Meet Shelly Francis | Business owner, story teller, difference maker, encourager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelly Francis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelly, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?

As a business owner, I love Yoda’s statement – “Do or do not, there is no try”.

The reality of running a business is if you don’t do it, it doesn’t happen. The reputation of my business is on the line every time I talk to a guest, a retailer or a restauranteur. We usually only get one chance to get it right. And we don’t have the luxury of sitting around just hoping it just works out. Employess won’t have a positive attitude or be excited about their job if I am not.
I am a very competitive person, I play to win, and I want my business to do well also. Every day is a opportunity to “do”, and I can’t wait to “do” every day.

Hey, and I really resonate with a book one of my adult daughters recommended – “A Complaint Free World”. by Will Bowen. We can be thankful for all we have and make things better, or complain about what we lack. Why not choose thankfulness and joy?

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small food tour company, locally owned by women who love what we do. We enthusiasticly share the culture, cuisine and hospitality of our home town with visitors and locals alike. Our goal is for every guest to have a great experience and leave our tour with new knowledge of the area and a new favorite restaurant, bar or boutique to tell their friends about.
For us, an unexpected challenge has been helping people understand what a food tour is and letting people know what great experiences we offer. Everyone gets the concept of going to a restaurant for dinner, but a food tour is a little outside of that box. Food tours offer a unique way to expand your palate, uncover local retail offerings, and get your steps in. It’s so much more fun to eat at 3 different restaurants during tour than just sit down at a table in one restaurant.

So many people think they need to drive all the way to Dallas to experience fine dining or great shopping. We work hard to remind people of treasures right in their backyard. Frisco is nicknamed “Sports City USA” and is home to numerous professional sports teams, as well as the National Soccer Hall of Fame and world headquarters for the PGA and Dallas Cowboys. Plano has a rich history along side world class dining and shopping, and tons of green space for the outdoor enthusiast.

I am most proud of the vision we have as employers. It is foundational for us that our part time employees are paid a great wage and genuinely enjoy their jobs. I am an experienced (translated as old) business woman, and want to share my knowledge with the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs, Teaching someone to communicate effectively, think on their feet and deliver great customer experiences are skills our employees can take into any job in any industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Well, I would start local. Any of the food tours with Lone Star Food Tours would give you a behind the scenes look at the restaurants, bars, retail and character of the neighborhoods north of Dallas. I would make sure to see Bob Woodruff Park and enjoy nature, maybe even rent a kayak and enjoy the calm water, sunshine and exercise.

The next day I would visit Legacy West for more shopping and eating – the choices are almost overwhelming. That evening, head just north to Frisco and take in a Rough Riders baseball game. The stadium is visually interesting, and it has a small town friendliness and the spirit of a class AA team makes it a memorable, unique event. If it isn’t baseball season, watching a soccer game at Toyota stadium is entertaining as well.
Another must see is the Star District in Frisco. Flea Style for shopping, Heirloom Haul for brunch, and Lucchese boots to become an honorary Texan. Pictures on Tostitos Championship Field is an Instagrammable way to remember your trip.

During the visit, I would recommend heading south to Dallas to see the Dallas Eye, the hotel Joule, the original Neiman Marcus and walk across the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge. Make time for tea at the Adolphus. Head to Klyde Warren Park and experience Zumba in the Park or a movie in the Park. Ride the McKinney Avenue trolley for free through Uptown and ask the driver to tell you about the history of the area. The Upside Bar in West Village is a great place to enjoy cocktails and watch the sun set.

If you need more Dallas exploration, head to Deep Ellum, enjoy the Pitmaster sandwich at Pecan Lodge and a cocktail at Deep Ellum Distillery. Bishop Arts district is worth a visit – don’t miss the Wild Detectives bookstore. Listen to live music at the Rustic back in Uptown.

Lastly, make sure the Dallas Arboretum is on your agenda. It is beautiful any time of year. Check to see if they have a guest chef doing a cooking demonstration for extra fun and a touch of yum.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people contributed to me deciding to start a food tour company right here in my own backyard. Being blessed to live in such a beautiful and interesting part of the metroplex made me want to share all the local gems we have to offer.
My husband encouraged me to go for it, with no hestitation or conditions.
My friend and business partner, Stephanie Baldwin, was the first one to tell me to start the business, and she has never waivered.
My adult daughters have stepped in with support, technology knowledge, and encouragement. Oh, yeah, and they also taught me I can figure out about 80% of what I don’t know by using Google and YouTube. So thankful for those resources.
Other entrepreneurs and business owners have been so open and willing to share what has worked and not worked for their businesses.
Lastly, the Chamber of Commerce in Frisco has been a great support. Every time I spend time with other local business owners, I feel empowered by their energy, positive attitudes, and accomplishments.

Website: https://www.lonestarfoodtours.com/

Instagram: @lonestarfoodtours

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083094584620