We caught up with the brilliant and insightful C’Lena Shumaker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, C’Lena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

I’m a mixologist first and foremost. For years I worked at some of the hottest clubs in Atlanta. Thus one particular bar I was working at was really small and intimate. I got to hone in on my craft and actually talk to my customers. On the various is where I came up with my recipes for my drinks. I would get feedback from the customers! When it was perfect, I would write the recipe down and that’s how I started.

I was inviting people to my job and I even had a day there where I hosted. I had a girl that I went to high school with tell me that my drinks were really good. Mind you, I don’t drink! She told me start selling my drinks and I shyed away from it, but so many people were asking I figured it was a sign and I had to.

I went to the store with $50, I got some Mason Jars, and my ingredients. On January 1, 2014, I put up a post on Facebook and put my 16oz Mango Madness on sale for $10. I told people to DM me. At first no one hit me up, but I kept posting until a few days later someone DM’d me and asked if I still had the drink for sale. I was so excited, I met up with them and bam my first $10
I made on my own!

I was so excited, I posted that my drink was sold. Then people started asking when would I make more. After that I kept posting when I had drinks and the sales started coming in.

C’Lena, 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 C’Lena Shumaker, born and raised in Atlanta, GA. The Westside of Atlanta, Bankhead to be exact. I was actually thrown into the service industry. I remember being on unemployment, in 2008 and thinking, “what am I about to do now?” My unemployment was running out and I needed a job!

I had a friend tell me about girls making a lot if money in the strip clubs. I told her no disrespect, but I was doing that.
She said no, the servers in the strip club make money. I said ok and went and tried out. I had no.prior experience in the serving industry. This was all very new to me. But one thing that I knew, I worked! I would out work anybody that was there at that club. That’s what I told the lady that interviewed me, and I was hired. They told me to.come back that night, NewYears Eve. I was excited!!!

That night, I got my butt kicked! I didn’t make a dime, but I didn’t give up. I kept going back, and I finally asked one of the girls. Why I wasn’t making any money, she told me I had to go to the customers. They wasn’t going to come to me! She showed me the rooms a bit, after that I started making some money.

The club was slow, but I still showed up everyday. The owner noticed and decided to put me behind the bar. I was hesitant, because I didn’t drink. But I quickly learned how to do a lil’ mixing after I got cussed out by a customer after I messed up his drink.

I fell in love with bartending after that. I had finally found something that I could do and let my personality flow without getting in trouble for my mouth! My sister C’Rena saw how much I loved bsrtending and put me through bartending school. From there, I worked at a few bars over the years until I found one that fit me. I bartended at that bar for 7 years before I was fired. During that time I would see and wait on so many millionaires, BLACK millionaires!

I asked a few of them what they did for a living? Most of them were business men and women. I said to myself. “There’s no way I’m leaving this job without a business.” So I developed a plan to do what I do best. Sell my services and my craft! I started telling people I did private events l,and they would book me. Then if I couldn’t make an event I would sell my drinks to them. It was a win-win. Being that I was at the bar, I postioned myself to be the girl who people wanted to come to and see. I provided exceptional customer service, and was rewarded.

I had to be razor focused on my goal when it came to my drinks. I started looking at the bartending not as a job, but as a networking opportunity. I was determined to put my mark on Atlanta. Originally, my brand Liquid Loud started off as Adult Beverages, after 2020 I added Delta-8 to my brand. As a person that don’t drink, I fell in love with my Delta-8 lemonafes that I made. I could drink my lemonade and feel relaxed and even sleep better! (I have insomnia)

One night I went to sleep and woke up. I was like “wow, what happened?” What did I do different?” But then I remembered, I was making the Delta-8 lemonade. I soon started making tinctures and butters and looking to add more products that ppl can use besides smoking Marijuana.

What sets me apart from others is that I love what I do and the change and impact that I have in people lives. I’m real and you’re gonna either love me or hate me. But I give my all to my customers.

I’m most proud of delivering a quality product. I don’t cut corners with anything I do or touch. These last few years have been hard because of competition and people are starting to do their own thing. But the fact remains, my product is good and my service is
top notch.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I remember one year I was sick at a festival. I had food poisonings. I kept throwing up, that night and going to the restroom. I mean it was bad. My sister said let’s not set up today. But I was determined! I had to load in, and was just a mess. But I had to do it,until the rest of my crew came. (My mama and Auntie) When they got there, I was able to relax a bit.

I didn’t eat that whole day because I thought, if I ate I was going to have to go to the restroom. I was so sick and dehydrated. I had a lady walk up to me and tell me I didn’t look good. She gave me a warm Sprite, said it would settle my stomach. I started feeling little better, then my sister got me some fruit.

After I ate tge fruit, my energy started coming back. We were able to finish the festival and make some money and connects.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I remember being st the festivals,,and people would think I was selling g things other than Adult Beverages because of my brand’s name. Liquid Loud. I got cussed out, and fussed out. I was told that I was misrepresenting and a lot of other stuff. So when 2020 happened, and the world shut down. I went to work on pivoting and adding to my brand. I was so scared ro make drinks with Delta-8, because I don’t smoke and never tried Marijuana. But I didn’t let that stop me. I researched and researched. Then I tried it on a few people and it was a hit! It’s been going evert since.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.shopliquidloud.com
• Instagram: Liquidloudmixers2
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/liquidloudmixers
• Twitter: Www.twitter.com/liquidloudmixer
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@liquidloudmixers?si=GI03U5plNn7KE0j_
• Other: www.tiktok.com/liquidloudmixers2