Meet Julie Stevens

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julie Stevens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julie , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my mom, who has always set an example of gratitude and grace. It doesn’t matter what is happening in her life, she always has a smile on her face and a quiet determination to find joy in her circumstances and to notice the good things about the people in her life. Growing up in a military family with seven siblings was quite an adventure. I moved to a new school almost every year and so I had to learn to be independent and to make new friends wherever I went. My mom taught me how to sew when I was 8 years old and by 7th grade I was making pocket-money by sewing cheerleading outfits and dresses for other girls at my school. Learning to earn money from such an early age taught me how to problem solve, pivot and fix mistakes.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

From a very young age, I have always had a passion for creating and designing. The moment I designed a specialty tote for the students at my design school and received my first order, it ignited my entrepreneurial spirit, which has stayed with me ever since! I love to marry design and function and have designed everything from residential and commercial spaces to luxury cocktail glasses, golf products, and my own ready-to-drink cocktail line, BeTini Spirits. When I designed the original BeTini bottle just over 10 years ago, I gave a lot of thought to how the bottle would look and feel. It is a very feminine brand, and so I made the waist of the bottle skinnier so that it is easier for women with small hands to hold and pour. It also gives a wink to having an hourglass figure and our commitment to making proper cocktails that won’t derail your fitness journey! Just before covid I designed the BeTini Mini’s with a snap-on cap similar to a Tupperware lid, so you can take BeTini to the beach, pool, boating, pickleball, golfing, etc. and recap it in between sips.
 
I am currently working on a line of non-alcohol cocktails for people who want the real taste of a cocktail while striving to eat and drink healthier, and a new spirits line called Well Done that will feature both alcoholic and non-alcoholic spirits.  

In addition to my roles as CEO of BeTini and Well Done, I’ve dedicated a great deal of time over the past two years designing an incredible project: River Sound. We just broke ground on the renovation of an amazing historic building in beautiful Idaho Springs, Colorado, and will be transforming it into a vibrant hub for creatives. Originally built in 1912 as the town’s opera house and dance hall, this renovation will breathe new life into a cherished piece of our community. River Sound will serve as a creative haven for musicians and artists alike, featuring a state-of-the-art recording studio, live streaming capabilities for intimate concerts, and classrooms dedicated to teaching art and music. My vision is to create a nurturing environment where seasoned artists can share their knowledge with emerging talents, helping them find their own voice and shine bright in the artistic world. 

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I started out, I didn’t have any experience in business and so I differentiated my products by offering innovative designs. In the design process, three qualities really shine through: beauty that grabs our attention, function that makes things practical and easy to use, and of course quality. When these elements come together, they create a wonderful balance that makes the whole consumer experience even better. Designing products with this in mind has opened a lot of doors for my product and has consistently grabbed customer’s attention. 

When you’re working on your designs, it’s super important to really know who your audience is and what they need. Take time to learn about their likes, interests, and what makes them tick—this will really help shape your design choices. Always remember that quality matters; aim to make your work the best it can be (within your manufacturing budget and target price). It’s okay to ask for feedback from friends or colleagues, too. They can offer helpful tips and fresh ideas that might inspire you. Keep the lines of communication open, and have fun with the process!

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

“Worthy” by Jamie Kern Lima, is absolutely phenomenal! It’s really common to feel “not good enough” and to judge your self-worth based on external validations such as business achievements or even physical appearance– which is completely backwards. I would never judge a friend by these things, but I judged myself mercilessly. Her book really helped me to be more accepting of myself. I have always struggled with major imposter syndrome and would completely avoid photo ops or live interviews. My favorite quote from her book is “stop waiting on your weight.” After reading “Worthy,” I finally agreed to present BeTini on talk shows and social media, which has truly made a difference in our ROI. I owe Jamie a huge thank you for having the courage to share her story. Meeting her in person is actually on my bucket list!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://betinispirits.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betinispirits
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeTiniSpirits

Image Credits

Denver Headshot Co

Cara Harman Photography