Thriving Alcohol-Free with Mocktail Mom

EP 127 | Cheers To Choices: Robin Cummiskey of Wallace Dry Goods

Deb, Mocktail Mom

Deb Podlogar welcomes Robin Cummiskey, the founder of Wallace Dry Goods, a non-alcoholic bottle shop on the Philadelphia Main Line in Ardmore, PA. 

They discuss the journey of starting the shop, the challenges of running a business focused on premium non-alcoholic beverages, and the importance of community and customer relationships. Robin shares insights on popular products, the evolution of non-alcoholic drinks, and the significance of creating a welcoming space for all drinkers, whether sober, sober curious, or simply looking for mindful options. The episode also features a fun mocktail-making segment, showcasing the creativity and versatility of non-alcoholic drinks.


Wallace Dry Goods offers a curated selection of high-end non-alcoholic beverages.

The shop aims to create a welcoming, judgment-free community for all drinkers.

Robin's background in retail management helped shape the aesthetics and operations of the shop.

The phrase 'Cheers to choices' encapsulates the philosophy of the shop.

Non-alcoholic drinks have evolved significantly in taste and quality.

Education about non-alcoholic options is crucial for consumer acceptance.

Community engagement and events are key to building customer relationships.

The shop features a bar setup for mixology classes and tastings.

Popular products include non-alcoholic wines and functional beverages.

The future of non-alcoholic drinks looks promising with ongoing innovation.



Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Wallace Dry Goods and Robin Cummiskey

03:24 Creating a Mocktail: Dark and Stormy Twist

06:41 The Journey of Starting Wallace Dry Goods

12:33 Challenges of Running a Non-Alcoholic Bottle Shop

18:33 Building Community and Customer Relationships

24:21 Exploring Popular Products and Trends

30:18 Inspiration and Future of Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Send me a message about the show!

Click HERE to snag a list of some of my favorite non-alcoholic drinks & brands.

You are loved. Big Time Cheers!

SPEAKER_00:

Buckle up friends and welcome to the Thriving Alcohol Free Podcast. I'm your host, Deb, otherwise known as Mocktow Mom, a retired wine drinker that finally got sick and tired of spinning on life's broken record called Detox to Retox. Let this podcast be an encouragement to you. Alcohol is maybe a form of self-care for you, or you find yourself dragging through the day, waiting to pour another glass. I am excited to share with you the fun of discovering new things to drink when you aren't drinking, and the joy of waking up each day without a hangover. It is an honor to serve as your sober fun guide. So sit back and relax or keep doing whatever it is you're doing. This show is produced for you with love from the great state of Kentucky. Thanks so much for being here and big time cheers. Okay, hey friends, it's Deb. Welcome back to Thriving Alcohol Free with Mocktail Mom. I am so happy you're here today. I'm thrilled, you guys. I have we have a special guest today. The uh the founder, the owner of Wallace Dry Goods in the mainline area of Philadelphia, Robin Comiskey. Did I say it right? You did, you nailed it. Okay, you are so beautiful and it was so fun. I got to meet you in person. I just, I literally drove over quick, quick, quick. I was in the Philadelphia area and it was on Sunday afternoon. I'd finished an event and I was like, is that shop still open? A girl had recommended uh Abby of Alcohol Free. Abby had recommended you guys to me. And I was like, okay, can I get over there before they close on Sunday? So I made it with like 15 minutes to spare. And it was so great to meet you in person. And your shop is stunning.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you. That was such a nice surprise that day. But it was really, really fun to meet you in person and just to have you come and see it. I I love having the people come in. So thank you for making that a stop.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah. It was, it wasn't even on the agenda. It was like the nicest surprise of that trip was really coming to your shop. I mean it. I grew up in the Philadelphia area. So I had a lot of friends who grew up in or lived on the main line and stuff. So to come out there and find this gem of a non-alcoholic bottle shop. I mean, it really, you set the standard, Robin, of just it's beautiful, the aesthetics of your shop, wallacedrygoods.com. But I'm going to read Robin's bio so you know who we're chatting with today. And then we're going to talk about her shop. And we are going to make a really easy mocktail together because as you guys know, we like easy, easy drinks that you can make that taste delicious, that you can enjoy at home to give you options when you're not drinking alcohol. For me, I'm never drinking alcohol, but for some people, you know, or just being more mindful or maybe being a zebra striped drinker if that's you. And that means you're drinking maybe a mocktail and then a cocktail. You know, we are, I'm here to support you and we're here to cheer you on. So, okay, Robin is the owner and founder of Wallace Dry Goods, a curated bottle shop specializing exclusively in high-end non-alcoholic wines, spirits, and beers with a strong background in corporate buying and retail management. Robin launched Wallace Dry Goods to solve a single problem: the lack of access to sophisticated non-alcoholic options in an adult space. Her entire philosophy is built around cheers to choices, creating a welcoming, judgment-free community for everyone, whether fully sober, sober curious, or just exploring mindful drinking. So today we're going to make a really simple, almost like a little take on a dark and stormy, which is kind of ironic because I'm sitting here, it's in the middle of the day, it's very dark outside, and we're having storms all day. So I think it's appropriate that we make this today. Making it dark and stormy, kind of minus the lime juice. We're just going to do what? We're going to do some uh nine o'clock rum, ginger beer, and some orange, all the bitters.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Right? That's we're gonna build it right in our glass.

SPEAKER_02:

It's what I'm planning. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, perfect. Okay, what do you want to start with? You want to start with the rum?

SPEAKER_02:

So yeah, I'll start with the rum. I know traditionally you put the rum on the top to let it float.

SPEAKER_00:

We're not doing anything traditional here. This is not, we're non-traditional mocktail makers. Yes, cocktail makers.

SPEAKER_02:

So you've got ritual rum. Okay. Awesome. I'm using the ish, ish non-alcoholic Caribbean rum spirit. Um I find that it's got a really good bite and it it holds up well next to the ginger beer.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I'm doing four ounces.

SPEAKER_00:

Um, you're going big, four ounces. Sorry, two ounces. I was like, are you making what are you making? A double, you're making a double today, middle of the day. I'm not gonna lie. It's day we're day drinking. You can day drink.

SPEAKER_02:

It is the middle of the yeah, we can day drink, and I have always loved a really strong cocktail, which is part of why now I don't drink alcohol. But even in non-alcoholic, I really love the taste of alcohol. So yeah, yes, yes, I did do too. But I was like, oh wow, forg.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, you go for it over there, Robin. That sounds delicious. It's just basically you're just having non-alcoholic run straight.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. So then I will top it with ginger beer. I typically go for a fever tree ginger beer, I think is great. Q is awesome. Very nice. Okay, I'm gonna use my Q mixer ginger beer. Okay. Perfect. And then I like to top mine with a little bit of bitters. I have been putting bitters in literally everything from my coffee to my seltzer water to really like Bloody Mary's. I'll just throw in a little extra. I just think it helps really tie everything together, especially in the non-alcoholic space. I'm sure you've heard this because I got it from Ian, but like he describes bitters as a salt and pepper of coffee else. I just that makes so much sense to me. And it's a really easy way to communicate that to customers because I think bitters are really underused. Um, and people are gonna have like such specific directions on how to use them, like one dashes, two dashes. And I say that you measure them with your heart because there's not no such thing as too many. But I'll do like four or five shakes.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. I say that. I think I did six or seven. And I like that you just say just shakes because I mean, I didn't even know what a dash was, Robin, when I stopped drinking. Like I didn't know what a dash was. So yeah, just give it a couple shakes. It's like, and it is the perfect way to describe it that Ian says is like just Ian blessing of all the bitter, is just it's the salt and pepper of you know, adding some seasoning to your to your drinks. So okay, we're gonna give it a little stir.

SPEAKER_02:

Give it a little stir. And then I have a little slice of ginger today that I'm just adding to the side of my glass.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, so pretty. I have a little dehydrated orange. Big time cheers to you. Okay. I am so happy to be recording with you today. Um, I really I was thinking about chatting with you today, and I was like, I really want us as the audience to understand because you know, I go into the shops, I go into the non-alcoholic bottle shops. I wish I lived closer to yours. I'd be there all the time. I would literally love to like come and do events for with you. It'd be so fun. Anytime. It would be so fun. But um to come into the shop and like, you know, we see the prices or we see whatever. And it's like from the consumer perspective, I want to hear, like, okay, as the founder, as the owner of the shop, I want to know your perspective. Like, how is it running it? How did you start this? Like, I want to hear how you started it. But then just I really want us as an audience to understand like the challenges, the true challenges that you're facing as a small business and bringing in premium products. These are not cheapy Amazon, you know, five dollar deals that you get at five below. This is really, you have really, really nice products and um things in your store. So, yeah. So, do you want to just share like how it started? How did how did you get started from to Wallace? I love the name. How did it how'd you come up with that?

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you. Uh so Wallace is my middle name. It's my grandfather's middle name and his mother's maiden name. Um so I like the idea of having some kind of family connection in any type of business that I've decided to start. If I I can't believe honestly that I have it now, it was always kind of like a pipe dream. Oh. Uh but yeah, so I wanted something that felt like neutral but pretty. And then dry goods. I really like the idea of playing on the non-alcoholic without specifically saying like non-alcoholic and you know, flashing lights. And when I was going through the branding process, I had some people close to me being like, Well, people feel tricked. People like you need to tell them that it's non-alcoholic. I'm like, you don't need to do that. One, there's I'm not trying to trick anybody. Like, if you don't want to buy anything in the shop, then that's fine. Exactly. Turn right around. Yeah, but I want it to feel inviting and I wanted it to spark curiosity. And it's like, well, dry goods, what's that? Um, the number of people that have, you know, come in, especially of a certain generation, that wonder, you know, where the dried beans and flour by the pound is. When they come in. That's hilarious. Seriously? Yeah, all the time. Um, but I but I like that. And then they're like, oh, well, what is this? And I get to explain it to them and and show them, you know, that it's uh that it's things, you know, for people who don't drink, but also anywhere on the spectrum. And and in addition to the beverages themselves, we have barware and glassware and mixers and bitters that you can use with or without alcohol. So it's it's really about, and this, you know, brings me back to why I started it. I wanted to have a place where people could come regardless of their relationship to alcohol and find something exciting and fun and allows them to be a part of the drinking experience in whatever way they choose.

SPEAKER_00:

I love that.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh and my my background is in retail. So I went to college for retail management and consumer studies. I was always on the fashion and accessory side of things. I worked for Zappos, I was in the stores and anthropology. Really? I was on the merchandising team. Yeah. Uh, and I just I always kind of had this like scratch in the back of my head, what thinking, you know, I wanted to have my own store one day, but I saw the behind the scenes. I knew how hard it was. I knew in a lot of ways how unrealistic it is. And I knew that if I was ever gonna go for it, I'd have to really want to do it because it's you know, you have to keep that motivation going. Uh, and when these products started coming out that, you know, were elevated and delicious, and you really could only find online, or maybe there was a store not close to you. Um, and I wanted I wanted to be a part of helping to share that with everybody. I also wanted to help people understand that it doesn't have to be so black and white. I mean, I personally don't drink, it's it'll be actually three years at the end of this month.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, but a big part of you know how I was able to stop was these products because to me it's my friends and family all still drink. I want to be able to go out. I want to have something that to me tastes good, which in some cases is four ounces round darkens sort of me, maybe. No, whatever you need, but yeah, whatever you need. But yeah, to be able to, you know, still be a part of that. I also, I mean, I roll my eyes a little at myself when I say this, but like I love going out to eat. I love experiencing the hospitality world and being a part of that. And I I didn't want to feel like I was missing out on it. So when these products started coming out, it was like, oh no, I can be part of the educational experience, whether that's for people who come into my stores as consumers themselves or working with different bars and restaurants to help them put this on their menu. I that was the that was the motivation for me. And I, you know, I live in an area where there is some disposable income and there's room for, you know, the small business appetite. Because you do when you pick a place to open a business like this, there has to be the consumer there that can afford your product and that can feel strongly about wanting to buy it from you because it's really easy to buy at other places now, and in some cases cheaper.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, yeah. So it's, you know, just making sure that you you have that customer and it changes every day. But at least when you start, they're there.

SPEAKER_00:

No, that's so true. I mean, they do say, right, in real, you know, when you're starting a business, right? What's the the most important thing is location, location, location. And right, the area you're in is is a very nice area of Philadelphia. You know, it's the it's the nicest area in the Philadelphia, you know, metropolitan area. It's beautiful.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Well, and and to go along with that too, like this customer socializes a lot. They go out to eat a lot, they, you know, like to have parties and they love telling people about the newest thing that they've discovered.

SPEAKER_01:

You're right.

SPEAKER_02:

So it felt like we with all of those things coming together and this being where, you know, I grew up and I'm familiar with the customer, and um just it it felt comfortable here too, where it's like felt a little safer taking a risk here. Um so yeah, that was how we landed on Ardboard.

SPEAKER_00:

I was gonna say, and you're just right there on the corner on um the main line, right? Route 30.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep, yep, Lancaster Avenue. And we're right around the corner from uh this shopping center called Suburban Square that has a lot of traffic that goes to it with names, you know, like uh Jenny Kane or The Gap or Free People. Um, so it's a nice mix of consumers down there that were hoping to draw some more up.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, and you are, you totally are. Yeah, yeah. What were you when you signed the lease? How did you feel? So, how long ago did you start Wallace Dry Goods? When did it when did you guys open?

SPEAKER_02:

So we opened the store. It'll be two years the first week of January. So it'll be two years this coming January, which is wild to even say. It feels like yesterday and also 30 years ago.

SPEAKER_00:

It's like raising children.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I don't have kids, but this is essentially my job. Yes, you did have a baby two years ago. You have a two-year-old, yeah, who feels 30 at on some days. Yeah. So what did it feel like when you signed the lease? Were you like terrified? Were you just like so excited?

SPEAKER_02:

I was really excited and a little naive and a little scared. Like you have to be scared enough, otherwise, you know, you're too naive, honestly. Um, but mostly just excited. And I I think a lot of it too, it just really helps in a lot of personal ways too, to have something exciting to talk about, to have something that I'm really proud of, too, to have something that I can engage other people with. Cause, you know, prior to that, and I mean, as I stated, like I I hadn't stopped drinking that long before then, it had been on and off for a very long time before that. Uh, but it just felt like it was exciting in so many different ways, and people were excited to talk to me about it. You know, there are still and absolutely were at that time, even just two years ago, people that don't understand the concept. Like, what do you mean you have a store that sells alcohol, but there's no alcohol? It was hard, honestly, getting a lease because there it was hard to explain to some people the validity of the business. Um, but it's been really fun proving them wrong.

SPEAKER_00:

That's so interesting, right? That like there's so much skepticism. I mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, but it I mean, it's one of those things that like you and I, this is our world, right? Like we're seeing all the new stuff, we're tasting the product. If if you aren't a part of that, even not as inundated when it is the two of us are, yeah. Like it's it's just so foreign. And to even wrap your head around the idea that you can have, you know, a non-alcoholic rum that tastes like rum, uh, people, you know, there's a huge learning curve. What is it? Why would you want it? Why wouldn't you just drink water? It's cheaper. This is how much money? Like there's just there's a lot of hurdles you have to help hold their hand.

SPEAKER_00:

That's so, that's so true. So when people come in the store, I mean, obviously they can shop. And then you also have events. I like, I get I'm on your email list, which I love. Your emails are beautiful. So everybody, everybody needs to sign up for your email list. It's go to their, go to um Robin's website, wallestdrive.com. Sign up for our email, even if you don't live in the Philadelphia area, because you send out like you'll send out just great information and you have little specials that you run, and we can order, you can order and stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

So yeah, absolutely. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So we so that was the other thing that was hard to explain, especially to these potential landlords and the township when I was trying to get my permits. Um, we have a bar in the shop, but we are not a bar. So you'll see when you come in, there's the setup where we do mixology classes, we hold ticketed tasting events. We always have something open to try, but according to the township and according to the health department here, we are not a full service bar. Um, we I did that intentionally. One, I wanted people to see these products in the context of a sophisticated bar space because that's part of, you know, that hand holding shopping experience piece of it is it's helping them place it. And something like that can just like really quickly be like, oh, okay, I get that. I also knew I wanted to hold events. So for instance, tomorrow night we're holding this fall ticketed cocktail tasting. Uh so we're gonna make three different cocktails, you get a small sample of each, and then with your ticket, you get a full size four of whichever one your favorite is. I love that. That's well, because that's you know, you were asking about some of the challenges, and one of them is even though like you can't go to Whole Foods and taste everything that they have on their shelves, um, people expect that you can do that here. And, you know, I understand wanting to do that because I understand you, you know, you are paying a price for these products.

SPEAKER_00:

Sure.

SPEAKER_02:

But as a business owner, I can't afford to do that. Yeah, you can't open every bottle. They send samples when they can, but these things expire too. It's not like it's, you know, something that you can just have open indefinitely until you run out, depending on how often you're using it. You know, you're not um you're not always able to sell through it before you get through that bottle. The other piece of it too is these products are really good in a drink.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

You need a little bit of imagination and some faith to see how some of them are gonna get from A to Z. So that's why we host things like the ticketed cocktail tasting, where it's anywhere from like$15 to$25, depending on whether it's cocktails or beer or wine, to to show them like the full potential of these drinks, whether it's you know, this three-step drink that we made or things that involve foaming and shaking and you know, all the other aspects of it. Um so yeah, it's been it's been amazing. I mean, the people, the the people in the the community of our town have been really, really receptive, as well as just you know, people in the non-alcoholic space. It's it feels like I found a community again, which had been lacking for a little while there.

SPEAKER_00:

The community is incredible. I mean, there's so many people in this community in the non-alcoholic space community that I'm so connected with, you know, through Instagram and stuff that I've never even met in person. Like you and I have met in person. Derek Santiago, if he's listening, Derek, love you. Shout out to you, the Mocktail Whiz. But I mean, there's so many people that like I feel like we're family. We're there's such a great community here. And I've never met in person. It's just a it's it's a magical space. Um, yeah. Okay, so do you have a background in in mixing drinks? So you're talking about like making yeah, no, okay. So how did you learn? How did you learn drinking them? Figuring, yeah, yeah. Same. I'm like, I was just drinking the Chardonnay. Now I'm talking about it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Uh honestly, that's something that I've tried to be very upfront with from the beginning. Like my background is retail. I am a shop owner. Yeah. Um, I work with people, whether it's, you know, Jesse of Mr. Zero Proof on Instagram or Casey Ergot, who's, you know, a local mixologist. I don't know. Some people hate that word, some people love it. But, you know, a local drinks. Somebody who knows how to make the drinks. So we have worked together on doing mixology classes, but honestly, a lot of it is just experimenting on my own. Like I I know I like certain flavors. I know, you know, when ginger and rum work together in one context, they're probably gonna work together in another. I'll also work with, you know, pe incredibly talented people like you and people I've met on Instagram who are just posting recipes. Like those are great templates. And I try to to use them like I know my customers well. Um, so again, another challenge of the shop is people come in and they want to know like every recipe. We're like, okay, well, I can't drink it by itself, so how else should I drink it? And you know, I I understand asking that question. They have every right to ask the question. I can't always spend the time giving them all the information. So to be able to point to a book like yours to say, this has all the recipes that you need, and or go to the brand's websites, go to their Instagrams. That's those are that's where I'm pulling recipes from. I'm not a mixologist that I can make a really good drink.

SPEAKER_01:

That's great.

SPEAKER_02:

And and just learning to trust your intuition too. I mean, we touched on this with you know, measuring bitters with your heart, but like what tastes good to you might not taste good to me. So all that matters is is does it taste good to you?

SPEAKER_00:

You're totally right. No, you're totally right. It needs to taste good to you, and just get inspiration, right? Whether it's from a cock a traditional cocktail, maybe that there's okay, so how can I now make that as a non-alcoholic cocktail if I want to? You know, so yeah, and I think I love that tip too of just like looking at the brand's websites. I mean, so many of these brands have great recipes on their websites. Like you don't have to scroll Instagram necessarily. So yeah, you can just find some right there.

SPEAKER_02:

And that's the other thing that I love too. And I try to communicate this to my customers, is like we all want you to like this. Like, there's no benefit in us to set you up for failure. So, yeah, to sell you something that you is just gonna sit in the cabinet.

SPEAKER_00:

Can I have your money and now you're not gonna like this? Yeah. I want you to come back and and spend some more. Exactly. Yes, we want a long-term relationship.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, we're looking for a long-term relationship. So there are a ton of those resources for free, or you know, an inexpensive resources that that you can, you know, start to play around with.

SPEAKER_00:

That's fantastic. Okay, so cheers to choices is your store slogan. Is that the right way to say it? Slogan, I guess. Um how did you come up with that and what does it mean? Can you explain a little bit? And I love that you have it trademarked. I'm a firm believer in trademarking all the things that you love.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so we came up with I actually worked with um a woman named Margaret Dietz. She's out of Syracuse, New York, which is actually where I went to college. Okay. Um, and she is a professional brander, is not the right word. I'm sorry, Margaret. A brandologist. She's a brandologist. Uh, and she really helped me kind of refine my edges, right? So she's the one that, you know, drew this logo that we have.

SPEAKER_00:

Your logo's adorable. It's adorable.

SPEAKER_02:

She's brilliant. Uh, and we went through a ton of iterations. Like we really worked through this together. But one of the things I was explaining to her was, you know, so much of the beginning of my non-alcoholic experience felt like you either drink or you don't, or like you're either right or you're wrong. And I wanted to introduce this option for you know the right audience, which I understand I'm not speaking to everybody, and this isn't appropriate for everyone, but for the you know, where it is, like it's about having choices. Yeah. Uh and and we were just kind of like spitballing, and she came and put cheers to choices. And as soon as she said it, like, I just got the chills.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I just got chills like you just said it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

It felt right because it's easy to say, it means a lot and a lot of different contexts. And I I felt like when I was, you know, first developing what I wanted for the shop, it was there was a lot of judgment on both sides. I certainly felt judgment for not wanting to drink anymore. Or if it wasn't judgment, like this never-ending thirst of like details diving into my personal journey. Or on the flip side of it, it was, oh, you do drink alcohol? Do you know that's poison? Why would you do that? How could you be so stupid or so thoughtless? Like it didn't feel like there was that kind of metal ground where we're adults, like we can choose what's right for ourselves. Um, you know, at certain points maybe easier than others. But but I wanted, I also just from a business perspective too, like having a non-alcoholic bottle shop is a very specific area to be in. So if I if there is a way for me to bring in people other than just people who don't drink alcohol, like that's smart from the business side of things too. And it all just kind of clicked.

SPEAKER_00:

It's huge. I mean, it just opens it up to those who want to just maybe drink less, or maybe they're pregnant, or they're just taking a dry January, or they're fully sober, just trying to be more mindful. I mean, it really it opens it widens your audience. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, and it continues to surprise me too. Like, as you know, I kind of pull back from pop-ups a little bit just for bandwidth reasons, but I'm starting to go back out there and do them again. And and even still, like again, forget that I'm in my own little bubble. You know, I'll say, like, yeah, you go to a concert and you have a couple alcoholic drinks, but then you have to drive home, or you just you're worried you're gonna have a hangover the next day, or you just don't feel like drinking any more alcohol. Like you can switch to a non-alcoholic spirit or beer. Like, there's no rule that once you start with one, you can never have the other one again.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02:

And you literally see light bulbs go off in people's faces. Like I genuinely had never thought of that. And it's not a hard concept, but just because of the culture that we live in and what we're all so used to, it it genuinely just doesn't occur to people. So to be a part of that conversation and and through my work with you know different bars and restaurants too, helping it become less of a thing because it's just available. So again, it's your choice. You can order from the alcoholic part of the menu or the non-alcoholic part of the menu, and you can go back and forth. Do whatever works for you.

SPEAKER_00:

Cheers to choices. Yeah. Cheers to choices, cheers to choices. It does, it just rolls off the tongue. It's so perfect. Um, okay. So I know you have so many great products in the shop, and I don't want to ask you like, what's your favorite child? But what's, I guess maybe what's like really popular right now, or what are you selling a lot of? What do you what do you enjoy selling right now?

SPEAKER_02:

Uh so I gotta be honest, I'm shocked at how big of um I am really surprised at how much of my business is wine. Um especially because I know, yeah. It's I'm becoming less surprised.

SPEAKER_00:

It's what everybody asks about, right?

SPEAKER_02:

It's what everybody really wants, and it's where I think there's um, I mean, there needs to be more education in all of this to the greater public, but I do think in wine, especially like, and I gotta learn to bite my tongue. But the number of people that will come in and say, like, I want a non-alcoholic wine, I've tried non-alcoholic wine, they all taste like trash, even anything that doesn't taste like trash. It's like, well, first of all, that's rude. Second of all, I'm not trying to sell you trash. Third of all, it's come a long way than what you have found in traditional grocery stores. Like, no, this is not just juice. No, this isn't sweet. No, this isn't gonna be the exact same mouthfeel, but that doesn't mean that it's not still delicious. So again, like going back to the hand holding or the education piece of it, it's it's something that takes time. But when you get people that like they find the right one for them, they're so excited. Oh, so it's it's so exciting.

SPEAKER_00:

It's like you've like hit the lottery when you find a non-alcoholic wine that you enjoy and it like kind of you can have that same ritual without the hangover. And yeah. Okay, sorry, go ahead. I interrupted you, sorry.

SPEAKER_02:

No, no, no. I I think the other part of it too that's really surprising to people is because the the product is at such a high level now, you can talk about the same things that you can talk about with alcoholic wine. You talk about mouthfeel, you talk about varietal, you talk about, you know, tasting notes, the process to get it there, even before the alcohol removal process. Like what's the soil? So you can have literally the same conversation, maybe a little extra, a couple extra steps, but it just it it helps keep the experience elevated. And I think it also because you give them um that extra time and attention, they're more willing to take a risk too. Because it, you know, we have bottles that range anywhere from$21 to$65 in the shop right now.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And it's, you know, you might love the$65 bottle of wine, but if you don't like that type of wine alcoholic, you're a good non-alcoholic. So it's again like it's about finding that option for you. Um, but that's that's been really fun. The other part is the functional drinks. Uh, brands like drum, Apolos is a huge seller for us. Um I love to, I don't consider this a functional one, but I love sampling people on the Pathfinder, for instance, because it's these are the things that again might not be for everybody, but they're not what you expect when you think of mocktail or non-alcoholic cocktail. You think sugar water, you think juice, juice. Like the number of times I've ordered a non-alcoholic margarita, even recently, and I get sour mix with some sprite in it.

SPEAKER_00:

Like that's not like this is not working. Yeah, this is not working. No, no, yeah. Pathfinder is so interesting, isn't it? So different. I like that it's not trying to be, you know, it's not a one-to-one, or yeah, it's just it's its own thing. Yeah, with a cult following. I mean, it's really good on vanilla ice cream. If you ever want to show up your dessert. Oh, what if there's a pro tip? Okay, good. I don't think I've ever done that before. Okay, I gotta get some vanilla ice cream. That is awesome. So is there a favorite? Do you have a favorite or like what are your like most best-selling non-alcoholic wines, I guess?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, um, I will say the Society De La Rossi sparkling wine is really amazing. Um, Wesley is the owner of that brand, and she walked me through like they do the alcohol removal process and then they go like a step or 12 steps further, okay. Where they recapture the aroma from the alcohol, and then they're able to put the aroma back into the alcohol removed wine. So that just brings it to a whole other level.

SPEAKER_00:

That's so nice.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I'm really loving Soby wines, especially their orange wines. Yep. I love that. So this is kind of a fun little fact. They they're all based out in California, but they have family here in Ardmore. So that's how I even like first, not how I first heard of the brand, but how I found out that they're from Ardmore as I was doing a pop-up before I opened the store. And this it was like a block party. And this woman came out of her house, like, oh my god, that's my cousin's brand. No, like even in this like super specific tiny little community of alcohol remote wine. This was two years, two and a half years ago.

SPEAKER_00:

Wow.

SPEAKER_02:

And it just it it made a world um that can feel so like small and isolating all of a sudden like open up again.

SPEAKER_00:

And their product is obviously also delicious. Their wines are really good. And I love that I mean I do they have nice bottles and everything, but I love that you can get them in cans. I'm a fan of the cans. Yeah. Fan of anything anything that we can do.

SPEAKER_02:

We can sell a decent amount of wine in the can or small bottles like Primo Pave, um, Bird makes one in a bottle now. That has been working really well at restaurants because they're, you know, might be a little gum shy to buy, especially in the sparkling wines, because you know, you if you don't have four customers that night that want it, then potentially you're wasting that bottle. But yeah, I I love working with Sobe. I mean, that's the other thing that I really find gratifying about working in this space in particular, that's very different from the fashion accessories side of retail. It's just the people are the best. Yeah, they're passionate and really hardworking, and we're all learning and we're all just in it together.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, that's not to say that we don't have a responsibility to still stand up for ourselves and to still make sure that it makes sense on, you know, both sides of the conversation, but these are people that I will have that conversation with until you know the end of time because I trust them. Yeah. And I, you know, we I trust that we both want to make it work for each other.

SPEAKER_00:

That's awesome. What's been the best part for you as we as we close out? What's been the best part for you?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I mean, people in general. So, you know, like I said, working with the different brands, but yeah, absolutely the customers. I mean, I have people come in and whether they know that the store is non-alcoholic or they're literally discovering it as they walk through the door, they just but um just gotta chill again. They they there's just such a sense of relief and excitement. And, you know, I um have had people come in and get teary. No, one woman in particular, I'll never forget, and she's an incredible customer now, but she came in, she had recently stopped drinking and she was going to um a bachelorette party for her friends, and this was the first time that you know she'd be doing something like that without drinking. And we built her a six pack and I got to talk about the different options, and she started to cry because she was so nervous about this, and just you know, we can talk about cheers of choices and how you know it's something for everybody, but for the people that this is important to, this is really hard. It's still hard for me.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, it can be like anything.

SPEAKER_00:

No, but there's times, right? Events that you're going to that feel very stressful. It's like, okay, everybody's gonna be drinking. How am I gonna navigate this? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. And to have, you know, the same way that I get excited about being able to talk about the store, like they can have something to talk about, like, try this, it's so good. Or, you know, this is let me tell you about the store, let me tell you about these brands. Um, if you feel comfortable doing that, it's the people, it's seeing how meaningful it can be for them. Um, and just you know, showing, showing them options. It's also been really fun seeing people's attitudes change. Like somebody will come in and just be utterly confused. Why does this exist? Are you doing okay? Like, like, are you gonna be here next year? Like, literally ask those questions. Um, can you mention so funny? Rob, that's so funny. Um, and it's you know, it comes from a place of concern, but it's still you're like, I really don't need to hear this.

SPEAKER_00:

We're doing okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, but it's but then you know, they come not all of them, but I have a handful of like really steady customers that that's how it started, and they're seeing the value, whether it's for themselves or for their friends, or you know, just like during the week or whatever it is, like they're coming in and they're the ones buying the cases to make sure they have it for their holiday parties.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow.

SPEAKER_02:

So that's that's really cool to see. Like, not only are they a great customer, but but they get it and they're excited about it, and they're not just buying into it because it's a trend, they're buying into it because they they see a need for it.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, or use for it. Yeah, yeah, that's incredible.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, your store's so beautiful. It has that. I don't know if like I'm not I wasn't in retail or whatever, but like that, like I don't know if it's like pottery barn-ish feel. Would that be like a good description of a shop? Like it definitely it just has that open feel, very light, and every product that you have in there is just it's gorgeous in the way you have everything displayed. I mean, your background shines through your your retail background just shines through in such a beautiful way. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I'm I'm we've touched on this, but I really, you know, these products are for adults. It's I mean, in Pennsylvania, you literally have to be 21 to purchase it, which is a whole other conversation. But I wanted this to feel like a place that was comfortable for adults and a place that they wanted to spend time and to give themselves the opportunity to explore. Uh, because that's these products deserve that. We as people who don't drink alcohol deserve that. And I just want to be a part of like helping move that conversation forward. But thank you. That's a huge compliment, and I really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00:

Shen accomplished. I mean, you're doing such a great job, Robin. And I know you're coming up on your two-year anniversary, and having a shop does not come without struggles, you know, hiccups and challenges. And so congratulations to you on working through those and for just being a shining example to um to others in your community. So sorry, my teary because I just I love what you're doing.

SPEAKER_02:

I love what you're doing. That means a lot. And I I, you know, I really appreciate everything that you're doing in the space and and being a part of that education process and normalizing it. I mean, I think that that's another piece of what I think is so important as this conversation. And I touched on, you know, people wanting to dive deep into every single like storied detail about why you don't drink alcohol. The more we can have these just normal conversations and products that allow us to be a part of the conversation and a part of the experience. We can talk about it when we want to, but it's not a given. And I really appreciate everything that you're doing in this piece to educate people on.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you. Thank you. I just want people to know the fun's not over and there's still good things to drink. I mean, like, because I thought that's I thought it'd be all over. I thought like the party's over. If I'm not drinking my wine every night, what am I gonna be doing?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, and the other thing I like to remind people too is like this is brand new. Like what? Seed lip and ritual, which as far as I know were two of the first to come out. That was maybe six five or six years ago. Like, this is nothing. So to to see, you know, the technology evolve and the flavor combinations and just the the sky's the limit, and we haven't even touched on it yet. And it's really good where it is now.

SPEAKER_00:

So it's just really better. Yeah, you're totally right. You're totally right. Okay, big time cheers to you. I just love you, my friend, a Philadelphia connection. Seriously, I cannot wait to get it. I cannot wait to get back out there. I grew up in Drexel Hill. So, I mean, I don't have any family out there anymore, but um I cannot wait to get back out there at some point and and do something at the the shop with you the before. Well, you're welcome anytime. Oh, you're so sweet. You're so sweet. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Big time cheers to you for tuning in to the Thriving Alcohol Free Podcast. I hope you will take something from today's episode and make one small change that will help you to thrive and have fun in life without alcohol. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post about it on social, send up a flare, or leave a rating and a review. I am cheering for you as you discover the world of non-alcoholic drinks and as your journey towards authentic freedom. See you in the next episode.