Mums in Business featuring Glow Prosecco Sparkle Drops

This week as part of my Mums in Business series I’m delighted to feature Jo who created Glow Prosecco Sparkle Drops, and I must say that for anyone (like me) who loves prosecco this business is a winner.

It’s an amazing story to read where Jo set up the business to be around her children, but also for her love, and knowledge of the food and drinks event business. Since launching the business Jo has sold over 2500 bottles at the Good Food Show, and now has interest from around the world. She has even got her children packing for her. With her hard work it sounds like Jo is winning at this business and balancing family life (even though it involves many late nights). So if you’re interested in finding out more, read on…….

Tell me a little bit about you, your background and Glow Prosecco Sparkle Drops?

I ran a marketing agency from home for 10 years, creating experiential marketing campaigns at events and shows for food and drink clients. I worked with some very lovely clients, exhibited at over 30 annually, and became an expert in Farmhouse Cheddar cheese (my biggest client!) But as the structure of the business changed, and the needs of my family (I’m mum to a 6 yr old and a 4 yr old), I had a Eureka moment (after a few Prosecco’s) where I thought up Sparkle Drops. This was in November of 2017 and I haven’t looked back! First and foremost is my family, so the fact that Sparkle Drops facilitates my ability to be available for them & have my own challenge fits the bill perfectly.

What were your drivers and motivations for setting up Glow Prosecco Sparkle Drops?

I have always loved Cassis, Chambord & Liqueur cocktails, and the social aspect of evenings spent with friends round a bottle of wine. There wasn’t a product that combined this tasty natural flavour with the theatre and glamour of shimmer, and so Sparkle Drops were born. We rush launched in time for the Christmas market, and teamed up with some strategic Facebook pages and bloggers to an amazing reception, and it hasn’t slowed down since!

Prosecco sales have over taken discounted Champagne in the UK market, and you only have to look at the variety of Prosecco and its related merchandise to see it’s a trend set to stay for the foreseeable. Combine that with the resurrection of a good old gin & Tonic, plus the plethora of flavoured Gins on the market, and we’ve identified a healthy market looking for innovation, gifting ideas & Instagram worthy visuals!

We have tweaked recipes and ingredients, working with a great natural flavourings manufacturer to keep an authenticity to our flavours, and we are always finding new products to combine it with-this month we launched our Gin collection, and our Unicorn Series is proving a great hit. We are not changing the world but we’re making it a bit more Sparkly!

The fact that I love to be hands on and have full control of things has meant that creating my own product from scratch, and getting it to market, has been one of the most satisfying but challenging things I’ve ever done! I am in charge of my own destiny, and I work silly hours for my family to ultimately benefit! I still have great flexibility to meet the needs of my kids, and can attend school concerts etc. I also get to work from home (I have a gorgeous view of a lake from my office) which helps with putting a wash load on, or collecting children from school.

How do you balance the business around family and childcare?

A lot of working in the evenings, and cramming a lot into the short 6 hour days when my boys are at school. They are also regularly used to Mummy ‘doing her Sparkle Drops’ and have even been known to pack orders for me! I am at my happiest when I am applying myself, so the variety of being a Mum plus launching a product has given me a massive confidence boost, and reminded me of the person I was before becoming a Mum – I’m getting the best of both worlds.

Since setting up the business what’s been your biggest success to date?

It’s been a rollercoaster ride since November, and I still haven’t lost that buzz everytime a new shop or retailer wants to stock our products. We had an amazing experience at the Good Food Show recently, received such a positive response from customers- we sold over 2500 bottles, and embraced the chance to tell thousands of people about the versatility and great taste of Sparkle Drops. We are seeing interest from Israel, USA, the Caribbean & Falkland Islands as well as within the UK. It’s not a quick process but I’m excited to be on the journey!

What’s your top tip for Mums who are thinking about setting up their own business?

Do something you have a genuine enthusiasm and passion for, as you’ll need it when you’re sat at a computer long after everyone else has gone to bed! Be prepared to take chances, but also outsource what you can once you have identified the true value you bring to your business-learn to let go and delegate! There are some amazing social media groups out there where you can get great help and information for all the new areas you are going to encounter, and it’s invaluable to pick the brains of people who have been there and done that.

Oh, and a few glasses of Prosecco help with the creative juices!!

Thank you so much Jo for taking part in my series, and I wish you and your family all the best for the business in the future. You can find out more about Glow Prosecco Sparkle Drops by visiting the website, and social channels – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you like what you’re reading and would love to be part of my Mums in Business series then just drop me an email: thepramshedblog@gmail.com. Or have a nose at some of the other businesses I have featured in the series: Chalk & Moss, Nutree Life, and Spinsonic Circus.

Claire x