Day: August 31, 2021
Before Mitchell McElroy became the founder and CEO of the Speed Shopper app, the Houston man was a “favorite” teacher among students, educating them in the subjects of history and technology. His expertise in technology led him to where he is today. McElroy was tired of spending hours roaming around grocery stores searching for items so, in 2017, he created an app to make things easier for shoppers. The app went viral during the COVID pandemic and has since garnered global appeal. Vibe Houston spoke to McElroy about his creation, and how others can turn their talents into lucrative businesses. Vibe Houston: Did you have experience creating apps prior to creating Speed Shopper? McElroy: I have over 15 years of web design, web development and coding experience. I created my first website and web-based business in 2002 as a freshman at the University of Houston, but this is the first app that I have ever created. Vibe Houston: How was your business impacted by the COVID pandemic? McElroy: I know that most business saw a drastic decline in sales, but I actually saw major growth. The Speed Shopper App went viral during the pandemic and tripled its users. Shoppers needed alternative ways to shop and a faster way to navigate the aisles. Speed Shopper provided that for them. Vibe Houston: So how does the app work and what’s the benefit of using it? McElroy: Speed Shopper is a shopping list app that places the items in your list in order by aisle number so that you can get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. Speed Shopper uses crowd sourcing technology to store aisle numbers for every product on your shopping list. The database of aisle numbers is then shared with everyone who uses the app. Our technology then places every item on your list in order by aisle number. Your list then becomes a tool that tells you the exact order to pick up your items so that you are in and out of the store as quickly as possible. Vibe Houston: What advice can you give other entrepreneurs? McElroy: I would say keep going and don’t give up, even if no one else understands the vision. It’s not for everyone else to understand, just as long as you believe in your business model. Also, you have to do the work. As a full-time teacher, father and husband, I had to work on my app when I could. That meant many sleepless nights. It was not easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. I launched in 2017 and, despite many pitfalls, I kept going because I knew that the app was important, not realizing how many people would grow to depend on it during the pandemic. Vibe Houston: How can we get the app? McElroy: The app is available in the Apple ITunes store and the Google Playstore. It’s available to anyone with a cell phone or tablet. Here is some more valuable information: Shoppers are also paid for using the app and there is a merchant market for small retailers who have yet to have success getting their products in major stores. When app users add aisle locations into the app, they will receive gift cards, coupons and other prizes from select merchandisers. Currently, the Speed Shopper App has over 20,335 users across 50 US states and has customers in Canada, Australia, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and United Arab Emirates.
When you think of Houston’s nightlife and hospitality, ALife Hospitality Group is at the top of the list. With over a decade of experience in executing memorable experiences and curating special events, owners Jonathan Reitzell and JR Martin have certainly made their mark as heavy hitters in the industry. The two met on the campus of the University of Houston, and within no time, they connected and became forces to reckon with as promoters dominating the nightlife and hospitality scene. Prior to becoming “ALife Hospitality,” they were widely known as “Aristocrat.” Reitzell and Martin have opened several restaurants and lounges throughout the city, including Kamp Houston, Drip Carwash, and co-owners of Prospect Park North & Prospect Park South. This month, we visit Lost & Found, which has become a great hot spot and eatery. Vibe Houston: Tell us about Lost & Found – from the concept, to the choosing of the name and location, etc. ALife Hospitality: Within the heart of Houston, Lost & Found brings a new twist of good eats and drinking to Midtown. We made a list of about 30 creative & non descriptive names for a restaurant and Lost & Found was our favorite choice. The decor came with the name. Lost in a tropical, colorful oasis to be Found by great service, food and drinks! Vibe Houston: What do you feel is the best feature of your restaurants…the food or the atmosphere, or is it something else? ALife Hospitality: The best feature of our restaurant is the “vibe.” It gives you a feeling like you’re on a tropical island while eating very unique food items you can’t find anywhere else in the city, and don’t forget our outside patio dining experience and amazing balcony views! Vibe Houston: Let’s talk about your menu selection. What do you offer and what would you say are your most popular dishes? ALife Hospitality: Our Cajun cuisine menu selection came from us looking to find different items that aren’t being offered in our area. Our most popular dishes are our lamb chops, shrimp & crawfish dip, and Cajun pasta, which you can choose your own protein such as lobster, chicken, sausage and shrimp, etc. Vibe Houston: How have you adjusted during COVID? ALife Hospitality: Since we are primarily known for our outside dining area, our guests still felt comfortable coming to eat. For us, COVID actually grew our volume even more since we’re located in Midtown and all of the surrounding establishments around us were primarily bars, so they were closed. We were thankful to keep our doors open while many businesses closed. Vibe Houston: What do you do to give back to the community? ALife Hospitality: We partner with various charities/organizations and give away food through our catering services on a monthly basis. We also partner annually with initiatives during the holidays to make that time a great experience for those who are in need. Vibe Houston: How do you feel about the renewed interest or national push of supporting Black businesses? Do you think it will be short-lived? ALife Hospitality: The growth of Black businesses has been a great thing to watch. As a Black-owned company, we work with other small businesses and companies to help push the growth. Vibe Houston: Any advice to entrepreneurs or small business owners fighting to stay afloat during these challenging times? ALife Hospitality: Our advice would be to implement new strategies. We are in a different time and different climate, so what worked three years ago may no longer be what works now. Learn as you go and put together a good team. Connect with Lost & Found on social media Website: Lost and Found Midtown Instagram: lostandfoundmidtown Facebook: @lostandfoundmidtown
Houston-based rapper-producer BBY Kodie has recently released his powerful new single, “Children,” via True Panther/EQT/Motown Records. The provocative, richly cinematic official video for “Children” immerses Kodie in vibrant, visceral tableaux that reference the Baroque historical paintings of Caravaggio, capturing moments in history like the the Last Supper and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The stirring video was helmed by directors Nyles Washington, Ross Constable and Elias Morrow Weinberg. The “Children” video follows “Korleone” which was named one of the best rap videos of 2020 by Rolling Stone, which said, “BBY Kodie seems quietly ascendant. With the attitude of someone who spent 2020 building in secret, ‘Korleone’ arrives almost fully realized. BBY Kodie has described himself as Houston’s answer to Drake and it’s increasingly clear how serious he is.” Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2000, Kodie was raised by his biological mother’s adopted sister and her husband, who moved to Houston when he was two. There, Kodie grew up with jazz and soul blaring through the house. As a teenager, he discovered rappers Future, Young Thug and Lil Yachty alongside Houston legends like Lil Flip – and channeled his influences into his first beats on Fruity Loops. By high school, he was dropping a song a day on SoundCloud. He began throwing biweekly DIY shows with HVN, growing his fanbase locally and online. For the 20-year-old rapper-producer, putting words together is an art form based in the Texas lineage of flexing and freestyling. “When you grow up on that sh**, it just gets embedded in your skin,” BBY Kodie explains. “It’s like putting the ugliest words on the most beautiful beats.” Albums like 2018’s “Kodie Kardashian” and 2019’s “Vogue” marked gradual steps away from the innocent charm of his earlier songs towards a more polished artistic vision that coalesces on his forthcoming mixtape. Naming Kodie one of the best new artists, Pigeons & Planes said, “the budding talent operates on a high-octane field of his own, confident as hell and raring to bring the world to Houston.” Instagram: @bbykodie
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