A New Class of Spirits

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Flo Vinger, founder and CEO of VING Vodka, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

VING Vodka is a new class of spirits. The first with 100% transparency, listing the serving facts and ingredients, with zero secret ingredients. VING Creator and CEO Flo Vinger care about the consumer and making the world a better place which is why VING Vodka's price is competitive. Flo Vinger also made a uniquely delicious vegetal infusion with only kale, lemon peel, and cucumber-infused vodka and launched VING Ultra-Premium, sugar-free Canned Cocktails. VING's ingredients are farm-fresh and use sustainable farming non-GMO American corn, sugar-free, gluten-free, and additive-free. VING delivers the purest, cleanest sipping vodka and ultra-premium canned cocktails you will experience. Made in California. VING's ethos is unity, diversity, and equality with a commitment to community, education, sustainability and environmentalism, the arts, music, animal rights, and cultivating the VING vision of a unified and harmonious world. Visit VINGvodka.com for more info.

Tell us about yourself

While acting, writing, and directing in the entertainment industry, I diligently worked for four years to perfect delicious and unique vodka. Italians will do anything to help the family, and my Dad had my back and helped me launch this crazy idea of pushing the industry toward full transparency. I put my family name on it as a nod to my ancestors, who, in spite of being immigrants and being very poor, were hardworking and honest people. VING Vodka was born. My career began as a professional dancer in New York City. I did like to celebrate with friends but couldn't connect to alcohol. I was very aware of eating healthy and didn't want to turn that off when I wanted to have a cocktail. There were no companies that represented my lifestyle of clean eating and fitness. My goal was to bridge the gap between these two worlds, so I created "The World's Cleanest Vodka." There are no spirits brands are the market that lists the serving facts and the ingredients with zero secret ingredients. I care about people and am honest, so I'm 100% transparent with VING Vodka, and we only use the highest-quality, certified Non-GMO corn-biased vodka and certified produce without pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. It's time to give people the option to experience the cleanest, most delicious spirit possible that is sugar and additive-free. If you start with the best, there is no need to add anything. I'm standing in front of my brand and putting my whole heart and love into VING, and you can taste it! People had laughed in my face when I told them I was launching a clean and transparent spirit line, but I don't care because I know, now more than ever, people are concerned with everything they are putting in their bodies, and alcohol shouldn't be ignored. My deeper mission is to create global recycling initiatives with my new invention, the POP TOP LOCK™, a sustainable, Reclosable, Reusable, and Recyclable RTD Aluminum (or steel) can end that eliminates single-use plastic and single-use RTDs. Sustainability isn't just a buzzword. Anything I can do with my companies to educate and create programs to help generate a cleaner earth and educate our children on treating the planet with love - I will do it.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm very proud to have created VING Vodka to be the only 100% spirit that has full transparency and zero secret ingredients. We have successfully created "A New Class of Spirits" with VING Vodka in a billion-dollar male-dominated industry. I think my biggest accomplishment is when I can change the world with my POP TOP LOCK™ invention and bring awareness to the importance of recycling and cleaning up our beloved earth.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Money. To start any business, you need capital. To start a spirits line, you need ten to twenty times what you think you will. Women only get 2% of Venture Capitol, and the LGBTQIA+ or Women of Color get less. In addition, if you are challenging the status quo like we are with VING Vodka, it's a "prove it" scenario. What keeps me going is the response we get from people who love VING. It's genuine, and they tell us every day how they appreciate us and can truly tell the difference. They feel good drinking VING Vodka, and that makes me extremely happy. Growing social media organically can also be challenging! Please follow us on Instagram!: https://www.instagram.com/vingvodka/. Also, we offer awesome perks as a VING VIP! Free sign up here: https://www.VINGvodka.com/.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Know how you are going to survive for the next three years. How are you getting the capital to support your growing business, and who is your support group through the tough times? Have a deep understanding of legal matters and Profit and Loss. Get a great lawyer who you enjoy working with and who will be patient with you while learning the ropes. Get as many mentors and advisors as you can and ask their advice as much as they will let you. Make sure you protect all your Intellectual Property. Always take care of yourself because starting a business, you must be strong-willed, determined, and focused. It will be hell at times, and you will want to quit. Those are the hardest moments to get through or to decide to move on. Only you can make that decision. Play out the pros and cons and your will to succeed. Most importantly, when it's not hell, make sure you are having fun!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://vingvodka.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VingVodka/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vingvodka/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vingvodka/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flovinger/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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