#098 - From TikTok Experiment to Multi-Million Dollar Hemp Marketplace w/ Kimmie Gamez of Soberish

Kim Gomez shares how her TikTok experiment with her mother turned into Soberish, a multi-million dollar online marketplace for hemp-based and non-alcoholic social alternatives without spending on advertising. Her accidental business journey provides insights into serving cannabis-curious consumers who are intimidated by dispensaries but eager to try low-dose products.• Building a marketplace to curate quality hemp products after discovering that half the products brands sent were "garbage"• Creating an education-first approach for customers completely new to cannabis who are nervous about getting too high• Developing the Soberish Sampler Box where 67% of customers return to purchase full-size products• Growing from $1 million in first-year revenue without ads to a projected $7 million this year with paid acquisition• Navigating the complex regulatory landscape across states while maintaining seamless customer experiences• Implementing an API-based dropship model that connects directly with brand inventories for real-time updates• Targeting the untapped demographic of professional women in their 40s looking for alcohol alternatives• Advocating for appropriate dosing (2-4mg) that new consumers actually enjoy versus the 10mg+ products dominating retailFind Kimmy Gomez on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook at Kimmy Gomez, or connect with her on LinkedIn where she shares industry insights and business tips.Have a question for us? Send us a text. We may answer it in the next show!--High Spirits is brought to you by Vertosa and Wolf Meyer.Your hosts are Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein.Follow High Spirits on LinkedIn. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Who would you like to see on the show? What topics would you like to have us cover? Visit our website www.highspiritspod.com and listen to all of our past shows.THANK YOU to our audience. Your engagement encourages us to keep bringing you these thought-provoking conversations. Remember to always stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, keep your spirits high.