Riviera owner and local to the city, Frankie Grasswell is determined to dominate the soft drink industry starting from the city of Nottingham.
The 22 year old, from Newark, started the business to pursue a business venture she pitched in class.
Riviera Ice Tea is a light and refreshing non-carbonated soft drink inspired by a Mediterranean summer.
It is formulated so it can be paired with alcohol and doesn’t leave you bloated after a meal.
She stated that people had laughed at the concept originally and said that it was unrealistic and would never reach the market.
Frankie had her heart set on the idea and worked with liquid manufacturers to bring the product to life.
In July 2021 Riviera launched with two classic flavours, peach and lemon, and has recently released a raspberry and mint ice tea.
Frankie said: “I didn’t know anything going into the process and there was so much to learn.”
Looking back, she would have never thought she be in business conversations negating deals and pitching her brand to stockists.
During her business journey, Frankie had to overcome her fear of failure in order to grow, replacing it as “adding another string to her bow”.
She said: “I used to be more scared of everyone thinking I failed, then actually failing itself.
“I had to get rid of the shame attached to failure because it was holding me back. If my business doesn’t work out, I know that I have done everything in my power to make it work.
“Besides it’s a great story to tell because I literally started the business from nothing. I look at it like adding another skill to my CV and another “string to my bow” because I have worked in every sector of my business.”
Growing up, Frankie had always been shy and reserved when speaking to new people, but with business meetings and events she was forced to get out of her comfort zone.
She said: “What I like to say is even if your shy, fake confidence and be nervous later.
“I used to be really scared attending networking events on my own and speaking to new people.
“The first person I spoke to I remember stumbling over my words, but by the third and fourth person I was able to get my words out and speak clearly. Confidence is something I am working on and even sometimes I still get nervous now.”
Frankie learnt that showing up for yourself is a big part of business and owning your brand, even in the early days.
She said: “I had a mentor who would tell me to own my brand and put my face out there and I absolutely hated it.
“She would encourage me to get pressed in the news and be proud of my brand.”
In the first few months of Riviera, Frankie said: “People would ask me what I did for work, and I would only tell people about my job as a wedding planner and never mention [anything about] Riviera.
“I guess I was too scared that people would judge me for it so I would never tell them.”
At a networking event Frankie attended, she met with a business who taught her a valuable lesson about launching products as a new brand.
It inspired her to implement a business strategy that connects a customer with a product they are familiar with.
“When you are launching a new brand that nobody knows, get rid of any stumbling blocks between you and the customer.
“If you choose an exotic flavour that nobody has ever heard of, you are creating a stumbling block. But if you launch with a flavour that is already popular, they are more likely to go for it.”
Through the journey of launching Riviera, Frankie faced many trials and tribulations, and she is passionate being transparent with her audience.
About many incidents that happened during production, Frankie said: “On the day the drinks were supposed to get canned, I received a call from the manufacturer saying that one their big tanks had set on fire.”
After this, the labelling machine had broken down and Frankie noticed a typo error on the cans whilst she was on holiday doing a photo-shoot.
Frankie said: “I remember calling up my mum hysterically crying on holiday because so many things were going wrong.
“Sometimes I still do feel like the world is against me, which is a bit dramatic but when I do face setbacks, I like to think of it as at least I am taking a step forward”.
After previously working longer, more exhausting hours, Frankie said: “ I used to work nine to five on my business and then six until two am at my full-time job as a deputy manager. I did this six days a week and then on Sunday I would work on Riviera.
“Now, I have created a sustainable work and life balance where I take breaks and have at least one day to do something for me.”
Make sure you keep yourself disciplined and commit to completing your goals but do it in a way that priorities your mental health.
Check out Frankie’s delicious line of drinks on her website, at www.rivieraicedtea.com.