Today we’d like to introduce you to Liv Sain
Hi Liv , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was in a pickle. Then I started making pickles. Now I sell pickles. Here’s how…
I posted one picture on social media just saying I love making pickles. That same week I sold 40 jars of pickles. People were telling me I need to start a pickle business, I laughed and didn’t take it seriously. But before I could even think about the idea, I entered detox for alcohol addiction for the second time. First, I needed to get healthy. After leaving detox I had way too much time on my hands. Having too much down time while trying to stay sober doesn’t work. I needed something to look forward to. I needed something to give me hope. I have all this time on my hands, what am I going to do with my life? I couldn’t stop thinking about those 40 jars sold. There’s something to the pickles. So I started researching pickles, learned 20 billion pickles are eaten every year. So there’s enough pickle lovers to keep me in business. But how do I stand out from the other pickle brands?
So I started my business in Nov 2023 did my first farmers market. But I wanted to think bigger than markets. So I started targeting hotels. Within one year my product was sold in 7 hotels. I started selliing out every month at Conway Community market which was the first market I ever did.
The pickles became the driving force. They helped me stay sober. They gave me purpose and hope. The pickles was a metaphor for my life. Once a pickle, never a cucumber. That’s how I lived my life. I never wanted to go back to my old ways. The pickles represented transformation. Pickles remind us that change can be a good thing. I’m happy to say I’ve been sober 1 year and 7 months.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle is knowing how to grow a food product. When do you make that jump to the next level. How do you take it to the next level?
Running a business you have to do every role yourself until you can afford to hire help. But I can’t hire help until I grow it. So it’s a catch 22.
Another obstacle staying sober while running a business. Learning how to handle stress and rejection in healthy ways. Retraining your brain to not turn to a substance when things aren’t working. Learning to feel everything has been a struggle.
Another struggle is waiting on responses from potential customers. I created my own opportunities through farmers markets because it’s the faster way to start selling and get your name out there. But the lucrative opportunities take time. Sometimes you’re waiting on others to give you an opportunity and that’s hard.
Isolation can be another challenge. Running a business can get lonely because it’s not a 9-5 job. The clock doesn’t stop. By the time I’m done with what I need to do, I’m physically exhausted and end up declining a social life because my energy is very low. My business comes first because that’s what pays the bills. It’ can be scary when your eggs are only in a couple baskets but That’s what happens when you start to grow. But you never want to stay there. You never want to have all your eggs in one or two baskets. But in the beginning that’s what you have.
As you know, we’re big fans of Liv’s Gourmet Pickles . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
A portion of my proceeds goes to a new charity every year. That’s my way of giving back. My tagline is Makin pickles that matter. They matter because they saved me and I give back to the community through my profits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livsgourmetpickles.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livs_gourmetpickles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Livsgourmetpickles/
Image Credits
Liv sain
Fred Lopez
