I know it’s been a while, but you can catch up on all my Entrepreneurship Series interviews here. I’m really excited because for today’s interview, I want you guys to meet a good friend of mine, Ndubuisi “Bisi” Nnaji II. Bisi and I met at Howard and when I learned about his line of fine liqueur called Twelv 31®, I was was so excited to learn more. His company is based in Washington, D.C. and Twelv 31 Velvet Berry® is the world’s first premium vodka and white rum liqueur™ and is the perfect addition to any festivity or celebration. I hope you guys enjoy this interview and take away from the nuggets of wisdom he shares during the interview!
1. How did the concept for Twelv 31 start?
I created Twelv 31® out of necessity. I couldn’t find a consistent drink when I would go to bars or restaurants, it would either be too strong, too weak, too sweet, or not sweet enough. I wanted to have a consistent well balanced drink at all times. So I decided to do something about it. It took about 3 years of research to find the right formula. I started at home making simple syrups to mix with alcohol and that didn’t end up tasting too good, so then I tried making homemade flavor extracts, which didn’t work out either. Finally I worked with a development team to help me create a drink with my own ingredients. I tried well over 200 iterations, until I came up with a version that tasted just right!
I decided to move forward with the idea of producing the drink on New Year’s Eve (12/31) hence the name Twelv 31®. The name of the flavor was called Velvet Berry because it was berry flavor and smooth like velvet.
2. What keeps you motivated in business?
I think what keeps me motivated are all the people that try Twelv 31 Velvet Berry® and love it. It is certainly gratifying to know that my creation is being appreciated by so many people.
3. What is a book that changed your life and why?
The Barefoot Spirit by Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey. I wouldn’t say it changed my life, but it definitely gave me hope. The book is about the founders, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, of Barefoot Wine and how they were able to overcome adversity and grow their brand into a global brand. The two were outsiders in the spirits industry and knew nothing about the spirits business. I too, feel like an outsider. I have no background in wine and spirits; so every day I am learning something new in this industry and trust me, there is so much to learn! It was great to read about people who were like me and successfully navigated their way through such a heavily regulated industry. It took the duo 10 years to build a successful brand, which showed me that persistence is the key to success…with a little bit of luck of course.
4. What is your advice to emerging entrepreneurs about overcoming challenges in business?
Don’t give up! There will always be road blocks. It’s your job as an entrepreneur to find a way around them…and there is ALWAYS a way. Be open to advice from people you trust (significant other, friends, family, other business owners, etc.). You may be surprised at some of the advice you receive. They may provide you with unique ways (that maybe you hadn’t thought of) to tackle and overcome business challenges. I’ve overcome a lot of challenges by asking people that I trusted for advice.
Honestly, the journey of an entrepreneur is not an easy one, you will definitely need to have a laser focus, have faith in yourself, and believe that something different can and will happen. The statistics will always be against you, so do your best to beat the statistics.
5. What is a financial tip you would give to emerging entrepreneurs that has helped you in business?
I would tell emerging entrepreneurs to be extremely frugal with their money. Make sure you do thorough research on any idea, service, product, etc. that you wish to spend your money on. I wasted so much money in the beginning by not properly vetting certain services, suppliers, producers, etc. I wish I could go back in time to the younger me and tell him “not to do that”.
6. What is the best business advice you’ve received?
I’ve received a lot of great business advice over the years, but two have stuck with me.
The first great piece of advice that I received was: “Never make a decision at the table.” Which means that no matter what, when it comes to business deals, always try to respectfully ask for a day or two or even a week to make a decision. Oftentimes people can make a bad business decision (s) by not having that extra time to remove emotion and think critically about the business deal. So, always give yourself an adequate amount of time to make a decision.
The second great piece of advice that I received was: “You’re going to make a lot mistakes, it’s inevitable.” I think the key here is to not beat yourself up about the mistakes you’ve made. Learn from those mistakes, adapt, overcome, and try not to make the same mistakes twice.
I’m so proud of Bisi and his delicious line of premium liqueur. Twelv 31® Velvet Berry is pourable and is ready to be served straight from the bottle, with no mixing necessary! Enjoy the smooth experience…responsibly of course.
Click here to learn more about Twelv 31® and engage with Twelv 31 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
xo Yinka
Like!! I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your information. The article has truly peaked my interest.
Wow! I love hearing about people who have created their own businesses. This was a great read. Thank you!
I believe you have mentioned some very interesting points, regards for the post. 🙂
I don’t know anything about business, but I’d like to have my own business one day! Do you have some tips on how people would be able to recognize you so they could check you out more?
200 versions! That’s dedication. The things people don’t see behind the scenes. It’s just amazing
I love the part where she says the statistics will always be against you, but try to beat it. That gives me hope too! Inspirational read, thanks for sharing!