Ask 10 entrepreneurs why they determined to begin their very own factor, and you will get 10 completely different solutions. For Andy Roiniotis, it got here all the way down to this: “I obtained bored with constructing different folks’s manufacturers,” he informed Entrepreneur.
In 2019, the Illinois-based entrepreneur fulfilled a dream when he and his spouse Isabelle’s Bella Rio Consulting branding agency grew to become the dad or mum firm of ROCK’N Vodka, a singular, award-winning spirit made utilizing sugarcane and water sourced from the location of their manufacturing in Harvard, Illinois.
Whereas attending an investor assembly for the Arduous Rock On line casino in Rockford, Illinois, Roiniotis crossed paths with homegrown music legend Rick Nielsen, lead guitarist and chief of Low cost Trick. Nielsen is understood for writing hits like “I Need You to Need Me” and slinging his iconic five-neck guitar, however what is not as well-known is that he’s a savvy enterprise investor, as effectively. “ I like stuff that does not fail and I like stuff the place I haven’t got to do any work,” he says with fun.
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Roiniotis pitched Nielsen as a companion on ROCK’N Vodka, and Nielsen replied that he would have an interest with two circumstances: 1. It needed to be nice, and a pair of. It wanted to create jobs in Illinois. The vodka delivered on each factors, and 5 years later, it has received a number of awards, is distributed in 17 states, Canada, and Europe in over 2,400 areas together with Walmart, Costco, and Whole Wine, and is obtainable in iconic venues like Arduous Rock Casinos, Rock & Brews, and the NOW Area.
The truth that it’s made out of sugarcane and has a rock star icon as one among its major homeowners is not the one factor distinctive about this model. Followers of ROCK’N Vodka are usually not solely capable of imbibe it, however they’ll additionally put money into it. Thus far, the corporate has raised $2.4+ million with over 1,600 traders.
Entrepreneur spoke with Roiniotis and Nielsen about their model’s starting, development and future outlook. You may watch the complete dialog on this video (it’s equal components informative and hilarious), and skim highlights beneath, which have been edited for size and readability.
Entrepreneur: What makes ROCK’N completely different?
Andy Roiniotis: Nicely, there are plenty of vodkas on the market and most are made out of corn, potatoes, or wheat. There are very, only a few sugarcane vodkas on the planet. We’re non-GMO, gluten-free and distilled 4 instances — the result’s a easy end with a pleasant candy style to it. We have been born in Rockford, Illinois, after which we moved manufacturing to Harvard, Illinois, the place we supply our water.
Rick, has vodka been a giant a part of your rock ‘n’ roll life?
Rick Nielsen: I am going to let you know a narrative. We have been the opening act for Queen for 2 reveals in 1977, earlier than our first report got here out. They heard our stuff and favored it. So I obtained invited by Roger Taylor, the drummer from Queen, to his home in England. We went out to a spot referred to as Nikita’s, which was a frozen vodka institution. After which…that is the final I can bear in mind. [Laughs]
You have finished plenty of in-store appearances — how do Low cost Trick followers examine to ROCK’N Vodka followers?
AR: Virtually each bottle signing that we have finished has been a sellout. We have finished every part from Costco and grocery shops to Arduous Rock casinos throughout the nation. They purchased 4,000 bottles on the Arduous Rock Tampa and three,000 on the Arduous Rock in Hollywood. Typically folks present up for the vodka, generally for Rick Nielsen, or each.
RN: I deal with all people equally terrible. [Laughs] And my handwriting is simply as terrible. I inform folks after I signal the bottle, “Don’t fret — I can not learn it both.” And these are our followers and our traders.
Inform us somewhat bit about this distinctive investor setup you’ve.
AR: We have now over 1,600 traders in our firm. The minimal funding proper now could be about $320. Anybody can find out about it at make investments.rockvodkas.com. There are about 650,000 shares left. We initially began with 2 million. It is all regulated by the Securities and Trade Fee by way of the Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). You may make investments till round June or when the shares are bought out.
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You have branched out from vodka. Are you able to inform us about that?
AR: We did a three way partnership with Kennay Farms Distilling. And never solely will we get to promote their merchandise, their gin, and their whiskey, however they’ve over 3,000 growing old barrels. So we have been additionally capable of create our personal bourbon. And we’re letting followers assist us title it on our web site. Proper now, 5 Neck Bourbon is without doubt one of the high decisions. That is clearly an ode to Rick’s legendary five-neck guitar.
RN: Carrying that rattling guitar round made me two inches shorter. [Laughs]
Credit score: ROCK’N Vodka
What’s your recommendation to aspiring entrepreneurs?
AR: My job is a puzzle maker, proper? I’ve all these puzzle items that Rick Nielsen throws at me. Celebrities, venues, all of those connections. All of us have connections like that that will appear random, however you set them collectively. If you happen to do not play your playing cards proper and make the most of these puzzle items, you are by no means going to go anyplace.
RN: My recommendation is, do not surrender. Do not take heed to the naysayers as a result of all people’s gonna let you know it is a silly concept. I began enjoying guitar and by no means gave up. Now I am too previous and too dumb to give up! And write your concepts down. I write every part down and maintain onto each scrap of paper. I’ve written songs the place I did not have the precise bridge half until 20 years later. That is what occurred with “Dream Police.” Maintain onto every part, you may be capable of piece them collectively ages later. I’ve had extra dangerous concepts than good ones, however I’ve had plenty of concepts.
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