Rosalyn Wilsey

Owner and Founder of The Frother’s Daughter, 28

When life gave Rosalyn Wilsey lemons, she turned them into—coffee? Wisley had been laid off from a job during the pandemic and, with the encouragement of her father, whom she playfully refers to as “the frother,” she figured out how to start a mobile coffee business in Tallahassee, where she attended college. Last year, she added a brick-and-mortar location that she hopes will offer a positive and beneficial impact to her community.

What advice would you give to young people with a similar trajectory to yours?

It’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be worth it—don’t stop if you believe in your vision. Another piece of advice is to make it work. You must be quick on your feet and find a solution that works for you and for the business. Find those who inspire you and can help you.

What would you go back and tell newly 20-year-old you?

Stop being so hard on yourself and don’t be discouraged. It will all work out. Know your strengths and your mind. You are equally capable of making something just as great as someone else.

How do you hope to make an impact within your community?

We aim to create a fun space for coffee where people can learn and find bits of the extraordinary in what can sometimes be very mundane. We want to make sure our community know that the love and support that they have given us is mutual and that we hope to return it tenfold.

What is the accomplishment you’re most proud of?

An accomplishment that I am most proud of is opening a brick-and-mortar location. Opening the permanent store location was a four-year journey and a dream I had had since I was a little girl. I am so proud of this milestone because it is the product of years and years of effort, community, love, support, along with many other accomplishments and failures that led me here. When I look at this building, it isn’t just the bricks and wood that keep it together but rather the support of the community who ultimately helped me build it. The foundation of this store at its core is community and relationships. Creating this symbol and having a permanent location as a beacon of loving relationships and caffeine is the accomplishment I am most proud of.

Who is the single greatest person who influenced/supported your journey to success?

If I had to pick one, it would likely be my father or “The Frother”, as we call him. This business would likely not exist without him for many reasons. Ultimately, he was the mastermind behind the business model. Back in the summer of 2020, it was extremely hard to find a job after I was laid off in March and forced to move back home to Georgia. After applying to hundreds of jobs with no such luck, I went to talk to my dad about how frustrating the whole process has been. I gushed about how I wish I could just open up a coffee shop on the beach and call it a day. Later, he called me into his office and showed me an article about a guy who started his coffee truck for just over $6,000. My jaw dropped – this is certainly something I could afford to do. The rest of the week, I spent my days researching how to start a coffee truck, how much it would cost, where I would do it, and the list goes on and on, and I never stopped. As an FSU alumnus, I decided that Tallahassee, was the perfect place for this coffee truck to exist. I love the coffee scene in Tallahassee and felt like I could add value to the caffeinated community, especially in a time when people weren’t able to walk into coffee shops due to COVID. I moved into a house with my now husband, and my dad lived with us for almost three months to help me build out the trailer. And after 7 months of incredibly hard work, I was able to open The Frother’s Daughter to the public, and I truly don’t think I could have done it without my dad, The Frother.