by Paula Anderson
Carolyn Michael-Banks, emerging entrepreneur, moved to Memphis when she met the ‘man of her dreams’ and now husband.
Before relocating, she wanted to share information and resources about African American history at her previous employer. However, this was met with resistance.
Banks stated that learning about various parts of African American history can be ‘uncomfortable.’
When she moved to Memphis, her knowledge was limited.
“The city is not my home and I knew very little when I moved here. I was aware that Elvis lived here, Bar B Q was a staple and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated here,” said Banks.
“Once I started doing the research my concern became there wasn’t going to be enough time to tell the story.”
According to a Candid Conversation in 2019, Banks stated that 11.7 million people visit Memphis per year and spend $3.5 billion annually.
Banks officially opened "A Tour of Possibilities” on August 6, 2014. Her customer discovery led her to focus on women ages 35-44 years-old. The original business model was in-person in a 10-passenger van.
As a business owner, Banks took advantage of resources with local organizations in Memphis.
“I joined the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). They offered an accelerator program that really helped me look at aspects of my business I needed to focus on. I also participated in the following programs, mentorship with SCORE, Inner City Capital Connections (ICC), Start Co., Co Starters, Emerging Leaders and number classes offered through various organizations,” said Banks.
When the global pandemic hit, Banks had to shift her business model.
“Five years into the business, I had finally turned the corner and my business was becoming sustainable and profitable,” said Banks. “Then March 2020 - Covid and the tourism industry came to a screeching halt. Fortunately, 2019 was a good year and I had money in the bank. I was able to secure grants and loans to keep my business afloat. I took that time to restructure my business model and thankfully I am still in the game.”
“ATOP changed its business model to offer a contactless tour service to our guests. Our Caravan Tour allowed our guests to connect to us via a Zoom link. They would follow our van and could hear the narration via bluetooth in their vehicle. This kept our guests safe as they only have people they know with them in their vehicle,” said Banks.
Most small businesses are starting to recover from the pandemic and ATOP is working on new ways to position.
“My focus is shifting from marketing to the individual travel to organizations such as local businesses and offer our services as part of their orientation and onboarding programs,” said Banks.
“We will also be working with Memphis Shelby County Schools and colleges to enrich their present curriculum. Our plan is to have these entities work with ATOP on a contractual and ongoing basis.”
To schedule a tour, visit https://www.atopmemphis.com.
Paula Anderson can be reached at editor@wbdmedia.com