Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly & Joy McCarthy.
Hi Kelly & Joy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For a long time, we didn’t anticipate ever having our own business! After we worked a combined 10 years in the coffee industry, we knew we were passionate and had a love for coffee and the community that it brings, but we didn’t think we would ever own a coffee business ourselves. We had hopes to someday work in coffee again but had put those desires on the shelf. Our thought process, as followers of Jesus, is simple obedience. Our goal, personally and in our business, is to honor God in everything we do, so we left the timing and the plans up to Him. Around August of 2022, we felt like God started to bring those dreams up again and gave us vision for a business that would cultivate community and create an atmosphere of excellence, connection, reflection, and celebration. By December, we decided to go all in and leave our full-time jobs to launch Icon Coffee Cart!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think any business owner would agree—entrepreneurship is definitely not for the faint of heart! It’s a journey full of sky-high wins and head-scratching lows. Running a business feels like you need a masterclass in everything: taxes, bookkeeping, SOPs, marketing, branding, networking, finding your niche, P&L sheets, managing employees—the list goes on. But the biggest lesson we’ve learned? It’s not about avoiding the tough stuff or getting bitter when things don’t go perfectly. It’s about leaning into the challenges, making friends with the process, and staying committed to growth and adaptation.
Take one small example:
In our first year of catering, we had zero strategy for lead generation. We were totally dependent on word of mouth and the occasional Instagram post to bring in business. Let’s just say… it wasn’t exactly our most successful year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We’re a coffee catering business built around high-quality espresso drinks, premium ingredients, custom branding, and menus that are as beautiful as they are delicious. While plenty of coffee carts these days cut corners to boost profits, we’re all about slowing down and making every event feel special. The details matter.
At every event we serve, we hear the same thing: guests can’t stop raving about the drinks and the baristas behind the bar. Honestly, it’s an honor to bring the buzz (pun intended) and be the life of the party!
What are your plans for the future?
At this point, we look forward to continuing to scale our business – hiring more employees and continuing to serve our city the best coffee we can!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iconcoffeecart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iconcoffeecart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iconcoffeecart
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/biz/icon-coffee-cart-austin
Image Credits
Fallon Michael Photography
