Women and the Drinks Biz Jenn Root Martell, Cider Businesswoman

Starting a business is tough, especially in the alcohol and hospitality industry. What’s more tough? Shutting it down. But how do you know if you even should? Tracy Gunn of Exitable says you should always have an exit strategy and an end goal. Join us as we walk through what that looks like and how she has lived it herself with her own businesses. It’s a straight talk episode to finish out this amazing podcast journey. Special Mentions:ExitableThe E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Busines...

Wendy LeBlanc cut her teeth in the tech industry in Seattle, learning data systems at Microsoft and elsewhere. But the call of cider drew her and her partner to the Black Forest of Germany to set up 1785 Cider company based out of his parent’s farmstead and orchard. She’s blazing a cider trail, slinging apples, and building a market and community in this special place. 1785 CiderSpecial Mentions:City FruitMaster Fruit Steward ProgramKertelkreiter CiderThank you to Tony Stuck for the awe...

Ever wondered if your website is working well for you? There are specific things that the bar and restaurant industry need to make sure their online presence in their website is doing the best that it can to help their business. Kelsey Gilbert-Kreiling has built a community and a business around designing amazing websites and teaching others to do so with the Week of the Website. She joins me to share her story as she moved through the male-dominated tech space and grew a small business that ...

Born with strong German roots, Anna and Wendelin came up through the entertainment industry in the US, following their passions for film and music. But over the years on the road they fell in love with whiskey. In 2023 they set their sights on building a new brand and a new beverage that builds a community around whiskey and is open and accessible to all. Lodestar Whiskey was born and these ladies are full steam ahead! lodestar (noun) : a star that leads or guides; one that serves as an inspi...

Building a cidery and orchard from scratch on an Island in the Puget Sound in Washington State was a major career shift for Laura Cherry and her husband. Now in its 2nd decade, Dragon’s Head Cider has started true to its traditional english cider roots and added a taproom downtown this fall. Laura joins me to reflect on her cider journey and celebrate the community that she has built under the cider apple and perry pear blossoms. Dragon's Head CiderSHOP!Terms: Methode champanoise - a spa...

Annually the US celebrates and recognizes the amazing achievements of women throughout history and in the present day. What started as a Day turned into a Week and finally in 1987 gained the designation of an entire Month - Women’s History Month. This March we jump into the humble beginnings of this idea and how it grew into an international movement. For better or worse.References: US Census Bureau - International Women's DayThe National WWII Museum New Orleans - An Introduction to Women's H...