Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Cartozian.
Hi Craig, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Picking up my story after graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1998. Just like any other college kid trying to figure out his way in the working world, I landed in the real estate space, working for a title company and investing in properties on the side. 20 years later, and having the money to invest, I was presented the opportunity to join the Tequila Mandala team. Along with my brother Kirk Cartozian and Heidi Wilde, we joined forces with Humberto Ibarra, Arturo Lomeli and Joel Garcia Barreto. Tequila Mandala was on the map, but a small fish in a big pond of players in the agave space. We believed in the brand and shifted all our energy into what we believed would become the next big brand. We learned quickly that the hands-on approach is the only plausible way to navigate through the spirits industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
What we now refer to as learning experiences were definitely hairy along the way. Walking into store after store and just happy to get that one owner with a few minutes to listen to your pitch and possibly try our tequila. With everyone that would listen, you had 9 that were anxious just to have you leave their store. Tasting events after tasting events, just to get anyone to try our tequila. Hey, will you guys pour for free at my birthday party?……Sure! Will you do a tasting at a parking lot tailgate for us in the cold with some tequila drinkers there?…..Yeah why not!
We’ve been impressed with Tequila Mandala, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a co-owner of Tequila Mandala, we’re growing rapidly. We check our egos in at the door, knowing that no job is too big and no job is too small. I’m the owner, decision maker and janitor all rolled into one. We quickly embraced the power of social media and are very grateful for the celebrity influences which have helped to catapult our brand. From Jennifer Love Hewitt, Wiz Khalifa, Cub Swanson, Justin Turner, Cedric the Entertainer, and Todd Gurley to name a few. Our brand is unique from the inside and out. We embrace the Mexican culture through our story of art, life, love and family. To date, we’ve partnered with over a dozen Latin artists to deliver our ceramic vessels as individual works of art.
Any big plans?
At this point, we’re strategizing our release into all 50 states within the United States and slowly rolling out into different countries as demand grows. Current advertising partnerships with ESPN and Univision keep us excited for future endeavors and the opportunities to open new doors as they are presented.
Pricing:
- Tequila Mandala Blanco 1L MSRP $84.99
- Tequila Mandala Reposado 1L MSRP $99.99
- Tequila Mandala Anejo 1L MSRP $149.99
- Tequila Mandala Extra Anejo 1L $249.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tequilamandala.com
- Instagram: @tequilamandala
- Facebook: @tequilamandala
- Twitter: @tequilamandala
