We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Crystal Cotton . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Crystal below.
Crystal , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
The idea to start my own mobile bar company was the only next step for me in the world of bartending. I had always visualized myself owning my own bar, restaurant or something dealing with the bar industry. Bartending had always been a side hustle. Even though I had always held a full time job, I was always bartending on the side.. I had been bartending for about 18 years, while in college and even after I graduated and working several professional careers. I’d even managed one of the most popular clubs in downtown Detroit for over 8 years. Boozique had initially became an idea after I attended a friends wedding at a banquet facility and realized that the prices to use that facilities bar were very high and the drinks were not good! I thought of ways that I could make this an affordable and more customized service. I knew I had enough training, had become a skilled mixologist, and had made a lot of connections throughout my time bartending for “Someone else”. The name Boozique took some time to come up with but I wanted something that would be bold and stand out but that would also be a word that no one else could use! Boozique was officially formed in June of 2019! I had no clue on what to do next. I just knew that I wanted to offer a service and operate as an open bar. The next couple of months were nothing but content, eat, sleep and breathing with anxiety about properly executing this idea. I was constantly researching and studying ways that would set me a part from any other mobile bar but that would appeal to all adults of drinking age! I had some money saved and decided to go for it. I ordered my first LED mobile bar, created an IG page and relied on word of mouth. I got my first booking in September of 2019. I decided that from that first booking, I would remain consistent even on the days that I wanted to cry and just give up. I decided that I would post one post per day on IG per day to market Boozique regardless of if I get 1 like or 100. I didn’t realize that this business took so much more than just popping up at an event center and serving drinks, but there were laws, rules, licenses and insurance liabilities that had to be acquired. I really didn’t even have a clue if this business was profitable.. I just went for what I was passionate about. Boozique was off to a slow start with only a couple bookings here and there and then BOOM! The pandemic hit and shut everything down which meant.. No more bookings for my business! A couple weeks into the pandemic, as everyone was virtually doing everything, and ordering everything as contactless delivery, I decided to advertise a new cocktail per week on Instagram and offer contactless delivery, as well as offer virtual mixology classes for corporate and holiday events that were now virtually working from home! The idea behind this was that this pandemic has to end one day and when it ends I want everyone to know that I can really make delicious cocktails and when they start booking their events again to book my business! This idea kept me busy during the entire pandemic. This idea caught the eye of a news anchor. The cocktail was loved so much that I was offered to come on the show and do a segment. My idea worked and once we were gradually taking our masks off and starting to somewhat live again… Parties and events were overwhelmingly coming in. The pouches never died down and they were and are still continuously being ordered. I have branched off and created DIY kits and Travel kits as well. Bartending and mixology is a form of art for me.. being as creative and different from the competition has been my biggest attribute! I not only make sure that the drink looks good, but most importantly taste good! Combined with the business practices learned from my employment in my 20’s at Verizon Wireless as well as my psychology degree this path was a natural match! Boozique, The Booze Boutique was officially launched!
Crystal , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Crystal Cotton, I grew up in the city of Highland Park, graduated high school with honors, and I also graduated from Wayne State University with my Bachelors degree in Psychology! I was pregnant with my daughter at 17 years old and was a very young mom. I started bartending when I was 19 years old, I applied for a job as a waitress in a bar, I soon asked one of the bartenders if I could shadow them. I am a fast learner so I quickly caught on to bartending and soon after started creating my own cocktails. I consider myself a jack of all trades but bartending gives me the most joy! I think that I have always set myself a part from others because in the bar industry I would always tell myself and my co workers that a drink is never worth having an argument about. We were there as stress relievers to the customer. I am very proud of the truth in speaking things into existence, but what I am most proud of is getting Boozique LLC copyrighted and trademarked with the US Patent and Trademark office. I have become a regularly featured business on Fox2 and its because of the exceptional customer experience, quality and deliciousness of my products. I often think back about when this whole entire business was just a thought and now it has so many branches to it and I even have employees. I have created something just from executing a thought. I have stayed the course and remained consistent even when I wanted to give up. One thing I never do is look at the competition. I don’t want anything that would potentially discourage me or cause envy. I like to rely on my own thoughts, trials and errors! There are a lot of mobile bars and bartenders but our products are completely different. Boozique is a bold brand and when that logo is in any the room you can’t help but to notice it. When I am booking events with my clients, I try not to make the interaction a formal and strict interaction. I like to help take the pressure off of all my clients by reassuring them that they never have to worry about the bar. Boozique is consistently striving to set the bar.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Boozique mobile bar has been at a steady climb since the pandemic ended. I had gone back and forth about leaving my professional career and going full force with my business. After some deep thought, meditation and prayer, I decided to leave my job on April 11, 2022. There was just no way that I could run both Boozique and work my job. Boozique had become overwhelmingly busy. Although this move was a definite fearful leap of faith, I can say that for me it was the best move. It has not been easy and there has been many ups and downs, however, I was able to focus 100% on my business in a way that has allowed me the opportunity to freely develop different branches to this business. I am working everyday to create new avenues that would provide longevity and stability. I know that part of being in business is staying on top of things changing with time and as a business owner I have been able to constantly adapt to the changes staying ahead of the game in order to remain successful.
If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?
Boozique started solely as a mobile bartending company that would operate as an open bar for any corporate or private event needing open bar beverage services. It has now branched into an opportunity to write and sell e books relating to signature cocktail creations, how to start a mobile bartending company and steps to creating and certifying your brand. Boozique offers travel kits, diy cocktail kits, Private and Corporate themed fun and engaging mixology classes and bottled beverages. I also created a line of Boozique merchandise such as branded shot glasses, monogrammed Ice cube trays & shakers. I am currently in the process of collaborating with a major liquor company on creating a signature flavored vodka. Boozique is constantly growing daily and the leap of faith that I took to believe in myself and my passion is visually manifesting very quickly! The ultimate goal is to have my own brick and mortar. I have so many ideas for the future and I am very excited about that!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.booziquemobilebar.com
- Instagram: @booziquemobilebar
- Facebook: Facebook.Com/Boozique/