Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Roxane Mollicchi, Co-Founder of Wandering Barman, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Wandering Barman is a solution-based craft cocktail brand and physical proof-of-concept tasting space based in Brooklyn, NY. Focused on transparency, accessibility, sustainability, precision, and democratization, our cocktails can be found in restaurants, bars, hotels, museums, grocery stores, and more across the country. We are actively working to disrupt and innovate the overall hospitality industry. Our customers are typically between 23-35 and looking for a quality, crafted drink at a great price anywhere they want - in their homes, local bars, jazz clubs, or favorite cinemas.
Tell us about yourself
I am Corsican-American. I grew up in the restaurant industry with entrepreneurial and energetic parents who moved us all over. I settled in NY about 10 years ago, working in the fashion industry. I fell in love with the artisans, the making of textiles, and the production cycle from design to conception. But working to achieve the vision of someone else wasn't fulfilling. I felt the space was becoming toxic and the practices were unsustainable - and I wanted to do something I cared about that did good in the world overall.
I always knew I'd work for myself. I don't know how to give anything under 200% of myself. But, as a female entrepreneur, I wasn't always taken seriously, especially at the beginning. What motivated and still motivates me is when I feel like there are too many obstacles - that's when I come alive.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Just making it this far! We started with nothing - my two business partners and I. We are totally bootstrapped and self-taught. We started in 2016 in a small closet space dreaming of delivering cocktails all over the country, not even knowing what licensing we needed or how to bottle. We now employ eight people, built our own production space, and have a tasting room. We launched eight cocktails and are present in eight states. Our cocktails are sold in over 300 locations. There's much more to do, but so far, this is our greatest accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Staying motivated. There are so many roadblocks, so many people that will tell you it's not possible. It can be hard to wake up every morning and keep an eye on the prize. It can be hard to see what has been accomplished and not focus only on the failures and mistakes.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have co-founders that complete you but are different in all the right ways and totally aligned with the vision of your brand.
- Surround yourself with a personal entourage who believes in you 100%, and that will let you know when they don't agree with your decisions. You will have many doubts. If your conversations take place only in your head, you'll go insane and miss out on the full picture. It truly does take a village.
- Know that there's no plan B. Be absolutely sure and go for it. If you fail, you fail, and you can figure it out then. But while you're building, growing, and struggling, there is no plan B. This is your plan.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wanderingbarman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingbarman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingbarman/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wanderingbarman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanemollicchi/
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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