Chrishon Lampley Of Love Cork Screw On 5 Things You Need To Create a Successful Food or Beverage Brand
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Patience is also essential, as building a successful brand takes time, even after 10 years. And I believe a touch of craziness is helpful to overcome obstacles and stay motivated — I wake up every day and say to myself, “Really, me? Let’s do this!”
As a part of our series called “5 Things You Need To Create a Successful Food or Beverage Brand”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chrishon Lampley.
Chrishon Lampley is a visionary entrepreneur known for her bold, resilient, tenacious, and innovative spirit. As a negociant and founder of LCS Entertainment, Inc., a licensed wholesaler, importer, and Minority Business Enterprise, she is dedicated to inspiring others to follow their dreams. Love Cork Screw wines, the flagship brand of LCS Entertainment, launched six varietals in 2013 and has since sold over 2 million bottles nationwide, including at Midway airport. The brand has been recognized in Forbes magazine and received a 89 point rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Love Cork Screw wines are widely available and can be found at Mariano’s, Meijer, Total Wines & More, Jewel-Osco, Walmart, Target, and Binny’s, just to name a few. Chrishon is passionate about giving back and mentors young women and budding entrepreneurs through various organizations. She is optimistic about the future and looks forward to continuing to build the LCS brand.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your “childhood backstory”?
I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and had a passion for connecting with people. I received classical training in piano, and was involved in choir and musicals, but always felt unique due to being one of the few African-Americans in my community. This instilled a sense of fortitude and tenacity in me from an early age, which was fortunate because I also experienced a lot of bullying and discrimination due to my race and interests. However, I had very wise and supportive parents who helped me navigate those challenging situations and build resilience. Their guidance and love played a crucial role in helping me overcome those difficult experiences and emerge stronger.
Can you share with us the story of the “ah ha” moment that led to the creation of the food or beverage brand you are leading?
The “ah ha” moment that led to the creation of the wine brand I’m leading was when I realized that my love for people could be channeled into a passion for wine. As someone who has always enjoyed connecting with others, I saw the power that wine had to bring people together and create special moments. This inspired me to create a brand that not only offered high-quality and unique wines, but also fostered a sense of community and togetherness around the shared experience of enjoying a great glass of wine. By sharing my passion for wine and people, I hope to make a positive impact on the world and create memorable experiences for wine enthusiasts everywhere.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the funniest mistakes I made when I was first starting out in the wine industry was not knowing how to properly use a wine key and accidentally breaking the cork off in the bottle. It was certainly a memorable moment, and it taught me an important lesson about being humble and admitting when you don’t know everything. Instead of trying to pretend I knew what I was doing, I owned up to my mistake and asked for help from more experienced colleagues. Through their guidance and mentorship, I learned the proper techniques for opening wine bottles and gained a deeper appreciation for the skill and craft that goes into the process. Now, I always use a wine key to open bottles, and I’m grateful for the valuable lesson that mistake taught me early on in my career.
What are the most common mistakes you have seen people make when they start a food or beverage line? What can be done to avoid those errors?
One of the most common mistakes I’ve seen people make when starting a food or beverage line is underestimating the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in this industry. Many people are drawn in by the glamour and excitement of creating and sharing new products, but fail to recognize the long hours, hard work, and gritty, unglamorous aspects of building a successful brand.
Another common mistake is not conducting sufficient market research and analysis before launching a product. It’s important to understand your target market and competition and to have a solid business plan in place that takes into account factors such as distribution, pricing, and marketing.
To avoid these errors, it’s essential to go into the food and beverage industry with a realistic understanding of the challenges and demands involved and to be willing to put in the necessary work and effort. Conducting thorough research and analysis, seeking out mentorship and guidance, and staying focused on your goals and objectives can also help set you up for success. Remember, this industry is 10% sexy and 90% hard work and gritty, so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and put in the effort to make your dreams a reality
Let’s imagine that someone reading this interview has an idea for a product that they would like to produce. What are the first few steps that you would recommend that they take?
If someone has an idea for a food or beverage product they would like to produce, the first few steps I would recommend they take involve conducting thorough market research, developing a solid business plan, testing the product concept, determining the necessary resources, and obtaining any required licenses or permits. While taking courses such as WSET I may be a valuable step for someone interested in the world of wine to gain a deeper understanding of the industry, it may not be necessary or appropriate for everyone. It’s important to tailor the initial steps to the specific product and industry being considered and to be prepared to put in the work and effort required to turn an idea into a successful reality. By taking a strategic and thoughtful approach, and seeking guidance and mentorship where needed, aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success in a competitive and dynamic industry.
Many people have good ideas all the time. But some people seem to struggle in taking a good idea and translating it into an actual business. How would you encourage someone to overcome this hurdle?
While having a good idea is a great starting point, it’s true that many people struggle to turn their idea into an actual business. To overcome this hurdle, I would encourage someone to get out of their own way and just go for it. Sometimes fear or self-doubt can hold us back from taking action on our ideas, but it’s important to remember that every successful entrepreneur has faced challenges and setbacks along the way.
One key to success is to remember that you are the unique factor in your idea. While there may be other similar products or businesses out there, no one else has your specific perspective, experiences, and talents. So don’t be afraid to put your own spin on your idea and to leverage your unique strengths to set yourself apart.
Another important factor is to surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and peers who can offer guidance and help you navigate the challenges of starting a business. There are also many resources available, such as small business development centers and entrepreneurship programs, that can provide valuable information and support.
Ultimately, the key is to take action, stay focused on your goals, and be persistent in the face of challenges. Remember, every successful business started with an idea and a lot of hard work, so don’t be afraid to take the first step and make your idea a reality.
There are many invention development consultants. Would you recommend that a person with a new idea hire such a consultant, or should they try to strike out on their own?
In my personal experience, I relied on my own gut and intuition to guide me in developing my business, but that may not be the best approach for everyone. It’s important to carefully consider all the factors involved, do your research, and seek out expert guidance where needed to make the best decision for your unique situation.
What are your thoughts about bootstrapping vs looking for venture capital? What is the best way to decide if you should do either one?
In my experience, bootstrapping can be a great way to get started, but there may come a point where seeking venture capital is necessary to take the business to the next level. Ultimately, the decision of whether to bootstrap or seek venture capital depends on the individual’s endgame and how big or small they envision their business.
For me, I started out bootstrapping Love Cork Screw, but as I began to see its potential on a global scale, I decided to seek venture capital to help finance that growth. It’s important to carefully consider your goals, resources, and potential risks before making a decision on which path to take. Seek guidance from experts, do your research, and make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term vision for the business.
Can you share thoughts from your experience about how to file a patent, how to source good raw ingredients, how to source a good manufacturer, and how to find a retailer or distributor?
Filing a patent is a complex process that requires careful planning and attention to detail. It involves conducting a thorough search to ensure that your invention is novel and non-obvious, and then working with a patent attorney to prepare and file a patent application with the appropriate patent office. To source good raw ingredients, it’s important to research suppliers and evaluate their quality, price, and reliability. You may also want to consider factors such as sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. When it comes to finding a good manufacturer, you should do your due diligence and research potential partners to ensure that they have the necessary expertise and capacity to produce your product to your specifications. Finally, when looking for a retailer or distributor, it’s important to find partners who align with your vision and are truly committed to representing your brand. This means seeking out partners who will actively promote and sell your product, rather than just placing it on a back shelf and forgetting about it. By carefully considering each of these steps, you can increase your chances of success and build a strong, sustainable business.
Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “5 Things You Need To Create a Successful Food or Beverage Brand” and why?
In my experience, these elements include resilience, sales and marketing skills, a great team, patience, and a touch of craziness. I’ve had to learn to be resilient, as I’ve been kicked off shelves before and had to work hard to get back on them. I also understand the importance of sales and marketing skills, as I’ve had to pitch my brand repeatedly. Having a great team, including ambassadors to promote my product, has been crucial to my success. Patience is also essential, as building a successful brand takes time, even after 10 years. And I believe a touch of craziness is helpful to overcome obstacles and stay motivated — I wake up every day and say to myself, “Really, me? Let’s do this!”
Can you share your ideas about how to create a product that people really love and are ‘crazy about’?
To achieve this, it’s important to focus on what others like, rather than just your own ideas. It’s crucial to listen to feedback and understand the needs and preferences of the target audience. It’s not all about you!
Ok. We are nearly done. Here are our final questions. How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
As someone who has achieved a certain level of success, I feel that it is important to give back to others and help them succeed as well. Mentoring is a great way to do this, as it allows me to share my knowledge and experience with others who are looking to make their way in the same field. I enjoy guiding and advising others on their career paths, and providing encouragement and support along the way.
Beyond mentoring, I have a larger goal of breaking every glass ceiling that exists in my industry, and in society at large. This means breaking down the barriers that prevent certain groups from achieving their full potentials, such as gender, race, and socioeconomic status. I believe that everyone should have equal opportunities to succeed and that it is our responsibility to work towards this goal.
By mentoring others and striving to break down barriers, I hope to make a positive impact on the world and help create a more equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
You are an inspiration to a great many people. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I had the opportunity to start a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, it would be to encourage collaboration and support between small and large wine companies in the industry. By bringing all these companies together and having the larger, established brands invest in and support the smaller brands, we could make the wine industry more inclusive and less intimidating to consumers.
This would have a positive impact on the industry by allowing smaller brands to have greater access to resources and distribution channels, while also providing larger companies with fresh ideas and perspectives. With greater collaboration, there would be a larger variety of high-quality wines available to consumers, and a more diverse range of voices and perspectives in the industry.
Overall, this movement would benefit both the larger and smaller wine companies, as well as consumers, and could lead to a more vibrant and thriving wine industry. It could also serve as a model for other industries to follow in fostering collaboration and mutual support between companies, rather than viewing each other as competitors.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
