We were lucky to catch up with Natalie Bazile recently and have shared our conversation below.

Natalie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I came up with this idea when I couldn’t find anyone doing it in the Gainesville area. Growing up in Miami, every neighborhood had someone who made alcoholic daiquiris and/or nonalcoholic slushies. These drinks were colorful and full of candy; ultimately a fun and tasty drink. During phase one of the COVID-19 pandemic, I went looking for something similar. After hashtag searches on Instagram and searching different local Facebook groups, it appeared no one was selling anything like this. From there, I decided to play with some recipes found on Pinterest. After showing some of my creations on my Instagram story, I received quite a few inquiries from friends in the area. With some encouragement from my then boyfriend, now husband, “Swamp Treatz” was created.

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

My name is Natalie and I sort of fell into this industry. By profession, I’m a social worker. However, I love a good drink just as much as I like making them. Plus, I was always mixing drinks at family functions so maybe it’s always been a hobby of mine. My business Swamp Treatz creates frozen alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and custom drinks for events. I also invested in a mixology class in 2022 and now offer mobile bartending under “Barzile.” When I got my Masters in Social Work, and started a new career, I could no longer make and sell drinks on a daily basis. During this time, I also learned the proper way to go about selling drinks. What I mean by this is, I technically can’t do the individual sales. By offering mobile bartending, I’m able to avoid any legal issues and still make drinks on a schedule that works for myself and clients. For those who enjoyed the frozen treats, I can still fulfill those by taking pre-orders under Swamp Treatz.
I believe the creativity of my drinks and willingness to match a theme is what sets me apart from others. When hired for an event, we like to ask a lot of questions to ensure our drinks match your theme. From color schemes to the candy and/or fruit we put in the drinks, we make sure they match.
What I’m most proud of is the network I was able to build when I was more active with the business. We would bring non-alcoholic beverages to different pop up markets and connect with other entrepreneurs. Meeting diverse people who provided all types of services and products was always a joy and I miss it.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

My main job and the support of my family is how I funded my business in the beginning. My business has always been a side hustle for me and I’m ok with that right now. Full time entrepreneurship comes with a lot of highs and lows especially when you’re just starting out. I wanted to make sure my bills would be paid while investing in my business. I also have a generous and supportive family. My maternal grandma helped fund the mixology class I took. It’s ok to lean on loved ones, if they offer. Don’t let the internet fool you out of or let your ego get in the way of a blessing.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Word of mouth has been the best source of new clients for me. Running ads on social media is great, but nothing beats a word of mouth reference. A lot of times, these ads on social media are mainly being seen by our followers and not a large number of new people. Word of mouth, has such a large and concentrated reach. The main example that comes to mind is booking a baby shower. Each of those guests are potential clients for their own future events. And more than likely, they’re located in the same area.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Swamp_treatz
• Facebook: Swamp.treatz

Image Credits
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