Building a Business

Chelsea Handler Sold Spiked Lemonade na 10 — Naw I Gɛt In Ɔwn Vodka Kɔktɛl

Wan kɔmɛdyɛn ɛn bestselling author Chelsea Handler dɔn tɔn in pikin tɛm spayk limonad hustle to wan nashɔnal vodka limonad brand.

17 min read Via www.entrepreneur.com

Mewayz Team

Editorial Team

Building a Business

Frɔm Childhood Hustle to Nashɔnal Brand: Wetin Chɛlsi Handla in Vodka Ɛmpaya De Tich Ɛvri Ɛntrɔprenɔ

We dɛn ol tɛn ia, bɔku pikin dɛn de tred Pokimon kad ɔ beg fɔ skrin tɛm. Chelsea Handler bin de rul wan drink opareshɔn — i bin de spayk lɛmonad ɛn sɛl am to neba dɛn we nɔ bin de tink. Bɔku bɔku ia afta dat, da sem ribel ɛntrɔprenɔri instinkt de dɔn evolv to wan ful-ful vodka lɛmonayd brand we dɛn kin kɛr na stɔ dɛn ɔlsay na Amɛrika. Handler in trajektory frɔm saydwɔk stand to spirits shelf nɔto jɔs sɛlibret sakrifays stori. Na masta klas fɔ aw raw hustle, pɔshɔnal branding, ɛn fɔ no yu ɔdiɛns kin chenj ivin di biginin we nɔ go izi fɔ yu to wan biznɛs we yu kin skel. Fɔ di milyɔn faunda dɛm we bigin wit natin pas wan wayl aydia ɛn sheer audacity, in stori de kɛr lɛsin dɛm we fit fɔ botul.

Di Ɔrijin Stori Ɛvri Faunda Kin Rilayt To

Chelsea Handler nɔ ɛva shem fɔ in pikin tɛm we nɔ kɔmɔn. Insay intavyu ɛn akɔdin to in buk dɛn we de sɛl pas ɔl, i dɔn tɔk bɔt di spayk lɛmonad stand as wan pan in fɔs fɔs fɔrayz dɛn na kɔmishɔn — wan tɛn ia ol pikin we diskɔba se smɔl sɔntin ɛkstra kin difrɛns in prɔdak na wan krawd makit. Pan ɔl we di ligal we pikin de sɛl drink we gɛt rɔm na sɔntin we pɔsin kin aks kwɛstyɔn bɔt at bɛst, di instinkt we de biɛn am na klin ɛntrɔprenɔship: fɔ no wan gap, ad valyu, ɛn chaj fɔ am.

Wetin mek Handler in ɔrijin stori de resɔn so dip na in ɔthɛntiti. I nɔ bin mek wan fawndeshɔn lay lay stori na wan bodrum. Di brand narativ gro ɔganayz frɔm dikɛd kɔmɛdik stori tɛlin. Bay di tɛm we i lanch in vodka lɛmonad layn, bɔku bɔku pipul dɛn we lɛk am bin dɔn no di bakstɔri. Dat kayn bilt-in brand ikwiti na sɔntin we mɔs statap dɛn kin spɛn ia ɛn milyɔn dɔla fɔ tray fɔ mek frɔm skrach.

Di lɛsin we de ya de go fa fawe pas sɛlibret. Ɛvri ɛntrɔprenɔ gɛt wan vɛshɔn fɔ dɛn "spiked lemonade" mɔnt — da fɔs spak de fɔ kɔmɛshɔnal instinkt, ilɛksɛf na fɔ sɛl bak snik na ay skul, frilans dizayn wok frɔm wan dɔm rum, ɔ fɔ bil ap dɛn na nɛt ɛn wikɛnd. Di faunda dɛm we win na di wan dɛm we kin dɔn sɛrkɛl bak to dɛn instinkt dɛm ɛn bil rial infrastukchɔ rawnd dɛm.

Wetin Mek Pɔsin in Brandin Na di Biznɛs Asɛt we Nɔ Valyu pas ɔl

Handler no jos lanch wan vodka brand. I bin lanch in vodka brand. Di difrɛns impɔtant pasmak. Insay wan spirits makit we gɛt valyu pas $500 bilyan ɔlsay na di wɔl, wit tawzin nyu prɔdak dɛm we de hit shelf ɛvri ia, di singl big difrɛns nɔto di likwid we de insay di bɔtul — na di stori biɛn am. Handler bin briŋ wan bilt-in ɔdiɛns we gɛt bɔku bɔku pipul dɛn frɔm in Netflix spɛshal dɛn, in pɔdkas, in buk dɛn, ɛn in soshal midia prezɛns we nɔ de taya. Dat ɔdiɛns nɔ bin nid fɔ kɔnvins. Dɛn bin nid fɔ gɛt akses.

Dis na di say we bɔku pan di wan dɛn we gɛt smɔl biznɛs ɛn di wan dɛn we de wok fɔ dɛnsɛf kin rili ɔndastand dɛn yon advantej. Yu no nid 10 milian Instagram folowa fo leva pesonal branding. Wan lokal bekeri ɔna wit 3,000 ɛnjɔymɛnt pipul dɛn we de fala am na in siti gɛt mɔ kɔmɛshɔn inflɔɛns na in makit pas wan nashɔnal chen we nɔ gɛt fes. Wan kɔnsult wit wan wɛl-mɛntin LinkedIn prezɛns ɛn wan kɔnsistɛns nyusleta kin kɔmand prɛmiɔm ret we kɔmpitɛt dɛn we nɔ no dɛn nem jɔs nɔ ebul. Pɔsin in branding de kɔmpawnd ova tɛm, ɛn di ɛntrɔprenɔ dɛn we de invɛst pan am ali — tru kɔntinyu, kɔmyuniti ɛnjɔymɛnt, ɛn ɔtɛnɛtik stori tɛlin — de bil moat dɛn we nɔ go izi fɔ kɔpi.

Frɔm Sayd Hustle to Skel Ɔpreshɔn: Di Infrastrakchɔ Gap

Na ya di romantik narativ fɔ ɛntrɔprenɔship mit kol ɔpreshɔnal rialiti. If yu gɛt fayn fayn prɔdak ɛn yu gɛt kɔmplit brand stori, dat de mek yu rich di say we yu fɔ bigin. Skel nid fɔ gɛt sistɛm dɛn. Handler in vodka brand nɔ bin go nashɔnal pan charisma nɔmɔ. Bihayn di scene, na sapla chen agrimɛnt, distribyushɔn rilayshɔn, rigyuletɔri kɔmplians akɔs bɔku stet, invɛntari manejmɛnt, ɛn sofistikeyt makɛt ɔpreshɔn we de rɔn wan tɛm.

Dis infrastrakcha gap na di say we bɔku smɔl biznɛs dɛn kin stɔp. Wan stɔdi we di U.S. Chamber of Commerce bin du insay 2024, sho se 62% pan di wan dɛn we gɛt smɔl biznɛs kin spɛn pas 10 awa insay di wik pan administretiv wok dɛn we nɔ de mek dɛn gɛt mɔni dairekt wan — fɔ mek invɔys, fɔ schedul, fɔ pe, fɔ fala di kɔstɔma dɛn, ɛn fɔ ripɔt. Dat na 520 awa insay di ia we dɛn kin lɔs to ɔpreshɔn we dɛn kin ɔtomɛtik ɔ strimlayn.

Di difrɛns bitwin sayd hustle ɛn skel biznɛs nɔto di aidia — na di ɔpreshɔn sistɛm we de biɛn am. Faunda dɛm we de bil dɛn infrastukchɔ kwik nɔ jɔs de sev tɛm; dɛn de mek di kapasiti fɔ rili gro.

Plɛtfɔm dɛn lɛk Mewayz de prɛsishɔn fɔ lɔk dis gap. Wit ova 207 intagreted modules we de kɔba ɔltin frɔm CRM ɛn invois to invɛntari trakin ɛn tim manejmɛnt, wan mɔdan biznɛs OS de pul di nid fɔ cobble togɛda dɔzɛn diskɔnekt tul dɛn. If yu de manej drink brand in distribyushɔn rilayshɔn ɔ frilansa in klaynt paip, fɔ gɛt wan opareshɔnal bakbon min se yu nɔ go spɛn bɔku tɛm pan admin ɛn yu go spɛn mɔ tɛm pan di wok we rili de muv di nidul.

5 Lɛsin dɛn frɔm Handler’s Entrepreneurial Playbuk

Handler in joyn frɔm pikin limonad stand to nashɔnal distribyushɔn spirits brand de gi prɛktikal takeaways we aplay ilɛksɛf yu de lanch prodak, savis, ɔ krietiv venchɔ. Dis nɔto abstrakt biznɛs skul tiori dɛm — na patɛns we pɔsin kin si na in aktual trajektɔri.

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    we dɛn kɔl
  1. Start bifo yu rɛdi. Handler nɔ bin wet fɔ MBA ɔ biznɛs plan. In fɔs "product launch" bin apin we i ol tɛn ia. di bias tכwכd akshכn — ivin impεrεkt akshכn — na kכnsistεntli di strכng prεdiktכr fכ εntrεpreshכnal sakses.
  2. Lɛ yu stori du di sɛl. Di spayk lɛmonad anekdɔt dɔn de du makɛt wok fɔ dis brand fɔ pas twɛnti ia, lɔng bifo di prɔdak bin de. Dokumɛnt yu joyn na pɔblik ɛn ɔltɛm. Yu ɔrijin stori na makɛt ɛset.
  3. Bil di ɔdiɛns bifo di prɔdak. Handler bin gɛt bɔku bɔku fans bifo i gɛt wan bɔtul na wan shelf. Pan ɔl we nɔto ɔl faunda kin bil kɔmɛdi ɛmpaya fɔs, di prinsipul de ol: validet dimand tru kɔmyuniti bifo yu invɛst insay invɛntari.
  4. Pik wan kategori we yu rili bisin bɔt. Handler na fambul opin bɔt in lɔv fɔ kɔktɛl. Ɔtɛnɛti insay prodak sɛlɛkshɔn nɔto jɔs wan branding advantej — i de sɔpɔt faunda motiveshɔn tru di inevitable had sizin fɔ bil biznɛs.
  5. Sistematize ɔltin we nɔto yu genius zon. Handler in genius na ɛnjɔymɛnt ɛn brand stori tɛlin. Ɔl ɔda tin — sapɔt chen, kɔmplians, faynans — na sistɛm ɛn spɛshal pipul dɛn de handle am. No wetin na yu nɔmɔ go ebul fɔ du, ɛn bil ɔ bay infrastukchɔ fɔ ɔl ɔda tin.

Di Sɛlibret Brand Bum — Ɛn Wetin I Min fɔ Nɔn-Sɛlɛbriti Fɔunda dɛn

Handler jɔyn wan fil we de krawd mɔ ɛn mɔ fɔ sɛlibret-bɛk kɔshɔma brand dɛn. Ryan Reynolds bin sɛl Aviation Gin fɔ lɛk 610 milyɔn dɔla. Di Casamigos tequila we Jɔj Klɔni bin mek bin go fɔ wan bilyɔn dɔla. Kylie Jenner bin bil wan kɔsmɛtik ɛmpaya we gɛt valyu fɔ bɔku bɔku pipul dɛn. I izi fɔ luk dɛn nɔmba ya ɛn kam fɔ no se sɛlibret na prɛrikuls fɔ mek kɔshɔma brand sakrifays. Dat kɔnklushɔn nɔ rayt.

Wetin sɛlibret dɛn kin rili briŋ to di tebul na distribyushɔn leva ɛn trɔst na skel — tu tin dɛn we ɛni faunda kin bil mɛtodik wan ova tɛm. Wan lokal fitnɛs trena we de lanch wan supamakit layn gɛt trɔst wit in 500 klaynt dɛn. Wan SaaS faunda we dɔn de sheb prodak divɛlɔpmɛnt ɔpdet na twita fɔ tri ia dɔn bil distribyushɔn tru ɔganayz ɔdiɛns growth. Di mɛkanik dɛn na di sem; di skel difrɛn. Ɛn bɔku tɛm, smɔl-smɔl faunda dɛn gɛt ay kɔnvɛnshɔn rɛt bikɔs dɛn ɔdiɛns dɛn kin ɛnjɔy mɔ ɛn dɛn rilayshɔnship na mɔ pasɔnal.

Di rial kɔmpitishɔn advantej nɔto fame — na ɔpreshɔnal ɛksɛlɛns pan ɛni skel we yu de ɔpreshɔn. Wan faunda wit 200 kɔstɔma ɛn wan ful ɔtomatik bak ɔfis (bil, CRM, onboarding, analytics) go pas wan faunda wit 2,000 kɔstɔma dɛn we de drawn insay sprɛdshit ɛn mis fɔlɔp ɛvri singl tɛm. Tul dɛm lɛk Mewayz de gi di wan dɛm we nɔto sɛlibret faunda dɛm di sem opareshɔnal sofistikieshɔn we Handler in tim gɛt, witout di ɛntapraiz prayz tag ɔ di nid fɔ wan dediket ɔpreshɔn staf.

Tɔn Yu "Spiked Lemonade" To Rial Biznɛs

Ɔlman gɛt wan vɛshɔn fɔ Chɛlsi Handla in spayk lɛmonad. Maybe na di sait projek we yu kip de kam bak to pan wikend. Sɔntɛm na di savis we yu padi dɛn kin aks yu fɔ ɔltɛm. Sɔntɛm na di prɔdak aydia we dɛn rayt insay wan notbuk we yu dɔn de rifin fɔ lɔng lɔng tɛm. Di gap bitwin da aidia de ɛn wan biznɛs we de wok smɔl pas aw bɔku pipul dɛn kin tink — bɔt i nid fɔ tek akshɔn bay wilful pan sɔm patikyula eria dɛn.

Fɔs, validet na pɔblik. Sheb yu aidia, yu prɔses, ɛn yu prɔgrɛs wit rial ɔdiɛns, ilɛksɛf da ɔdiɛns de bigin frɔm 50 pipul dɛn. Sɛkɔn, bil yu opareshɔnal fawndeshɔn kwik kwik wan. Nɔ wet te yu ful-ɔp fɔ impruv sistɛm dɛn fɔ manej kɔstɔma dɛn, faynans, ɛn wokflɔ. Di kɔst fɔ retrofit di opareshɔn dɛn insay wan biznɛs we de gro kin ɔltɛm ay pas fɔ bil dɛn insay frɔm di biginin. Tɔd, pik wan pletfɔm we de gro wit yu — wan we nɔ de fos yu fɔ rip ɛn riples tul dɛn ɛvri tɛm we yu ad nyu kapabiliti.

Handler in vodka brand de wok bikɔs i sidɔm na di intasekshɔn fɔ ɔtɛnɛtik stori, tru tru prodak-maket fit, ɛn pɔshɔnal ɔpreshɔnal ɛgzikishɔn. Di stori tɛlin ɛn di prodak-maket fit na in yon. Bɔt di ɔpreshɔnal plebuk? Dat de fɔ ɛnibɔdi we rɛdi fɔ invɛst insay di rayt sistɛm dɛn. Wit pletfɔm dɛn we de gi intagreted modul fɔ ɔltin frɔm klaynt manejmɛnt to faynɛns ripɔt, di barɛri fɔ rul wan pɔshɔnal ɔpreshɔn nɔ ɛva bi smɔl. Di onli ingridiɛnt we yu nid fɔ saplae na yu yon vɛshɔn fɔ da audacious, rule-breaking, ten-year-old energy we se: A go bil sɔntin, ɛn a de stat tide.

Di Bɔt Layn

Chelsea Handler in ark frɔm pikin tɛm limonad stand ɔpreshɔn to nashɔnal spirit brand ɔna na ɛnjɔymɛnt, bɔt i pas wan sɛlibret anekdɔt. Na wan blueprint we de sho di tri pila dɛn we ɛvri saksesful biznɛs bil pan: wan kɔmplit ɔrijin stori we de bil trɔst, wan prɔdak we rili de rɛsɔn wit in ɔdiɛns, ɛn di ɔpreshɔnal bakbon fɔ deliv kɔnsistɛntli pan skel. Bɔku pan di faunda dɛn dɔn ɔlrɛdi gɛt di fɔs tu. Di tɔd wan na usay ambishɔn kin bi rial ɔ i kin stɔp insay chaos. Insay 2026, wit intagreted biznɛs pletfɔm dɛn we de mek ɛntapraiz-grɛd ɔpreshɔn aksesbul to solo faunda ɛn smɔl tim dɛn ɔl tu, nɔ ɛva bi bɛtɛ tɛm fɔ tɔn yu yon spayk lɛmonad mɔnt to sɔntin we di wɔl kin rili bay.

Kwɛshɔn dɛn we dɛn kin aks bɔku tɛm

Aw Chelsea Handler bin go frɔm we i de sɛl lɛmonad to we i lanch vodka brand?

Chelsea Handler bin stat in ɛntrɔprenɔri joyn we i ol tɛn ia, i bin de sɛl spayk lɛmonad to neba dɛn. Dat fɔs hustle evolv to wan wok we dɛn bil pan ɔthɛntiti ɛn bold branding. I bin yuz in sɛlibret pletfɔm, kɔmɛdik vɔys, ɛn tru tru pawa fɔ kɔktɛl fɔ lanch wan vodka lɛmonayd layn we dɛn de sɛl naw ɔlsay na di kɔntri. In stori pruv se ɛntrɔprenɔrial instinkt dɛn we dɛn divɛlɔp yɔŋ kin skel to lɛjitimɛnt, thriving biznɛs wit di rayt tɛm ɛn strateji.

Wetin smɔl biznɛs ɔna dɛn kin lan frɔm Chelsea Handler in brand strateji?

Di we aw Handler de du tin de sho di pawa we pɔsin in yon branding ɛn stori gɛt. I bin tɔn wan anekdɔt we i bin de tɔk we i bin smɔl to wan kɔmplit ɔrijin stori we de mek pipul dɛn we de bay tin dɛn, gladi. Smɔl biznɛs ɔna dɛn kin yuz di sem kayn taktik — fɔ bil narratives rawnd dɛn brand, stay ɔtɛnɛtik, ɛn levayj pɔsin in pasɔnaliti as difrɛns. Tul dɛm lɛk Mewayz de ɛp ɛntrɔprenɔ dɛm fɔ manej branding, makɛt, ɛn ɔpreshɔn akɔdin to 207 modul dɛm we de stat frɔm jɔs $19/mo.

Selebriti ɛntrɔprenɔship difrɛn frɔm tradishɔnal biznɛs ɔnaship?

Sɛlɛbriti ɛntrɔprenɔ dɛn lɛk Handler kin bɛnifit frɔm bilt-in ɔdiɛns ɛn midia atɛnshɔn, bɔt dɛn stil de gɛt di sem opareshɔnal chalenj dɛn — sapla chen, distribyushɔn, kɔmplians, ɛn kastoma ritɛnshɔn. Di men difrɛns na di we aw pɔsin kin si am, nɔto di we aw i nɔ kin izi. Tradishɔnal biznɛs ɔna dɛn kin lɛvɛl di ple fil bay we dɛn de yuz ɔl-in-wan pletfɔm dɛn lɛk Mewayz fɔ ɔtomayz makɛt, manej sɛl fɛnɛl, ɛn strimlayn ɔpreshɔn we dɛn nɔ nid sɛlibret badjɛt ɔ tim.

Aw yu kin tɔn sayd hustle to skel prodak brand?

Fɔ skel wan sayd hustle nid fɔ validet dimand, rifin yu prodak, ɛn bil ripit sistɛm dɛn. Handler bin spɛn bɔku ia fɔ divɛlɔp in pɔblik pɔsin bifo i ataya am to wan kɔstɔma prɔdak. Fɔ ɛvride ɛntrɔprenɔ, di prɔses involv makɛt risach, branding kɔnsistɛns, ɛn opareshɔnal efyushɔn. Plɛtfɔm dɛn lɛk Mewayz de gi di infrastukchɔ — frɔm CRM ɛn imel ɔtomɛshɔn to i-kɔmrɛs tul dɛn — fɔ skel we yu nɔ de jɔg dɔzɛn difrɛn ap dɛn.