Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Richie Monis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Richie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Absolutely! our brand thrives on constant innovation and adaptability, setting us apart from industry norms. We’re committed to wowing our clients through creative recipes, open to new ideas, and ready to adapt to evolving demands. Furthermore, our strong focus on sustainability means we prioritize local, in-season ingredients and use whole, unprocessed elements in our recipes. We’re not just in the business of delivering quality products; we’re dedicated to making a positive impact on the world and the well-being of our customers.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Eight years ago we popped up here in South Florida as a Cocktail Catering businness with the intention of changing the way that people enjoy cocktails at events. We take the same approach to our cocktails in service as any brick and mortar space. We only use locally sourced seasonal ingredients that we turned into homemade fresh ingredients for all of our craft cocktail recipes that we design and house ourselves. When the pandemic hit on 2020 and our business basically was paused, we were in the need to find a new and creative way to deliver our same delicious cocktails but in a different way, so we came up with Jolly Hour, which is basically our same recipes for delicious craft cocktails that we serve on events, but you could do it a home hassle free. We don’t cut any corners and we’re always willing to be challenged with new creative ideas and we are very proud of what we do.

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

In 2020, when the pandemic struck, my life took a dramatic turn. My wife and I had just bought our first home and welcomed a new baby into our lives. I was the sole breadwinner, but I lost every event we had contracts for that year, leaving us in financial turmoil. The responsibility of providing for my family during these uncertain times weighed heavily on me, causing immense stress. However, my wife’s unwavering optimism and determination never allowed us to give up. She became a true source of strength and resilience. Together, we decided to find a way to pivot and adapt. She created an Excel sheet, and we brainstormed new ways to offer our services in a creative manner. This led to the birth of Jolly Hour, a craft cocktail box designed to simplify cocktail-making at home or anywhere, eliminating the hassle of coming up with recipes and ensuring enjoyment. Not only did Jolly Hour help us survive that challenging year, but it also revealed a special product that brought joy and convenience to many. This experience underscores our resilience and ability to find opportunities in adversity.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I guess the best advice I can give is to always provide value to your audience and be consistent, nothing builds without consistency.

Also social media trends and algorithms change frequently so you may need to stay up-to-date with industry news and adjust your strategy accordingly or even better if you can hire a social media manager that can help you to keep up with this part so you can focus on the business and keep up to add value to your clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thejollyhour.com www.craftcartel.net
• Instagram: @craft_cartel @jollyhour
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com//CraftCartelCocktailCatering /CraftCartelCocktailCatering https://www.facebook.com/jollyhourbox
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YLTJQjfM28
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@richiemonis https://www.tiktok.com/@jollyhourbox