What if you stopped drinking and followed your passion for a new AF business? That’s exactly what happened to Marlys Aspinwall and her husband Chuck.
In 2021, after she found herself drinking too much during COVID, Marlys decided to take a break. Her husband quickly followed her lead. Three months later, they opened a pop-up bottle shop. Chuck had always dreamed of owning his own business, and he recognized quickly that the NA beverage business was growing fast.
Marlys shares in this episode of The Sober Edge podcast that at the time, they hadn’t even decided that their break from alcohol was going to be permanent. But, after experiencing the connection and the opportunity to encourage their customers, they were hooked. Chuck began searching for a brick and mortar storefront where they could set up a bottle shop and a sober bar.
I have met many men and women who want to take their passion for living AF and create something to give back to the community, and it was such fun to chat with Marlys and learn more about the ups and downs of running a sober bar and creating a new kind of business. As you will learn, there was no model to follow when Chuck and Marlys opened Kindred Spirits (the name means ‘friendship’) in 2021. Instead, they forged their way through trial and error, learning along the way.
I asked Marlys to share some tips for starting an AF business and for working with your partner. Here’s what she had to share:
- Divide the key aspects of the business based on what you are good at and love to do
- Get the community involved
- Ask for help
- Get to know your customers; knowing what they like = knowing what they will buy
- Think outside the box
- Location and population are important
I asked what had surprised her the most, and she shared “the friendships” and the fact that she had now become a bartender!
We also go beyond business and Marlys opens up about raising her three adult sons and creating a beautiful new life with retirement firmly on hold.
Find out more about Kindred Spirits and take advantage of the special offer: 15% off through October 31st with coupon code: ditchthedrink
