Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brian Mullen, founder of Chops Up, located in Whitman, MA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Chops Up is a destination for Guitarists and Drummers to get essential gear like Strings, Sticks, and Picks. The perfect gift for musicians when signing up for a month to month Subscription because not only do you get customized packages with your favorite Brands from Vic Firth, Ernie Ball, Vater Percussion, and Elixir Strings, but you'll also receive printed-out lessons, exercises, and other swag and accessories for your instrument.
Tell us about yourself
After graduating from Berklee College of Music, I moved to Music City Nashville, TN, where I spent many years playing drums in world-class recording studios and touring, having traveled to 47 of the 50 States as a Professional Musician. With a wife and child too, "the road ain't no place to start a family," as The Journey song says. So we moved back to Boston to be closer to our family. Always having the Entrepreneurial Bug, Chops Up was born as a way to keep the music alive and pass it on to the next generation. Some of the most amazing experiences of my life came from playing music with friends but playing an instrument is so much deeper. It's building confidence and learning to accomplish goals with focus and a little bit of hard work. Ultimately is about being creative and expressing freedom through sound. The motivation for the business is the customers who have been with us for over a year and email me about how much the person loves it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The Biggest accomplishment of my business is that it was built completely from the ground up. A lot of people talk and wish about creating a business, and I did with less than $500 to build a website, buy some inventory and start selling. Almost three years later, the business is going strong, with new and old customers getting Monthly Subscriptions, and as the business continues to grow, we can make bigger donations to help Music Programs stay in schools and motivate other children to find their passion and have a healthy space to express themselves.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest part of the business is because it's still small, I have to wear a lot of hats. Writing and creating are fun and exciting, but editing and mixing are not. The hardest part mentally is seeing your goal of not only becoming a large online retailer but also a destination to bring professional musicians on as mentors and coaches to supplement income and teach their ways to play and think about a growth mindset. Visualizing the future while being completely present at the moment and enjoying the process.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
You don't need to know what you're doing in order to start a business. Just start. Pick an idea you're both passionate and somewhat knowledgeable about, but when it comes to the ins and out of everyday business, you don't know what you don't know. Some things you'll love about it and some things you don't enjoy so much, but ultimately, it's important to have a vision and a dream about the life you want for yourself and the people you care about and take action. Follow what gives you energy and joy, help others, and set a good example for those around you. Good feelings and good energy with consistency will help you grow not just your business but your personality. When things go south, and you have to pivot and make quick decisions that can make or break your business, it teaches you more about yourself than any book or podcast. Once you feel that bug and you see things through to the positive, it's both challenging and addicting.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.chopsup.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Get.Your.Chops.Up
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chops_up/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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