Running a craft beverage brand is hard. Running it without a strategy is harder.
You're not struggling because your product isn't good enough. The market changed and nobody handed you a new playbook. That's exactly why I'm here.
You don’t need to work harder, you just have to work smarter.
In a world saturated with beverage brands, you must learn to stand out from the crowd. But when you’re short on time and resources, that can be challenging.
Despite a crowded marketplace and limited resources, you can find long-term success and profitability, but it will take some elbow grease and outside guidance. It’s okay to ask for help- especially if that help comes from a 20+ year industry veteran.
This is where I come in —I help growing craft beverage brands ramp up their brand awareness and increase sales so you can keep your tanks full, your doors wide open, and your passion fermenting.
Your first step is to book a call with me to discuss possibilities. Note that I said possibilities, not pitches. This is a true, no-obligation (no BS) Discovery Call. If I can’t help you, I’ll tell you and then refer you to someone who can.
How We Can Work Together
Click through each image for more information about service structure and pricing
No matter how we work together, I use the same methodology - the ABV Path to Strategic Profitability
The goal of this method is to get your brand set up with the knowledge and systems necessary to build a more profitable craft beverage business for the long term and gain market share in a saturated market.
The key to success in the craft beverage space is to learn how to work smarter, not harder. The ABV Path will help you do just that.
I’m not here to “fix” you, your systems, or your teams, I want to help streamline and optimize your existing organization and teach you how to expand into the future.
The ABV Path provides you with repeatable processes for all skill and budget levels.
How I help craft brands grow
Boost Sales
Sales planning allows you to sell more efficiently. Learning how to sell smarter and apply repeatable processes to your sales plans is the path to increased revenue.
Differentiate Your Brand
The key to great marketing is creating connections with your target audience and then growing that brand relationship.
Improve Your Team’s Performance
Turnover is expensive. Strategic internal systems and definitive narratives can help you guide your team to success.
Keep Your Brand Top of Mind
Fighting for attention with your wholesaler can be exhausting. Learn how to properly manage your distributor relationship to boost sales.
Keep your tanks full, your sales strong, and your doors open
I care about the success of your beverage business. This is my passion and all my products and services are designed to help you continue fermenting your passion for the long term.
- Over 20,000+ hours of experience in beverage sales, marketing, and management
- BA in Marketing
- sold and promoted multiple international beer brands
- managed multiple beverage distributors across various states simultaneously
- over 60 beverage businesses assisted and counting
- average 20% sales growth for my client partners
- specializing in Start Ups all the way up to 15,000 BBLs
FEATURED IN
CLIENT PARTNERS
MEMBERSHIPS AND CERTIFICATIONS
In addition to consulting, I’m also a beverage business journalist. If you’re interested in having me write for or pitch your publication, please shoot me a note at julie@notyourhobbymarketing.com
Strategic advice and educational materials from Not Your Hobby Marketing Solutions will help you craft better business practices.
Many brands are experiencing what we call Stagnant Sales- that tipping point that craft brands hit when the honeymoon period of rapid growth begins to go stagnant and incremental sales seem harder to come by. Every brand experiences this during their Maturity Product Life Cycle Phase, but when you operate in a brand-saturated market, that stagnancy shows up faster, usually during your Growth Phase.
Stepping outside your own echo chamber and getting perspective from someone outside of your own business will provide you with the insight you need to forge ahead. This is why consulting is so powerful.
I’m Julie Rhodes - a strategic beverage business consultant and I can help you learn how to work smarter, not harder. With over two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry, along with a formal educational background in Marketing, I provide strategic guidance and educational services to small to medium-sized independent beverage companies that want to grow brand awareness, increase sales, streamline their organizations, gain clarity with their business processes, and enjoy longevity.
I’ve got programming for all skill and budget levels. I’m here to help you take things off your plate, not add to it. Shoot me a line if you want to find out how we can work together.
Want a taste of how I teach and write? Subscribe to The Bottleneck. Occasional email correspondence from me full of industry trends, program updates, trade events, free resources to help you grow your business, and advice with a dash of humor.
There is always a workaround- that’s my mantra. Let me help you find them.
With over 2 decades of experience on the business side of the craft beverage industry, I provide strategic sales and marketing advice to small to medium-sized beverage alcohol brands through webinars, white papers, digital courses, one on one consulting, and group coaching programs.
I write, podcast, teach and speak at industry-focused events about strategic business planning, because I want craft suppliers to know that it is possible to succeed in a macro-brand-dominated market with limited resources.
Additional Resources
Please see the bottom of this page for links to inclusivity, equity, and social justice resources, Not Your Hobby official merchandise, FAQ’s and more
Public Speaking
Need an experienced speaker for an industry conference or trade show? Contact me about my rates and availability.
Freelance Journalist
Do you need a freelance journalist for your beverage industry publication? Contact me about my freelance business writing services.
Educator
Need a qualified guest teacher for your business of craft beverage certification program? Contact me about teaching for your university, college, or continuing education program.
Podcasting
Need a podcast or vlog guest to speak about the business side of the craft beverage industry? Contact me about guest appearances and interviews.
Acknowledgments and Philosophies:
I live and work on the unceded and traditional lands of the Arapahoe, Ute, and Cheyenne peoples, otherwise known as Broomfield, Colorado. It’s important for me to recognize that I have the privilege of owning and operating a business on lands that were taken by systems of dominance and oppression. It is my mission to promote a craft beverage industry that is more equitable, inclusive, and justice-focused. When organizations are designed to benefit the most marginalized communities, we all flourish and benefit. A focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is deeply rooted in the core values of my company. Not everyone agrees with my views and that’s okay, but this is how I choose to run my business and if it doesn’t sit well with you, I can direct you to someone else who might be a better fit.
Just because I recommend someone’s work or another business, does not mean that I have an affiliate partnership with them or that they know me. I try my best to make suggestions for tools, materials, and resources that will help you grow your craft beverage business, but that doesn’t mean that I specifically know or endorse that particular person or business. If I have a strategic partnership with an organization, I will be transparent about that relationship.
A lot of my work is inspired by others, when I teach something that I’ve learned from someone else, I will always acknowledge the original creator and give credit when necessary.