Inspiring Conversations with Bethany Carpenter of Pomona Shrub Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Carpenter.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
I started Pomona Shrub Company at the end of 2021, operating out of an apartment in a historic home in downtown Wilmington, NC. I had the kitchen approved for a home-based food business and used the living room to store all the glassware for my mixers. My bedroom was often used for store farmers’ market materials. I began by participating in markets in the Raleigh area since all of the markets in my hometown had already been filled at that point – as I started my business later in 2021. After the holiday season, I was only able to participate in one market, since it was the slow season. With my extra time, I worked on attaining wholesale accounts and doing general marketing for my business. Once the spring and summer came around, I started participating in up to 5 markets a week, and things really started taking off from there! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road hasn’t always been smooth! Since I started my business right before the slow season, I had a few months full of fear that I wouldn’t be able to financially make it. I had jumped into my business full-time immediately. There were a few months over the winter that I was a little late on rent, but I ultimately was able to scrape by. Once May came and the busier season was right around the corner, I was really able to grow my business as I had more money coming in. Working a crazy, busy schedule helped with that – as I was doing up to 5 markets a week in addition to any wholesale accounts and extra events. Ultimately, I decided I wanted to move to a retail location so that I could produce my mixers in the back and sell them in the front – which I couldn’t do from my historic apartment downtown. It was expensive to move my kitchen, as I had to purchase commercial tables, sinks, etc., and have them installed. There also was a lot of move from my old kitchen to my new – and I mostly work alone – with the exception of family and friends who are sometimes able to help me! 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Pomona Shrub Company, I specialize in handcrafting shrubs – which are a mixer made from fruit, herbs, vinegar and cane sugar. All ingredients are melded together for at least two weeks and then stained out, leaving behind a thick, syrup-like mixer that can be blended with club soda and alcohol (if desired). We specialize in shrubs and only produce that type of mixer! But we’ve also grown to offer other products, such as dehydrated garnished, shimmer drops, bitters, etc. Now that we have the retail location within an old Coca-Cola Bottling Facility, we’re able to carry and showcase more barware and glassware. It’s nice to be able to offer the tools for people to be able to craft a really great drink. During the summer months, we try to source local fruits and herbs from farmers to create our shrubs with! We love to team up with Altar Cross Farms from Ivanhoe, NC, and create a mixer with their local and organic blueberries. With all of our mixers, I love to emphasize that they can be used by those that drink alcohol and those that are sober. In fact, shrubs were incredibly popular during the Prohibition – as they can have an alcohol-like bite without the ABV. 

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
We love to collaborate with local restaurants and bars so they can offer their customers a shrub concoction! One of our favorite collaborations is with all of the Bull City Ciderworks locations, so they can offer mocktails – which are incredibly popular during Dry January! 

Pricing:

• Our mixers sell from $12 – $20, depending upon size!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.PomonaShrubCompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pomonashrubco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PomonaShrubCo

Image Credits
Catherine Strickland
Rachel Corbitt