Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bridget Connelly, Co-Founder of Luna Bay Booch, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a female-founded hard kombucha brand. Our product is vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and fermented to a 6% ABV. Our customers are men and women 21 and over that are looking for cleaner, lighter, and healthier options for alcohol.
Tell us about yourself
I am a dreamer and a connector. I love bringing people together, living a health-conscious lifestyle, and sparking joy with those around me. I created Luna Bay out of a desire of wanting to drink something I felt good about while being able to story tell and celebrate with people I love. Cheering over better-for-you boozy booch just made sense.
My biggest motivation is my team and the moments where we see what we can accomplish together. It's still surreal for us to see people drinking a Luna Bay at a festival, dancing with friends, at the airport about to travel to somewhere exciting, or on a patio laughing with people they love. My team and these moments are what it is all for.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is creating a product I am proud of and watching my team grow and make a real difference in the outdated alcohol industry.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It can be very isolating. The long hours and new roadblocks we face can, at times, be overwhelming. It also comes with constantly checking your ego and learning about yourself in ways that can be confronting but necessary for true growth and ultimate success.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I would recommend starting with your why and writing down your top three personal and professional priorities. When things get difficult and tiring along the way, always go back to those and ensure those top three things still remain your focus because, in the end, personal priorities are really what matters most.
Make a list of non-negotiables for your mental health, too, because you won't be able to show up to lead or create if you don't feel your best and do not feel in flow. It's hard to know what brings you joy or your why if your mind is unclear and you are not grounded. Coming back to your non-negotiables, your priorities, and your people, will guide you.
Ask for help anywhere and everywhere - LinkedIn, networking, etc. You won't have all the answers; no one does, but plenty of people do. I have formed a solid group of mentors ranging in professions and ages just by asking for 15-20 minutes of time and prioritizing those relationships. They've all been significant to me as I have grown the business. Mentors are meaningful.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I am extremely grateful to be able to do what I do and work with who I do. It has profoundly changed my life. I've learned things I never thought I would, I have been able to watch myself grow and the people I love building this with; I've gotten to see more of the country and how our product resonates with consumers. I've watched an idea I thought of in my apartment become a national business. I've learned many lessons the hard way. The most important lessons I've learned are to ENJOY what you are doing at the moment, do not take life too seriously, and sip a boozy booch when you can with the ones that light you up (also preferably with live music).
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lunabaybooch.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lunabaybooch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunabaybooch/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetconnelly/
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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