Millionaires Are Made
How I Started The Candyshot Boutique Liquor
I get asked all the time how I came up with The Candyshot Boutique Liquor, a liquor store in Denver, Colorado with a 1950s ice cream shot theme.
Well, it all started with an idea (surprise)! It was a bad idea. An idea that needed 5000 more ideas to build it to where it was.
I have always been a drinker. And I love going to events. I had been in the cannabis industry as well as quite a few others with business endeavors. And I always drank while promoting or networking for those companies.
I always thought it was weird that nobody knew what liquor store they shopped at. "Hey, What's your favorite liquor store?"
"Oh, the one down the street, whatever it is called!"
They were all the same. Boring shelves, crappy booze on bottom, fancy booze in glass cases. Nobody was different and they just accepted it. I wanted to disrupt the industry.
About a year and a half ago, I found some retail space at a good deal due to COVID. My dream had come true and it would be the last location available for a liquor store in the city.
I wanted to be unique, different away from the mundane stores that litter Denver. I trademarked the name "Shots, Shots, Shots" and had big plans for a store that only sold shooters, but in 10,000 flavors. You could try exotic alcohols from Japan or Poland, and mix and match all the flavors in the world.
I acquired the liquor licenses, and started telling my idea. I knew 74% of alcohol was purchased by males. I also knew a large portion of that was bought for females. So I started market research with females, who quickly shot down my idea.
I regrouped, asked for ideas, and eventually landed on an old school theme with glass jars for the shooters. We knew alcoholic ice cream was very popular and started building around those two designs. We hired female muralists, female designers, female management, and the place became full of ideas.
I have been mostly sober for the last 9 months. I did the 75 Hard challenge and pretty much have never went back. Remember when I said I love events, parties and social life? This makes things a bit more difficult. Nonetheless, we have an entire non-alcoholic section. We carry whiskey, rum, tequila, IPA, Rose, you name it. We have it all without alcohol!
I have dealt with alcoholism with family and friends and seen the negatives of that disease. But, I still see and believe in the benefits of alcohol. Social lubricant, mental health, stress relief etc. That being said, we donate a portion of profits to the Addiction Hotline. It's important to me to help where I can, and this hits home.
On the alcohol side, our product mix is unique, beautiful, and aesthetic. Our store make mouths drop and eyes light up. It is unlike any liquor store anyone has ever seen.
We now boast the most unique liquor selection in the world, with dozens of products found in a very small percentage of stores.
We get to have fun on social media, we get to build our community, we get to straight up be happy at our jobs. And our customers see it, and are loving it. Nearly 100 reviews online, every single one is 5 star.
We can't wait to franchise and bring The Candyshot across the US so people can experience the true happiness from alcohol (or non-alcohol) and help support local brands doing big things!
Well, it all started with an idea (surprise)! It was a bad idea. An idea that needed 5000 more ideas to build it to where it was.
I have always been a drinker. And I love going to events. I had been in the cannabis industry as well as quite a few others with business endeavors. And I always drank while promoting or networking for those companies.
I always thought it was weird that nobody knew what liquor store they shopped at. "Hey, What's your favorite liquor store?"
"Oh, the one down the street, whatever it is called!"
They were all the same. Boring shelves, crappy booze on bottom, fancy booze in glass cases. Nobody was different and they just accepted it. I wanted to disrupt the industry.
About a year and a half ago, I found some retail space at a good deal due to COVID. My dream had come true and it would be the last location available for a liquor store in the city.
I wanted to be unique, different away from the mundane stores that litter Denver. I trademarked the name "Shots, Shots, Shots" and had big plans for a store that only sold shooters, but in 10,000 flavors. You could try exotic alcohols from Japan or Poland, and mix and match all the flavors in the world.
I acquired the liquor licenses, and started telling my idea. I knew 74% of alcohol was purchased by males. I also knew a large portion of that was bought for females. So I started market research with females, who quickly shot down my idea.
I regrouped, asked for ideas, and eventually landed on an old school theme with glass jars for the shooters. We knew alcoholic ice cream was very popular and started building around those two designs. We hired female muralists, female designers, female management, and the place became full of ideas.
I have been mostly sober for the last 9 months. I did the 75 Hard challenge and pretty much have never went back. Remember when I said I love events, parties and social life? This makes things a bit more difficult. Nonetheless, we have an entire non-alcoholic section. We carry whiskey, rum, tequila, IPA, Rose, you name it. We have it all without alcohol!
I have dealt with alcoholism with family and friends and seen the negatives of that disease. But, I still see and believe in the benefits of alcohol. Social lubricant, mental health, stress relief etc. That being said, we donate a portion of profits to the Addiction Hotline. It's important to me to help where I can, and this hits home.
On the alcohol side, our product mix is unique, beautiful, and aesthetic. Our store make mouths drop and eyes light up. It is unlike any liquor store anyone has ever seen.
We now boast the most unique liquor selection in the world, with dozens of products found in a very small percentage of stores.
We get to have fun on social media, we get to build our community, we get to straight up be happy at our jobs. And our customers see it, and are loving it. Nearly 100 reviews online, every single one is 5 star.
We can't wait to franchise and bring The Candyshot across the US so people can experience the true happiness from alcohol (or non-alcohol) and help support local brands doing big things!
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