Mikaila Ulmer is an 18-year-old entrepreneur who founded the brand “Me & the Bees Lemonade”. She was born in 2004 and started her company in 2009, by selling lemonade outside of her house with a recipe from her great grandmother using local honey. She started bottling her products when a local pizza shop asked that she sell her lemonade in their shop. Another important aspect of her company is that she gives 10% of her profits to charities that help in saving bees. She received major publicity as well as a $60,000 investment and help with her business from Damon John when she appeared on the television show, Shark Tank. That same year, Ulmer was invited to meet President Barack Obama and received huge praise and compliments. She then received another large investment of $800,00 by a group of football players. Since 2020, her products have been sold in over 1,500 stores throughout the nation, and she has even expanded to selling a new product, which is lip balm made from beeswax.
Ulmer’s story is inspiring, because she started doing something that she loved because of her family, which then turned into a nationally well-known brand. It is amazing when companies give back to the organizations and causes that they are passionate about, and this is what Ulmer does by giving back some of her products in an attempt to help save bees that are in danger. With a little bit of help, anyone can build and expand their brand successfully no matter what age. A simple and well-made product is all that is needed to make it in the business world.
On top of having really good lemonade, I love that 10% of profits are put forward to charities to help save the Bees. She did something that she loved because of her family then helped raise money for charities and is now nationally known for her buisness.
This was a very well written post. Ulmer’s story just goes to show that you can ultimately become very successful by simply doing what you love. Another aspect that you love to see in this business is her use of local honey and implementation of %10 of profits going to charities to help save bees. This makes a connection to the customer that shows that she really goes the extra mile and loves what she does.
I enjoyed your post. I love hearing stories about family recipes being passed down and used to create something lasting. I can also get behind real authentic support of local business.