We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Donna Royston. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Donna below.
Donna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?
Do I take vacations? Of course I do, everyone should. Let’s, however, think of vacationing in the literal and figurative sense. Close your eyes and take a trip with me if you will. We’re sitting on the beach looking at the sunset and a frozen rum punch. At that moment for me I am one with myself and my thoughts. No distractions, just me. Now, if you’re like my husband, who doesn’t like to take trips imagine being in your fully equipped man garage working on your 69 Camaro without a care in the world…just you and the Camaro. That’s his idea of a vacation. I feel like everyone needs a vacation. Somewhere to just be yourself and unwind how you see fit. My concept of vacationing is the exact concept behind CoffeeStix. Take a moment to Sit. Stir. Sip. and enjoy your cup of coffee, uninterrupted. Take a moment for just You!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Meet the Creator of CoffeeStix Donna Royston, creator of CoffeeStix, is a high school pharmacy technician instructor by day and an entrepreneur by night. She has an Associate’s of Science degree with a Pharmacy Technician distinction, which has provided the foundation for her CoffeeStix skills – she knows how to get down in the lab and mix and compound ingredients to achieve a specific result!
The idea of CoffeeStix was born one day when Donna and her students tried to make compound pediatric lollipops in class. Although the lollipops weren’t all that tasty, the scent of coffee filled the classroom and sparked the idea for a coffee creamer on a stick. Donna loves her brand because of the opportunity it allows for people to take a moment for themselves and enjoy the simple pleasure of a perfectly flavored cup of coffee. The CoffeeStix logo reminds her of being at the beach or on a luxurious, relaxing ride on a yacht, enjoying a carefully crafted coffee at dawn, and that is exactly how she wants others to feel as they Sit. Stir. Sip. with CoffeeStix.
When Donna is able to step away from the boss life for a bit, she enjoys taking vacations, watching football, enjoying good food, and spending time with her husband and daughters. And if she had to choose her favorite CoffeeStix flavor, it’s between Cinnamon Vanilla (which will be back soon!) and Salted Caramel because of its most delicious scent.
Have you ever had to pivot?
This is a great question. I feel the pivot in my life happened when our second Daughter, Khloe, was born. Weird story. My husband, our Daughter, and I were celebrating my Christmas birthday. He really outdid himself this year I thought. Even though we loved our life, we felt stagnant. We lived in a 2 bedroom home. We drove older cars, and I ran my business CoffeeStix out of our shed that we transformed into CoffeeStix HQ. I was totally blessed to have those things, but I know God had more in store for us. The month leading up to my birthday my Husband said let’s find a house and move. I said sure, being sarcastic, but we started packing things up and throwing things away.
I told myself and God years ago that if we didn’t have another child by the time Kady was 10 then she’d be an only child. Our big girl was turning 9 and I had just come to terms of not having any more children, besides I had an IUD and I needed to decide on getting a new one or having a hysterotomy. I decided on a hysterectomy so I went to my OBGyn to get the process started only to discover and be told that the IUD wasn’t in place and I was 7weeks pregnant. My husband and I were indifferent. How could we afford our plans now…
We decided to YOLO and go for it anyway. It was the hardest thing to do but we moved forward in spite of.
By the end of the year we had a cash offer on our current home. A few months later we were able to break foundation on a brand new build in an upcoming neighborhood and almost a year later we are comfortably in our new home starting a new chapter in our life.
How’d you meet your business partner?
How I met Toya…funny story We worked together at a technical college. I had only started a few weeks before and still felt so out of place. All the others had been there and things seemed to flow so easily for them. New job jitters I guess. On her first day I saw Toya looking lost down the hallway. I walked up to her and asked if she needed help. She said no and that her new classroom was right behind us. The conversation progressed and we found to have a lot in common. A few days later as we were walking to class and she blurted out…I’m pregnant, I haven’t told anyone yet, but I had to share it with someone or I was going to explode. Don’t ever tell my Husband I didn’t tell him first” We laughed hysterically and became instant friends.
Not to mention I had an almost 2 year old at the time so we could relate even more.
I came up with the idea of CoffeeStix and she was instantly attracted to the concept. So much so that she was my first investor. She would always help me with the intricacies of the business from manufacturing to pop-up shows. She always felt like a cofounder and finally I asked her to join the building of our business permanently
Now with over 10 years of friendship, marriage, and 2 daughters later we are still making things happen!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ILoveCoffeeStix.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/ILoveCoffeeStix
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ILoveCoffeeStix
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/CoffeeStix
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/CoffeeStix
Image Credits
TreyVoy Kelly Studios R3 Shotz
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