<p>Julian Boyd, CEO of <strong>D’bo’s Daiquiris, Wings &amp; Seafood</strong>, shares the incredible story of the Memphis-born brand, pioneered by his parents, David and Latisha Boyd, starting with a food truck in 1990. Built on faith and the philosophy of <strong>"People, Service, Profits,"</strong> D'bo's became known as the "godfather of hot wings" in Memphis. Following a personal tragedy, Julian earned his MBA to strategically guide the company's franchising expansion. The concept continually evolves—adding daiquiris and seafood—and successfully adapted to post-COVID challenges through on-site experiences and smart tech integration. D'bo's is now focused on intentional growth across the Southeast and Midwest.<br><br></p><p><strong>10 Takeaways<br></strong><br></p><ol> <li> <strong>Wing Pioneers:</strong> Founded in 1990 from a food truck, D'bo's is credited as the "godfather of hot wings" in Memphis.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Entrepreneurial Grit:</strong> The founder maxed out five credit cards for capital when banks refused, demonstrating immense belief in the concept.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Core Philosophy:</strong> The business success is rooted in <strong>"People, Service, Profits,"</strong> prioritizing customer and staff well-being above all.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Faith and Family:</strong> Julian's drive to grow is deeply tied to honoring his late older brother, emphasizing family first.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Strategic Education:</strong> Julian pursued an MBA with a family business focus to learn how to scale the company through intentional franchising.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Menu Evolution:</strong> The concept has adapted over 35 years, expanding to include <strong>daiquiris, seafood, smash burgers, and fried catfish</strong> to diversify revenue.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>COVID Adaptation:</strong> The quick-service model thrived during the pandemic, boosted significantly by the ability to sell to-go alcoholic daiquiris.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Profit Protection:</strong> D'bo's switched its primary online ordering to <strong>DoorDash Storefront</strong> for its crucial <strong>100% chargeback protection</strong> feature.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Experiential Revenue:</strong> New on-site events like <strong>brunches, karaoke, and live music</strong> were implemented to increase sit-down traffic and spending.<br><br> </li> <li> <strong>Headwind Strategy:</strong> To manage rising costs, D'bo's focuses on <strong>menu innovation</strong> (e.g., loaded fries) and increased volume rather than aggressively out-pricing customers.<br><br> </li> </ol>