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

Tuffli, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

In the initial stages, Chris Wood (Co-Founder & Vice President) and I navigated various challenges independently including tax law, permitting/licensing, formulation, branding, and other critical aspects. As a self-funded start-up, our motivation drove us to expedite our learning process while ensuring the appropriate time to make the right decisions. Realizing our strengths and recognizing the necessity for expert guidance were pivotal in our evolution. Consequently, our early “team” consisted of specialized consultants including attorneys, food scientists, and tax accountants. We understood the significance of these disciplines to hire the right help to establish a strong foundation for VAQIT without cutting corners by taking on these important aspects of the business ourselves.

Many of our early hires came from our network of friends and family. Our strategy centered on aligning individuals who shared our vision, believed in the product, and embraced our core values. We placed greater emphasis on personal integrity and performance over specific expertise while valuing character and practical accomplishments. Chris and I demonstrate our performance through behavior, which is reflected in our current team of 15 people who exemplify similar dedication.

Upon reflecting on our five-year journey, I honestly don’t think I would have done anything differently. Sure, we made plenty of mistakes along the way and it’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback and believe that we could’ve done things differently. However, these mistakes were huge learning moments for us, which helped us better understand where we needed to go and really defines what VAQIT is today.

Tuffli, 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?

Chris and I have both worked in Energy for 20 years which is how we initially met. Our friendship was rooted in our shared values of family, skiing, golf, hiking, wake surfing, and real estate. Chris, driven by a gluten intolerance, had spent years perfecting flavored seltzer waters with various vodkas. In February 2019, he introduced me to his Orange Creamsicle and Black Mamba vodka soda blends during a ski trip in Vail. Impressed by it, I later shared the concoction with friends during a summer gathering in Wisconsin, resulting in an instant hit.

Motivated by an entrepreneurial spirit, I recognized the potential of brining Chris’s unique drink to the market. Despite lacking experience in the alcohol industry, I saw an opportunity to fill a gap in the market. In September 2019, I proposed the idea of co-founding a canned cocktail company centered around Chris’s creations. Although neither of us had formal alcohol experience, Chris enthusiastically embraced the concept. When faced with the question of how to start a canned cocktail company, my response was, “I have no idea, but together, I’m confident that we can figure it out!”

Although we lean towards a Ready-to-Drink (RTD) company, we really pride VAQIT as a customer relationship business. So, our proposition to our customers/partners is to understand their goals and objectives so we can align them with ours in order to enable each other to grow together. As a local Denver start-up, we are also passionate in supporting and giving back to local communities. Some of our sponsorships include the Romito Foundation, The Chubb Foundation, Fxck Cancer Foundation, and Denver University.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

We strongly believe that face-to-face interactions with our partners represent the most genuine and authentic way to understand their perspectives and enable a trusted partnership. Our team prioritizes regular and frequent check-ins to gauge sales momentum and provide additional support as necessary, including activations, tastings, and additional point-of-sale resources.

Loyalty only starts when the door is open with that initial sale. We believe that what happens after the door is open and how we conduct ourselves truly builds brand loyalty and trusted partnerships.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I think building an effective team is grounded on leadership that provides support and guidance with empathy. When team members perceive that their leader advocates for them and takes accountability, trust can flourish. Currently, our sales team comprises of individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, each bringing distinct strengths and weaknesses to the table. We embrace this diversity wholeheartedly, empowering each team member to shape VAQIT through their unique perspectives and insights. This approach not only fosters trust but also ensures that everyone has a meaningful role in contributing to the journey of VAQIT.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.letsvaqit.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsvaqit/
• Facebook: https://x.com/letsvaqit
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/letsvaqit/about/
• Twitter: https://x.com/letsvaqit

Image Credits

Vanessa Brooke, Daphnee Marie, James Barrett