies story. Tell us more about the business.
Fort Worth Foodies is about commerce, consumerism and community. We are not a review site… we support the restauranteur/purveyor.
We are very proud to be able to showcase the entrepreneur and industry businesses with more impact and immediate interaction than before. We’ve successfully promoted several restaurants to the group which has experienced an immediate increase in business. Social awareness of the consumers’ dining options has also had a positive impact. Fort Worth has a vibrant restaurant scene. Most of the restaurants have been in existence only a few years, some a few months. The consumer now has a reliable resource to turn to so he/she doesn’t get into a restaurant rut. She can also turn to the group to source restaurants and facilities for special occasions. It’s an amazing group who know of all the eateries in the city and are always happy to contribute to the thread.
We are not a review site. We are pro-commerce but the consumer isn’t going to walk through the doors of the restaurant if they’re not happy. Fort Worth Foodies is very proud of the ability to help the consumer realize he/she can speak to the restaurant manager directly if the experience falls short of his/her expectations. One single negative online review can adversely affect commerce, which adversely affects jobs. The consumer now has established and fair guidelines to solve these issues without involving social medial.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The sky is the limit. The DFW area is the fastest growing metroplex in the nation. There are 7 million people in this area who live in 14 different municipalities. I’m very pleased with our 11,000 members but the growth potential is phenomenal.
I see Fort Worth Foodies being a credible source for the consumer to turn to source a preferred dining experience. I see commerce having a central place to showcase who they are, where they are, what they have to offer in the way of seasonal menu changes, daily specials and special events. Advertising has never been so interactive and effective and Fort Worth Foodies is the one central place in the Fort Worth area for the consumer and restaurateur/purveyor to come together to enhance the options, dining experiences and dynamic interaction.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fortworthfoodiestx.com
- Phone: 682.444.1511
- Email: connie@fortworthfoodiestx.com
- Instagram: FortWorthFoodiesTX
- Facebook: Fort Worth Foodies
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