PARTNER CONTENT: BUBBLE BEV
By Nick Ranghino, Co-Founder, BUBBLE BEV
While launching a beverage brand might seem simple from the outside, there are common pitfalls that I see time and time again. Here are five essential steps to launch your beverage brand based on my personal experience.
This quick guide provides specific tips to help you eliminate some doubts and avoid common mistakes, potentially saving you time, money, and hassle during your first venture into the beverage world.
Unlike many online guides, this one is packed with actionable advice. Let’s dive in!
1. Talk to the Industry Veterans
These professionals often have years of hands-on experience and can provide invaluable insights without asking much in return. They know the market well from working behind the scenes.
How to approach them:
- Avoid overly-exposed “gurus.” Look for technical experts and industry insiders working in companies. LinkedIn can be a valuable tool.
- Be humble and open. Present your project honestly. Keeping secrets or believing you have a magic formula is naive. Share your goals and ask for sincere—even brutal—feedback.
Personally, I’ve found that overcoming the fear of reaching out is the biggest hurdle.
2. Start with an MVP, but Plan Like You’re Already Producing Millions
Starting cautiously is wise because the market will likely give feedback that differs from your expectations. Decide which feedback to act on and which to ignore. Starting lean also helps you avoid ending up with excess inventory.
But be careful:
You can’t afford to overhaul everything once volumes start growing. If your recipe is fantastic but your supply chain can’t scale, it’ll be a disaster. You’ll have to adjust everything quickly, often changing your product’s taste and look, potentially frustrating customers.
What to do:
- Choose a partner or set up production to scale capacity quickly and flexibly.
- Develop a scalable recipe using production processes that can be replicated at different facilities through a transparent partner.
3. Be Data-Driven, but Stay Passionate
Don’t believe those who say they’ll achieve great things while working only a few hours a day as a side project—they likely won’t get far.
Adopt a scientific approach when analyzing data and trends, but pursue something you’re passionate about, something that aligns with your values. The early months of launching a brand are tough, and passion will keep you going through difficult times.
4. Invest Seriously in Brand Design and Visual Identity
The market is flooded with trendy-looking brands. You can’t expect to succeed by spending little and relying on a few local freelancers.
Think of your visual identity as a cornerstone of your future success.
What to do:
- Hire a reputable agency experienced in your sector with a track record of creating successful product designs.
- Give them clear creative guidelines, but trust their expertise. While the final result must resonate with you, avoid micromanaging every creative step through endless revisions.
Remember, industry players have likely seen countless products. What seems innovative to you may have been done before—though they’ll rarely tell you that directly.
5. Get Up and Sell
One of the most common issues I see is founders unwilling to handle sales. There are no shortcuts.
Here are some mantras to repeat:
- Your distributor will distribute. That doesn’t mean they’ll sell.
- Talk to your customers and build relationships.
- Sell your story first, then your product.
- Celebrate when a customer makes a repeat purchase, not just the first sale.
For more from BUBBLE BEV, visit their website.
