Meet Michael Ford: Owner of Liquid on Wheels

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Ford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always been a person who loved to interact with others. I would consider myself to be a nurturing person and I believe customer service and positive customer interactions are very important. My previous occupation was in the medical field. I originally started bartending to save money to move to Houston, but instantly fell in love with it. It was then I realized that I knew I wanted to bartend and own my own company, but I wasn’t sure how that would look. So once I moved to Houston, I bartended in bars and for private companies. I loved working with private companies the most. Although I loved bartending, I felt that the service and the drinks that these companies were providing were subpar; there was nothing special about the experience. I knew what was missing: craft cocktails. So I set out to give people something different and new with Liquid on Wheels. I believe that mixology is a show and it is a way for you to engage with your customers. I want expose our customers to something new and make the drinks to feel personalized.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned it to be patient. Nothing happens overnight. What you envision for yourself, may not be what God has for you. You just have to trust the process! What is meant to be will happen in due time. I have had tons of obstacles! One of the biggest obstacles was COVID-19. Being shut down for almost 6 months; taking a business that was already brand new and not knowing if it would survive through the pandemic, was difficult. But it really is a clique to say, I took lemons and made lemonade out of it! Although COVID-19 was tragic, it really was a blessing in disguise. It definitely opened many doors for us in different avenues. We started offering Zoom classes, posted video tutorials, recipes, IG live sessions, etc. With COVID were able to have a bigger social media presence. COVID-19 has helped me slow down and really focus on marketing. Without COVID-19, that may not have happened. It granted the opportunity to meet other social media presences, like Chef Vicky V, who has opened up many opportunities to us. We were featured on her Taco Tuesday series as well. Also I have learned that with every hurdle gives you an opportunity to move forward. I am excited about the future for Liquid on Wheels! We have the opportunity to build a company that stands on its own. We really take pride in our craftmanship and building rapport with our clients. They really become part of our family here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since we are living through a pandemic, I don’t really hang out anymore. But what I do like to do is make drinks at home and rent a red bike to ride around and visit different murals, different areas of Houston with nice views of the city, and enjoy some fresh air while clearing my mind and coming up with new ideas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout my amazing staff! No one person can do anything by themselves. Although this is my company, these are the folks who make it work, listen to my ideas, and make my visions a reality.

Website: liquidonwheels.com

Instagram: @liquidwheels

Facebook: Liquid on Wheels