Today, we are thrilled to be interviewing a good friend BRND House, Hanna Bee Tucker! Hanna, based in Nashville, is truly a busy bee. Between hosting The Hanna Show on Hot 106.7 and recently launching her very own Hannah Bee Coffee company, she has grown to become a local influencer with over 31k followers on Instagram. We loved getting to chat with Hanna and hear her perspective as an entrepreneur and influencer on all things Nashville. You can follow along with Hanna at @hannabeetucker, @thehannabeeshow, and @hannabeescoffee.
Are you originally from Nashville? If not, what brought you here?
No, I’m originally from Phoenix, Arizona. An awesome radio host spot with Hot 106.7 brought me out here! I had never even thought about Nashville before the radio job, but it’s become my favorite city yet!
How did you get started on the radio?
I was modeling full time in NYC and there was a lot of cross over into media with different jobs I booked like Live with Kelly and Michael (Now Ryan) and New York Live etc. ! A friend was working at a radio station back home in Phoenix, thanks to her I took a tour, applied, and my journey in radio begun! I started from the very bottom position and worked my way up with almost 100 demos (we call airchecks in radio). A lot of work, but I was determined!
What is your favorite part about hosting a radio show?
Oooo good question. I love when listeners win tickets or a prize and they genuinely are so excited. It’s so fun making people’s day! I also love being able to dive into artists' and interviewees' stories. It’s so fascinating to give them a platform to really speak their piece. In modeling I was referred to as “the model,” it’s rewarding to have a voice! That’s a major reason I gained a passion for radio.
As your radio show took off you organically amassed quite the following on Instagram. Do you consider yourself to be an influencer? If yes, how do you like to interact with your followers?
Yes, I would! And thank you!! :) I like interacting as if they’re a good friend! It’s fun to receive reactions and feedback especially because you feel like everyone has an account of their own photos that can make people seem unreachable. It’s fun actually getting a comment or like and giving them back!! We’re all REAL people with feelings.
What would you say is the best advice or tips to build your business/ following on Instagram?
Organic is what I’ve learned definitely pays off overall and in the long run, is what’s worth working towards anyway. My mom always said: “what you put into it, is what you get out of it.” That’s always stuck with me. If you’re following to unfollow, that will come back around to you. If you’re wanting to create genuine relationships, following, likes, that’s what will come back to you too. The same goes to business. People always remember how you made them feel. Most opportunities come from existing relationships.
Any advice for budding influencers?
Quality photos are where it’s at. And I know it sounds cliché, but find your niche. People in a niche are more powerful and beneficial to you because they’re genuinely passionate. Find a Facebook group, create an Instagram group, etc where you find people like you and you support/follow/like each other’s accounts and posts.
You’re a successful influencer and you also have a popular radio show and a new coffee company. How do you juggle all of that?
So funny you ask because I was just talking to a friend about this the other day and honestly no one really has it fully figured out even if it looks like they do, especially when you’re growing. I am always searching for balance. I like to make lists, I’ll prioritize what I have to do in that order. My radio show, unfortunately, went from full time to part-time on Sundays from 12 pm-5 pm due to COVID, just like many of us have faced. There’s always a silver lining. I think things happen for a reason like this and that helps you determine how to balance schedules and tasks.
What inspired you to launch a coffee company?
Oh my gosh, I knew I wanted to be my own boss one day- as well as an entrepreneur. I also LOVE coffee. Paired the two together and there we go! It was just meant to “bee” haha. I started the idea in 2017/2018 working on it part-time. I took advantage of the downtime quarantine forced upon us to really make it come to life.
Do you have any new projects that you’re currently working on?
Yes!! First off, the coffee launches this month so be on the lookout for that! (November 2020). We’re launching a bean product in the fall of 2020 and come Spring 2021 we’re going to launch a cold brew product that has a secret ingredient you’re going to be obsessed with and I can’t wait to introduce it to you! Just going to put out there that a book will be in the works at some point as well as looking at opening a storefront at some point. I also will be working on growing my radio show. I can’t wait to share that with you as well!!
What does your ideal day in Nashville look like?
COFFEE first! Haha, then I typically post on my socials while I eat breakfast. Then the day consists of work and more work. I like to take a workout break in there somewhere. At night I’m usually supporting my man at one of his games, attending maybe a restaurant opening, doing more work, and then one of my favorites is “family time” on the couch with our fur babies watching a game or a movie with some wine and dark chocolate. A girls gotta treat herself!!!
What are your favorite spots in Nashville (restaurants, shops, etc.)?
Woahhh there’s so many haha so here’s a list:
1. 5 Daughters Donuts
2. Kettner Coffee Supply
3. Taylor Street Coffee and Tea (On Thursdays and Fridays they offer Brews and Blooms so you can grab some flowers with that cup of coffee!)
4. Apple and Oak (Their floor is sparkly, I mean hello!!)
5. Whiskey Water Boutique
6. Natura Cafe in the Dream Hotel (they have the coolest coffee art)
7. Bloomsbury Farm (On-Farm Fridays they open up their farm stand to the public, the freshest food you’ll ever eat, and sometimes you can even pet some furry friends)
8. Fountain of Juice (By far some of the best juices I’ve ever had. Their recipes and freshness is addicting)
9. Red Phone Booth (A super cool speakeasy spot that has one of the best Smoked Old Fashions I’ve ever had)
10. Buffalo Exchange
11. Flip (designer consignment)
12. Bourbon Steak
13. The Graduate Hotel
14. Vandyke Bed and Beverage (Each room is themed a different cocktail! Their actual cocktails and food are amazing too.)
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