Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Yoo.
Hi Miriam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been a lover of wine, spirits and lifestyle goods. I’m a good drinker and a good shopper so combining the two has always been in the cards for me – I just didn’t know it! I practiced law for nine years in the entertainment industry and met many of my lifelong friends along the way. I knew I needed to do something more creative, where I had more control over my future and my day-to-day sanity.
Owning and operating a retail shop has been the most challenging and rewarding endeavor I have ever taken on. The pandemic has really leveled the playing field and forced business owners to think outside the box and dig deep. Never a dull moment!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a small business, there are nothing BUT challenges and obstacles! But I think that’s part of what makes it fun for small business owners. There is always a puzzle to solve and there’s never a dull moment. We had a difficult time getting our alcohol licenses and permits finalized before we could even open for business. The whole process took us about two years from start to finish, which is incredibly harrowing for any small business to float while making no money at all. If you can START a business with all the hurdles that are thrown at you, you can certainly operate a business!
As you know, we’re big fans of Flask & Field. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a small, minority-owned business that specializes in natural wines, craft spirits, and bespoke gift sets. We also have a wine club where 5% goes directly to social justice initiatives and organizations. We love being of service to our clients and customers and helping them find fun products that encourage enjoyment in daily life, not just special occasions. Gifting has become an important way of communicating during the pandemic and we’re happy to be able to help businesses continue the dialogue with their clients and business associates when it’s not easy to get together in person. We offer virtual tasting events, cocktail making kits and beer tasting kits that are fun activities done from home. Our shop is open seven days a week and we offer local and nationwide delivery. We’re just here to share what we love!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I think the pandemic has helped us all realize what is truly important and where we’re spending our time and attention. The most important thing is to take care of your team and make sure they are mentally, emotionally and physically healthy day in and day out. We’re more confident now in who we are and what we offer. We are a new business but we deserve to be here and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I’m proud of the grit and perseverance of the entire team.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@flaskandfield.com
- Website: www.flaskandfield.com
- Instagram: flaskandfield
Image Credits:
Kristin Ess (photo of Miriam Yoo) Miriam Yoo (photo of shop)
