We had the good fortune of connecting with Bobbie Douglas III and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Bobbie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My mother has always taught me how to be resourceful. We’ve all always had full-time jobs, but it was ingrained in me that having your own wealth is essential. I started buying, selling, & trading on eBay when I was a teenager and that’s when the entrepreneurship spirit was born.
Starting my own business has always been a dream of mine, but I’ve never had any direction on how I wanted to achieve this goal. I started off in the workforce and worked my way up to senior-level management in the corporate work-space for the last 10 years. I can honestly say that working in the corporate space prepared me for what was next in my life and that was starting my own business. Understanding how operations went was a huge piece that helped me excel in my business. I realized that if I leveraged all the knowledge that I’ve gained through working in corporate America it would help me once I started my own business. The main thought process of having my own business is financial freedom and building a legacy for my family while creating generational wealth. I believe starting your own business is a stepping stone towards generational wealth.
What should our readers know about your business?
I started a vending machine business primarily to teach my sons a way of financial literacy & it would be a great way we can bond together, plus what kid doesn’t like snacks and candy haha! Also, after taking a course and doing much research on the vending business I wanted to add a stream of passive income to our portfolio.
We are a family-owned built business that operates in Texas & Atlanta. Our services include bulk candy machines, full-line vending machines, & game room machines. Our story is that we are a family black-owned business supporting local businesses in which we provide exceptional high-quality customer service. It takes teamwork, persistence, consistency, and SWEAT EQUITY.
We are most proud of the expansion of our business. We have grown exponentially fast within both markets that demand for our candy machines has increased. Also, we are excited about the new partnerships that we have acquired and we look forward to growing in tandem with them. One of our favorite parts of this business is that we are partnered with both the National Children’s Cancer Society & Vendor for Veterans. Portions of the proceeds go to charity. Always feels good to contribute and give back.
This business saw a downturn because of the pandemic and talking with so many previous business owners that left the loss they experienced was so substantial that they discouraged the business because of the nature of the pandemic, but we still decided to jump into this business. I will be honest we have to “pay our dues” and really work through some things to find our niche, but all of the hard work has paid off. Certainly not easy by any means. I would say just like any business you have to find what works for you and sometimes you have to enjoy the journey to the destination.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston has so many interesting spots to check out. Here are some of my recommendations:
Space Center Houston
Museum District
Houston Children’s Museum
Nasa Space Center
Houston Murals Street Artwork
Galveston has family fun with beaches and good fishing
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have a couple of shoutouts that I would love to give:
A special shoutout to my wife for always keeping me focused and for supporting me through my entrepreneurship journey. Our partnership is unmatched & I have been successful in my life because you have been so much a part of it. Love you.
To my two boys for always pushing me to be the best father possible. Everything thing I do is to make life easier for them. To co-own this business with my sons and to be able to teach them financial literacy is the best of both worlds.
Last, but not least is my mother. She has planted the seeds early on in my life and I’ve grown into the man that I am because of her. My mom is and always has been a constant motivating driving force for me & has always taught me that “When one door closes, another opens’ mentality. Love you, mom!
Website: https://www.douglasconcessionsworldwide.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concessionsworldwide
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bobbiedouglasiii
Twitter: twitter.com/bdventuresgroup
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglasconcessionsworldwide
Other: Google: https://g.page/douglasconcessionsworldwide?share