We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristin Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristin below.
Hi Kristin, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
Our first client was this wine shop in the Shaw area of DC. We participated in DC Wine Fest where they were the legal party selling the bottles for us as we poured.
The DC Community was in perfect form and the wine brand none of them had heard of before was selling cases and cases. We went through every bottle we had brought with us (15 cases) between selling 12 cases and sampling 3! That was the best social proof we could give them and two days later we were on shelves in their store consistently selling out.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Growing up surrounded by strong women in the South, I was never afraid to get my hands dirty. I have always known the influence of powerful women who cultivate transformative moments with their hands, through the meals they prepare for their loved ones. I strive to follow in their footsteps, creating and caring for friends and family – and that’s really where Mom Juice began.
However, it was a visit to a vineyard in Italy with my family that set me on a tangible path of creativity and a lifelong appreciation for sensory experiences centered around food. I remember the smell of tomatoes punctuating the air, and the mesmerizing aromas of delicious sauces wafting over us as we walked through the streets.
Mom Juice has been an exercise in getting women and mothers – just like me – to revel in the communal moments we have always shared. The secrets we share, the joys we celebrate, the things we mourn, and even (or especially) the mundane. What’s better than taking a moment after a long day of meetings, emails, and school drop-offs than relaxing with a beautiful glass of wine? Or several… Whether you’re drinking with your girlfriends, your spouse, or even by yourself, Mom Juice knows that you deserve that glass.
We make Gluten Free, Low Sugar and Vegetarian wines always less than 9 ingredients in each bottle.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
A blind business lunch date turned into a dynamic friendship, and years later, a lucrative business opportunity that helps us bring women and mothers together over a glass of wine. Because if people are getting together, trust and believe wine will be involved.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Our funding journey has been full of trial and error. We started working through our first phase of funding in 2020. My Co-Founder and another entrepreneur came in as our first initial checks which got us to product out on the shelves.
We then added a few more checks over the last couple of years but this year we’ve really amped up recently. Outside of the Black Ambition Prize Fund; we’ve been mostly backed by Angel Investors and Family Offices. We’re proud to say that we’ve raised $1.1M to date but are hopeful to close the final checks we need for this phase of the business before the end of this year.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://momjuicewine.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com.com/kristin.taylor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinthines/
