Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christiana Gifford, co-founder and president of Honey Bubbles Inc., located in Santa Monica, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Honey Bubbles is a sparkling wine that is imported from Italy. It is the Moscato grape, so it is sweet; however not as sweet as many other Moscato on the market currently. We extended the fermentation processes, which allowed for the sugar to be pulled back. This creates a well-balanced, sweet, citrus, floral, bubbly experience.
Honey Bubbles philanthropic mission is to help combat the colony collapse disorder of the Honey Bee. We give back to beekeepers and also spread awareness about our vanishing bee population.
Tell us about yourself
My background is in hospitality. That is where I fell in love with wine and studied wine. I am philanthropically driven and have always been very passionate about bees and their importance in our ecosystem.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Achieving nationwide distribution with accounts that include Disney Cruise Lines and Virgin Atlantic Cruise lines.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For us and many other small start-up businesses, the hardest thing that we have yet to overcome is the pandemic. It stalled all of our sales, put small distributors out of business, created supply chain issues, etc. We are very lucky to be where we are at today. Still standing strong.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have extreme faith in yourself.
- Educate yourself as much as you can on your competitors.
- It will likely take double or triple the amount of time you’ve allocated to get it to a place where it’s successful. Stay patient.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.honeybubbleswine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoneyBubblesWine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honey_bubbles_wine/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiana-gifford-3ba8b8a1/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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