Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started out in coffee very young coming to my stepmom’s coffee shop and learning from her. As soon as I turned 15 I started applying at different coffee shops and was hired at a local spot in my hometown where I would work before school, after school, sometimes both! I’ve worked for a handful of both small business and large corp coffee businesses and learned a lot from both avenues but I knew I wanted my own one day. I started my mobile unit in 2024 while I was also working at another local shop. I was soon let go from that shop and focused on my mobile unit until I got the opportunity to buy that same coffee shop I was let go from spring of 2025 and had my grand open that June!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
God no is it ever owning a small business? Though the shop I bought was already an established business, and many of my regulars continued to come to see me after the sale, I had to gain people’s trust, advertise like a crazy person, and build my brand and reputation that people wanted to experience. Financially is on and off a struggle even now, knowing what to invest in, what I should change, figuring out pricing that isn’t outrageous but can also turn a profit, etc.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sip happens coffee. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a woman and veteran owned business. Promoting inclusivity and women’s empowerment is incredibly important to me. We stand out on a brand alone which is very disco cowgirl vibes. Apart from that we’re known for our specialty drinks. Those change every 2 months and they are our most creative and unique drinks. Not even just the aesthetics of them, but the ridiculous names of them. Were also known to be a no bs shop, I tell my staff to advocate for themselves as I would and have 0 tolerance policy for creepy or disrespectful behavior. I’ve came from big corp coffee that has the mindset the customer is always right, but coming from a branch of the military that has very few women and dealing with the things I did through that I’m quick to call it out at my shop and people respect that. I’m proud I made this brand myself, and I’ve fought through a lot of things to be here; mental health struggles, divorce, financial struggles, critics, but we’re still here. People should no coming through our shop means genuine interactions, nothing forced, nothing fake. We’ve built relationships with our customers, we’ve built community, we’ve given back to our community. We stand on the idea that inclusivity and compassion and culture is essential, that there is no coffee around our area as extra or ridiculously named like ours, and that this brand will go places.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think it’s essential to collaborate with other local businesses and organizations and if you can work events and get more eyes on your brand it will help you out 10 fold in the long run. I’ve learned from a lot of people, whether it’s what I’d love to model after or what I know doesn’t work
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.siphappensllc.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sip.happens.llc?igsh=MTdnaW1ieGlhZDg5eg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BqmMvJhCd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
