E85:
Sometimes a small little retail brick and mortar can have a lot more going on behind it’s walls than it seems. Downtown Portland Maine’s Vena’s Fizz House owners Johanna & Steve Corman join us today.
We talk on what other things the business has grown into after starting off an idea created at a stressful time. Education in person and in class and benefits of not being from the industry to create inside it, believing in your gut, and creating something that hasn’t been done at the time.
In This Episode We Cover
Are you crazy? No One’s done it
No experience
Knowing your concept will work
Getting the idea
Old to new
Listening to your audience
Changing through COVID in Brick/Mortar
Diversification in small business
Trust
Partners in life and in business
Education in real time
Quotes
“ Every night, are we absolutely nuts? Because no one’s ever tried this.” - Steve Corman
“We never made drinks before.” - Johanna Corman
“The world got huge and close at the same time, it’s weird.” - Host Dave Swillum
“I’m an 11th generation Mainer so I don’t like to have all my eggs in one basket.” - Johanna Corman
“Most of the people we have hired to be bar tenders have not been bar tenders before.” - Johanna Corman
Vena’s Fizz Shop Johanna & Steve’s Links
IG
@venasfizz
Resources
The History of Bitters
By Parsons
The Flavor Bible
Business Mentoring Programs w/ Local Chapters
SBDC
SCORE
Waking Up From Work Podcast Links
Website
Instagram/Twitter/Tik Tok
@davewakeup
Merch To Support Us!
Patreon (If you want to support the show check out our sweet offers for you)
Facebook Community to connect to creatives
Youtube Channel
For audio advice and more in depth music content from Dave
Dave’s Indie Rock Band Broadwing