Cape Ann Foodie Tours

March 12, 2024

Please provide a brief description of what your business is all about. Cape Ann Foodie Tours are walking culinary and cultural tours of Gloucester. Along the way, our guides provide the backdrop to the city with great stories and interesting facts. And there’s lots of food from family-owned business. Our new brand is Cape Ann Land and Sea tours. We are marketing to corporate/company and incentive travel groups. It’s a very exciting time for us.

What enticed you to start a solopreneur business? I had left my corporate meeting and event planning job to come home to Gloucester as a caregiver for my parents. My dad, as well as having a career as a civil engineer, was a history buff who inspired me to do local research, which I find fascinating. I had met an aspiring fireman, P.J. Halloran, and I joined up with him, guiding tours, enjoying the people that I met and being grateful that I had the knowledge and enthusiasm to show them a great time. I took over the business in 2015 when P.J. moved to Somerville, where he’s a lieutenant in the fire department.

What is “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” of working on your own?

The Good: Meeting wonderful people (note: miserable people don’t go on food tours.) as well as the satisfaction that I can be successful doing something I love.

The Bad: Not getting paid holidays and vacation time. I do miss pay checks. And 401K’s for that matter.

The Ugly: Working alone at home! It’s SO hard. Keeping up with social media, figuring out how to bring in new business, being on the phone. Making up itineraries and subsequent contracts for groups is all consuming and can be complicated; lots of changes and adjustments. Time management is tough. There are days when I look up at the clock and it’s 4:00pm and I haven’t had breakfast or lunch. Just too much coffee! Thank goodness I don’t smoke!

Why are you a Chamber member? The Chamber has been an amazing help to me both personally and professionally. I really love the socialization (go back to the Ugly!) Their special events such as “Business After Hours” and their “Soundings” emails are very informative and keep me up to date on upcoming activities. I also belong to the Tourism Council and enjoy our monthly meetings at the Chamber.

What advice would you give others looking to take the leap into “solopreneurship?” Reach out! You can’t do it alone. Find the people who will support and advise you. Don’t isolate; it’s important to ask for help.

Where do you see your business going in the future? As the tourism scene grows here on Cape Ann, I see people gravitating towards experiences. According to AAA, of the people who travel, and value time shared with family/friends, 36% choose to go on food tours. I’d like to think that by starting the food tour concept here on Cape Ann, future visitors – and locals – will enjoy trying new eateries and leave with more knowledge of our history and our culture. My business is expanding and we’re creating new tours and bringing more partners on board. My vision is for as many people as possible – owners of restaurants, attractions, as well as individual artists, writers, and musicians – will benefit from the service Cape Ann Foodie Tours provides. I believe that relationships are key in life and in business. I’d like to provide lots more people with a service that makes them happy! And, of course, it’s fun-filling.

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For consideration to have your solopreneur business profiled, please fill out the form at https://form.jotform.com/240133772746053 . After your form is received and we confirm that you are a Chamber member in good standing and your business meets the criteria of a solopreneur, we will send a detailed interview questionnaire for timely completion.