Introduction to the Episode
Host: Rose Hamilton
Guest: Julia Tunstall, Co-Founder and CEO, A Bar Above
This episode of The Story of a Brand Show features Julia Tunstall, Co-founder and CEO of A Bar Above.
Host Rose Hamilton chats with Julia about building a successful brand focused on cocktails and bartending.
Julia shares how she and her husband, Chris, started with bartending education and created a premium barware line.
The conversation highlights practical tips for growing a business, using AI, and balancing work with family life.
Key Highlights
- How A Bar Above Began: Julia and Chris combined their love for cocktails and bartending into a thriving business.
- Chris’s Unique Journey: From a craps dealer in Vegas to a craft bartender and brand co-founder, Chris’s path is inspiring.
- AI’s Role in Their Business: Julia explains how AI simplifies content creation and accelerates product design for bar tools.
- Engaging Communities: A Bar Above actively spotlights bartenders and partners with other brands to expand their reach.
- Balancing Business and Family: Julia involves her kids in small business tasks, blending family time with work.
Quote from Julia
“AI allowed us to replace traditional cocktail photography with faster, creative AI-generated visuals. It saved us hours weekly!”
Why You Should Listen
Julia’s advice can help entrepreneurs, business owners, and cocktail enthusiasts learn actionable strategies for success.
The episode offers insights into AI, community building, and family-work balance.
Sponsors
- Compass Rose Ventures
Expert advisors for CPG brands. Learn more here. - Shopline
A platform for managing sales and boosting marketing.
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This episode provides lessons that are easy to understand and apply.
Transcript for the podcast
Introduction by Rose Hamilton
Hey friends, I’m thrilled to share my latest podcast interview and episode featuring the amazing Julia Tunstall, co-founder and CEO of A Bar Above.
If you love cocktails, entrepreneurship, and innovation, this one’s for you.
Julia and her husband, Chris, started A Bar Above with a passion for craft cocktails and a mission to make high-quality bartending education accessible.
We discuss their journey from creating educational content to launching a premium barware line.
Plus, Julia’s insights into using AI creatively in their workflow are mind-blowing.
I can’t wait for you to hear all about it.
One of my favorite parts, though?
Hearing how Julia balances growing a successful business with family life, involving her kids in fun and meaningful ways.
Her stories about community and partnerships are truly inspiring.
Join us as we explore Julia’s incredible journey and gain practical tips on entrepreneurship and innovation that you can apply to your own adventures.
Trust me, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Listen now and get ready to be inspired!
Main Podcast Content
Rose Hamilton: Welcome, listeners, to the Story of a Brand Show. This is Rose Hamilton, and I am your host for today. I am super excited to introduce Julia Tunstall, the co-founder and CEO of A Bar Above. Julia, welcome to the show!
Julia Tunstall: Hello, thank you so much for having me. I’m very excited to be here and to continue our conversation.
Rose Hamilton: Let’s start with your background. Tell us how you and your husband created A Bar Above. For anyone unfamiliar with your story, can you provide some context?
Julia Tunstall: Absolutely. A Bar Above is a company dedicated to the art of the cocktail. We provide bartending education, create educational content on social media, and offer a premium line of barware – everything from shakers to strainers and mats. It all started with my husband, Chris, a craft bartender passionate about mixology. Back in the 2000s, mentorship in the industry was limited, so he taught himself using books from the 1800s.
In 2013, we moved out of San Francisco, built a bar in our dining room, and launched our YouTube channel. From there, we added digital courses, a podcast, and eventually our own line of barware. Each product is designed with Chris’s expertise, ensuring high quality.
Rose Hamilton: Your story is inspiring, especially how you began with education and built products over time. Speaking of innovation, let’s dive into one of my favorite topics: AI. How has AI influenced your work and your team?
Julia Tunstall: AI has been transformative for us. In 2023, I started experimenting with AI to create visuals for presentations, which quickly evolved into a team-wide initiative. We launched a Slack channel called “Thanks AI,” encouraging team members to share AI-driven projects. This created a playful, open environment that eliminated fear around AI.
For example, we replaced traditional cocktail photography with MidJourney-generated images, saving time and resources. AI also helps us with content creation, brainstorming designs, and streamlining operations.
Rose Hamilton: Your approach to AI is both practical and creative. You’ve also built GPT avatars like “Abe” to represent your target customers. How has that helped?
Julia Tunstall: Creating “Abe” has been a game-changer. Abe represents our ideal customer and is pre-trained with knowledge about our brand and target audience. This allows us to test ideas, refine messaging, and even get advice on product development. It’s like having instant access to customer insights.
Rose Hamilton: Let’s talk about your product development. How has AI influenced this process?
Julia Tunstall: AI has streamlined brainstorming for product designs. For example, when designing mixing glasses, we used AI to generate initial concepts, which we iterated on with our factory. It’s not about replacing humans but enhancing creativity and efficiency.
Rose Hamilton: Community and partnerships seem integral to your brand. Can you share your philosophy on networking and collaboration?
Julia Tunstall: From the start, we’ve prioritized community. Whether it’s spotlighting bartenders on social media or partnering with other brands like A Pup Above, we believe in sharing success. Communities like eCommerceFuel and Slack groups have been invaluable for learning and collaboration.
Rose Hamilton: Balancing a growing business with family life is no small feat. How do you manage it?
Julia Tunstall: We’ve embraced a blended approach. My husband, Chris, is an incredible partner both in business and parenting. Our kids are involved too; they help with small tasks and learn about the business. It’s all about finding a balance that works and course-correcting when needed.
Rose Hamilton: Looking ahead, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee?
Julia Tunstall: The economic landscape is unpredictable, but we’re focusing on offering value across price points. Diversifying our supply chain and expanding globally are key priorities. At the core, staying true to our mission of serving cocktail enthusiasts worldwide will guide us.
Closing Remarks by Rose Hamilton
Thank you, Julia, for sharing your journey, insights, and practical advice. Your story is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the power of community.