Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marie O’hare-vuong, Linda Burley, And Karen Gabby. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marie O’Hare-Vuong, Linda Burley, and Karen Gabby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.

We’re beyond excited to work together! As three close-knit sisters, we share an unbreakable bond that has grown stronger since childhood. Our parents instilled in us the importance of family, always encouraging us to support one another and to keep God at the center of our lives.
With our shared values, we’ve built a remarkable level of trust and loyalty amongst ourselves. We truly believe that this vibrant sisterly connection, along with our unwavering trust and similar principles, drives our family business to incredible heights.

Interestingly, we avoided the common pitfalls of owning a family business such as favoritism, personal issues affecting work, or difficulty separating work and personal life. Why? Well, it all comes down to how we were raised. Respect for one another was a constant in our upbringing. We freely talk about our personal lives and families, and we often travel together. It’s just who we are, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

As for the next generation, if our children decide to join the business someday, we’d love that! For now, they’re pursuing their own passions, but we always welcome their ideas for our social media.
We don’t have any specific stories or experiences that shaped our perspective on family businesses. Instead, we’ve always grown up in a close-knit family. The three of us made a promise early on that no matter what life throws our way, we’ll remain close unlike some siblings we’ve seen drift apart over the years.

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.

Our journey to creating unique treats began with curiosity and research into the many ways lemons could be used. One day, we came across an article that inspired us to reimagine an old-fashioned treat that originated in Maryland nearly a century ago. It was sipping fresh lemon juice through a peppermint stick used as a straw. We added our own twist, balancing sweet and sour in a way that’s both nostalgic and refreshing.

To make the experience less messy and more fun, we introduced decorative, themed cups. We also expanded our offerings to include oranges and various candy sticks, such as lemon, orange, and lime flavors, to give our customers more variety.

Seeing our childhood dream of owning a business together come to life fills us with gratitude and pride. This journey has been one of inspiration, hard work, and unwavering dedication. We’ve persevered through the challenges of family life, personal struggles, and physical obstacles, all while trusting the grace of God to guide us.

It didn’t happen overnight, but with patience, determination, and faith, we’ve finally achieved what once seemed like just a dream. Today, we’re proud to call ourselves entrepreneurs, sharing a taste of sweetness and joy with the world.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The three of us have faced significant health challenges throughout our lives, all stemming from degenerative disc disease, a condition we were born with that causes our spinal discs to deteriorate. This has resulted in countless struggles, including bone spurs, pinched nerves, muscle spasms, and nerve damage. Each of us has undergone multiple spinal surgeries.

However, our middle sister has faced even more complex health issues, battling numerous diseases and autoimmune disorders. She has endured over sixty surgeries and medical procedures since the age of seventeen. Her journey has been particularly arduous, and her health challenges have often delayed our plans.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

We started by analyzing the market to see if anyone else was offering the same products that we sell together in one complete kit. It took extensive research and unwavering determination to stay focused on our goals. Initially, we reached out to our families and friends for feedback and to gauge their responses.

From there, we hit the ground running by launching a marketing campaign. We created flyers and business cards, which we distributed to local businesses and our children’s schools. At the same time, we invested countless hours into posting regularly on multiple social media platforms, creating fresh content to grow our customer base, and continuously updating our business website.

At every party we host or gathering we attend, we showcase our Citrus Sips treats to let others sample them and spread the word. Positive word-of-mouth, combined with these efforts, has been incredibly effective in helping our small family business grow!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.CitrusSips.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@CitrusSips
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570424702021&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitrusSips-cu8ug

Image Credits

Godaddy and Alvindphotography