Alex Klempf | Founder + Owner, SipC
In 2019, Alex had an epiphany: cannabis and wine are like long lost best friends and totally need to be brought together. Shortly after, she launched SipC’s first product: SipCozy, an alcohol-removed wine infused with high-quality broad-spectrum hemp extract. Now leading a growing team and established brand with several additional launches under its belt, SipC offers products with the same great taste of wine, but without the negative effects of alcohol. Alex created SipC to embody the coziest of feelings and provide a sense of safety and comfort. Through her product line, she’s trailblazing a much-needed path in the Jacksonville, FL community, and the low-alcohol industry at-large.
The Basics:
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Current city: Jacksonville, FL
Alma mater: University of Colorado at Boulder; University of Massachusetts at Boston
Degree: B.A. & Master’s in English Literature
Very first job: At age 16, I dressed up as a mascot for grocery store openings and local baseball games
Hustle: Founder + Owner, SipC
The Interests:
Babe(s) you admire and why?
Stephanie Summerson Hall, founder of Estelle Colored Glass & Ruth’s House. I think Stephanie has done such an amazing job building and starting companies that all complement each other. The backstory to Estelle’s glassware is so beautiful, and pays tribute to another influential woman. I love seeing women who start a business out of a place in their heart, because you genuinely feel that they enjoy what they do every day.
Also Emily Weiss, founder & CEO of Glossier. I’ve always admired Emily’s story about how she turned a blog into a brand. It isn’t that simple obviously, but the determination and the evolution of Glossier has been a fun one to watch over the years.
What’s the last book that inspired you?
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb. I thought this book did an amazing job humanizing and normalizing psychotherapy. Lori did a great job exploring the therapist and patient dynamic, even as she seeks therapy herself. I think people are hesitant to share their lives and open up to a stranger, and there was something so remarkable about reading it from a therapist’s perspective who is also going through a life crisis. Also, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. This book was so wonderful to read and really explored how decisions we make in the present can impact future generations. I’m not going to give anything away, but it was definitely one of my favorites this year!
One woman you’d love to share some SipC with?
Martha Stewart!
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
I started SipC in 2019 with the launch of SipCozy, a CBD-infused, alcohol-removed rosé. Our mission is to create a low-alcohol wine that anyone can enjoy without the negative effects of alcohol. We launched our alcohol-removed wine, SipClean, in October of 2020. We recently sold out of that production and released a new rosé vintage and white blend. I like to think of myself as a “catch-all.” When you run your own company, you need to be able to do everyone’s job so you can train them correctly and step in if things go sideways. I do everything from coordinating production schedules, hiring consultants, fulfillment, accounting, procurement of raw materials, blog writing, etc. The list goes on.
Would you mind giving an overview on each of your products and how they came to be?
SipCozy is an alcohol-removed rosé that’s been dealcoholized and infused with 40mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract—offering a cozy state of mind without the morning hangover. SipClean is all about creating high-quality, real wine experiences—sans alcohol. SipClean is an alcohol-removed wine made with real grapes from California and Washington. We currently offer a 2020 rosé and a 2020 white blend.
Have you always had an entrepreneurial spirit? Where do you think it stems from?
Yes. I think it stems from my father, who is always keeping himself busy with some sort of side business. I think watching him take risks and work on projects that he’s passionate about helped motivate me to create a business I would genuinely enjoy doing every day.
What was the inspiration behind SipC?
I was inspired to create SipC for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, I saw the opportunity in the market. When we launched, there were little-to-no low-alcohol wine options. Once I vetted out the opportunity, it really began to take shape and become more meaningful. My mom struggled with alcoholism, and I think seeing that impact on my family was definitely something that motivated me (full disclosure: not everyone who is sober should drink low-alcohol wines, as it can be a trigger). Our drinking culture is so toxic sometimes. If a woman decides to skip a drink during a corporate happy hour, the immediate knee-jerk thought is, “She must be pregnant” or “She has a problem.” Why can’t the thought be, “Wow, she is taking care of herself today”? I hope that as my brand continues to grow, I can help someone who’s trying to put their own health and wellness needs first.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
Nothing from my academic life really prepared me for this line of work. Working with my dad exposed me to a lot of different industries that helped me learn how to start a business. I’ve done everything from learning how a grease trap system works, to grant writing, to running a small vacation rental property company. I think real-life experience and having to learn how to figure things out for yourself prepares you. I’ve made a ton of mistakes along the way, but I’ve also learned how to get things done and move a project along.
How would you describe the flavor profiles of your newest wines? What can we expect from the new White Blend 2020, as well as the Rosé 2020?
Rosé 2020 contains Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Washington. It’s the perfect balance between sweet and dry, offering notes of red fruits, like strawberries and Rainier cherries. SipClean’s 2020 White Blend is made with French Colombard grapes from California. This light-bodied, slightly effervescent wine offers notes of sweet melon and peach with floral on the finish, making it perfect for every occasion.
How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?
Being a woman has definitely impacted my professional experiences. I found it interesting that when I worked with my dad, people wouldn’t do what I said or move forward with certain things without getting an answer from him. It was almost as if my word and decision didn’t mean much without getting an OK from a male. When I started my own company, I made it a point to hire and work with women as much as possible. I think, collectively, we can support and empower women by paying them fair wages and not making salary/compensation a sticky subject. Nothing feels worse than feeling like you aren’t being compensated fairly. I also think supporting female-owned businesses is huge; that’s what keeps us going!
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career so far?
Starting a company that creates products that can actually help people lead a healthier life. I get emails all the time from customers who tell me how my products made a difference in their lives. That feels good, and is worth all the hard work.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
There are so many female founders in the low-alcohol field. Melanie Masarin, founder of Ghia, has done an incredible job growing her brand. Our winemaker, Meredith Leahy, is absolutely brilliant at what she does and I’m constantly in awe of how hard she works and the knowledge she brings to the table when we’re creating a product.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
There is never a good time to quit a job, start a business, end a relationship, move, etc. Do not waste a moment of your life waiting for the “right time” to make a move. I think a lot of people make excuses and use timing as a reason to not pursue their dream. There is never a perfect time to change your life, but you don’t want to wake up and realize you’ve been wasting time.
Everyone is replaceable at a company. There are times in my life where I’ve kept a toxic person around because I was scared nobody could do their job or I wouldn’t find someone else. Turns out, more times than others, the longer I kept a person around out of fear, the worse the situation got. Your company will survive and get stronger—even if it’s rocky for a while.
Don’t let anyone pressure you to make a decision or give them an answer on a time schedule that isn’t your own. I’m constantly asked to make quick decisions and sometimes it’s more important to say, “I need a couple of days to think on it,” than to make a decision that you didn’t give more thought to.
In partnership with: SipC
Established in 2019, SipC believes in creating beverages for women at any stage of their lives. Made with the latest technology and high-quality ingredients, alcohol-removed wines offer a healthier choice for the wellness-minded. With a broad selection of varietals, women can enjoy the same great taste of wine without the negative effects of alcohol. Female-driven and owned, SipC aims to help women feel good about consuming an adult beverage: one with less calories, less sugar, and zero hangovers.
Learn more about SipC here.
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