Today we are joined by Rebecca Styn, the owner and creator of Blind Tiger. Rebecca talks with us about the shift her business had to experience during COVID and how she went from running a speakeasy style restaurant to shifting into a product line of alcohol free beverages. She talks to us about making this pivot and how they are growing this area of their business now. Rebecca gives some great tips on market research, marketing products, and getting into the manufacturing line of business. Tune in today to get some great tips on taking the leap into entrepreneurship! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [4:04] What is Blind Tiger? What types of products do they have?
• [7:00] How has business shifted post-COVID?
• [10:24] How does Blind Tiger keep their cocktails made with healthy ingredients?
• [11:59] How did Rebecca get into the restaurant/manufacturing field?
• [13:40] How did Rebecca navigate this new field? 
• [17:48] What are some of the mistakes she has made and what has she learned from them?
• [21: 30] What was the initial response when the product launched and what did they need to change? 
• [22:18] What are the current products in the Blind Tiger line?
• [28:56] What legal items did they need to go through with naming and business aspects?
• [24:09] How did the inspiration around the SpeakEasy and prohibition beverages happen?
• [26:30] What does Rebecca’s current team look like?
• [27:45] What is the vision for the future of Blind Tiger?
• [30:17] How are people finding out about Blind Tiger? What are their marketing efforts at?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• When you are passionate about something, go into it with open arms, expecting there to be mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and being ready to trust that what’s meant to be will happen.
• Do market research before starting a new company. Are there people out there seeking your idea? This was a big help for success with Rebecca’s product once she got the idea to launch.
• If something shifts the business that is making sales decline, look at your different options and pivot. During COVID Rebecca’s business would have shut down due to not being able to sell alcohol, so they pivoted to non-alcohol drinks which allowed them to expand and grow their business much more than it would have had they not pivoted. 

BIO:

Blind Tiger’s founder story is rooted in the spirit of the Prohibition era, where people gathered at speakeasies to enjoy drinks that were otherwise banned. Rebecca Styn, founder of Erie, PA’s Room 33 Speakeasy, brought her passion for this time to life by creating a sophisticated cocktail experience that captures the defining flavors of the era, with or without the alcohol.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the speakeasy was forced to provide only sans-alcohol drink options to-go, and the team rose to the challenge to create a top-notch spirit-free cocktail that mirrors the flavors of the original. As a result, Blind Tiger was born – an all-inclusive luxury drink that lets you feel part of the occasion with or without alcohol.

Named after the Prohibition-era speakeasies that had to keep a low profile to avoid detection, Blind Tiger is here to enhance the limited dry options offered to consumers. Our formulation uses natural ingredients to embody the flavor and depth that alcohol would customarily offer the drink. So whether you’re looking for a sophisticated alcohol-free drink at a bar, event, or just at home, or an easy classic cocktail – Blind Tiger has got you covered.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Ask Brien Podcast

Blind Tiger Website

Rebecca Styn’s LinkedIn

Rebecca’s Email: rebecca@blindtigerspiritfree.com