Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Caplanis.
Diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer at 26, Leah chose to heal holistically. When she couldn’t find an alcoholic drink that aligned with her new diet and lifestyle, she decided to create it with the help of expert brewmaster Ray Klimovitz – a 50-year veteran who co-founded Izze Sparkling Soda – and SOCIAL Enjoyments was born!
Launched in 2014, SOCIAL is a delicious organic, low-calorie (only 88 per serving!), gluten-free sparkling sake wine. It is the first alcoholic beverage EVER to include full nutritional content on its label. Now, SOCIAL is available in 45 states.
While SOCIAL offers a lower calorie, refreshing drink alternative, the brand also encourages people to live healthy, have fun and make the world a better place. SOCIAL gives 1% of proceeds back to charities and Leah’s mission is to empower people to enjoy the fun, social aspects of drinking alcohol while still pursuing their health and wellness goals.
Prior to launching SOCIAL, Leah worked for Nestle USA for eight years in sales & marketing. She received her MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. More information on SOCIAL can be found at their website.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For the most part, it has been a pretty smooth road. However, our biggest issue is inventory management. It’s actually a good problem to have. There have been a few times where we have been out of stock, especially after our appearance on Billion Dollar Buyer. Due to our rise in popularity, we have been learning how to manage a higher demand for our product. Sometimes, we do not want to order too much of a particular due to uncertainty about how it will sell in the store. The biggest struggle for us right now is learning how to properly gauge the amount of product we are going to sell.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Social Sparkling Wine story. Tell us more about the business.
We pride ourselves on being 88 calories, gluten-free, and sulfate free. What sets us apart is that we are the cleanest alcohol available on the market. As a company, we are so proud of how much we have grown in just a short period of time. We are now available in 5 flavors, hibiscus cucumber, pink grapefruit ginger, toasted coconut almond, and, elderflower apple. Each flavor is unique and pairs well with a variety of foods.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The most important characteristic of success is to remain optimistic. When starting your own company there can be a lot of ups and downs that will sometimes make you feel like you will never succeed. It is important to remain optimistic at all times, especially when you are so passionate about the product. Social is the cleanest alcohol available on the market and can be enjoyed by anyone guilt free. Remembering why I created this product in the first place helps me remain optimistic even on the toughest days in the office.
Pricing:
- 4-pack all flavors $9.99
- 8-pack variety case $19.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 333 W North Ave #380
Chicago, IL 60610 - Website: www.socialsparklingwine.com
- Phone: (312) 550-2000
- Email: media@socialsparklingwine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialsparklingwine/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOCIALsparklingwine/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SOCIALsparkling
Image Credit:
Various Social Media Interns
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
