Melissa Zeman - Owner, BottlesUp!
A blend of good drinks (see: Champagne), great fun and genuine connection form the recipe behind Melissa’s kickass gig: BottlesUp!, a Chicago-based bottle shop and community haven. In addition to handling all business operations from inventory to accounting to marketing and beyond, Melissa’s core belief in “retail-tainment” and love of human interaction are the driving forces behind the immense thought and effort she puts into cultivating the BottlesUp! environment.
The Basics:
Hometown: Riverside, IL
Current city: Chicago, IL
Alma mater: Trinity University (San Antonio, TX)
Degree: B.A., Communication
Very first job: An ice cream shop freshman year of high school
Hustle: Owner, BottlesUp!
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
My gut reaction is RBG because she did the gosh darn work to make things happen. See also: Billie Jean King. Since I was young, however, I’ve always admired “the female athlete.” Yes, this is a general term that can be applied to so many babes, but think about what it means: She trains, she fights, she hustles when no one’s looking, she falls down, she gets up, she falls down again, she gets up again, she trains harder, she cheers on her teammates, she gets stronger, she becomes resilient, she knows she deserves to be in the game. The kicker is these qualities/actions transcend athletics. Women deserve to be in any game (i.e. profession), and I admire all babes who just do the work necessary to make shit happen.
Favorite way to start (or end) your weekend?
Weekends blur with weekdays in this industry (and I guess for everyone right now), but Champagne to start and Champagne to finish.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
In the bar car on a train in Europe after just leaving one incredible destination, eagerly anticipating arriving at the next. I fiercely miss exploring different countries. So much so, it hurts.
What albums do you have on repeat right now?
Spotify’s Discover Weekly “album” is my fave because it resets every Monday and introduces me to new jams. Though I just re-listened to the Garden State soundtrack and the nostalgia is very real.
What would you eat for your very last meal?
Champagne.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle.
BottlesUp! is a bottle shop and experience, and the “experience” always has been and always will be the most important part. Selling well-made bottles of alcohol (and some N-A gems too) is only the tip of the iceberg. I believe in “retail-tainment,” which means creating, collaborating, educating, having fun, and most importantly, connecting. So while I do the inventory, tasting, ordering, event-planning/executing, marketing, merchandising, and budgeting, any customer who contacts me or walks through the door becomes my priority. I constantly work to create an experience with that human in mind. So I guess when you boil it way down, my daily job is to make people happy. Not a bad gig.
How have your job, roles and industry differed from what they looked like before the pandemic?
Well, the creativity and caffeine (and Champagne) have increased. My goal in opening the shop was to get people offline and into a physical space, so that had to be completely reversed. We’ve done quite a few virtual events, but the most successful transition has been changing our weekly in-store tastings to Take Home Tastings every Wednesday. They’ve been a surprising source of joy for me (and hopefully for others as well). For the beverage industry as a whole, it’s been incredibly challenging due to restrictions on restaurants and bars, which affects many levels of the industry. My heart and hand goes out to those who have lost their job or business during this time. It’s devastating, and I truly wish I could help more people.
What inspired BottlesUp!? How long did it take to make your vision a reality?
BottlesUp! was inspired by my love of human interaction. I think the beverage industry naturally gravitates toward connectivity—sharing bottles with friends/family, giving bottles as gifts, etc. Heck, even drinking a bottle alone is connecting with yourself! My first job out of college was at a small public relations agency, and it was there I realized that I wanted to connect with the community at a more consistent, real level. Wine—my drink of choice—is a beautiful (and fun!) way of doing exactly that. So in 2009, I intently decided that someday I was going to open my own wine shop. The problem was I had absolutely zero experience. So I applied to part-time jobs at suburban wine shops hoping someone would give me my break. Eventually I was hired in 2010 by a wife/hubby duo (hi Terrie and Brian!) who owned a little-shop/bar-that-could. They took me under their wing, and I became a sponge soaking up any and all opportunities for working and learning. I loved every second of it. Even when mopping the floors. While hungover. I could tell many, MANY stories, and lessons learned, from then to my managerial job after that to now, but it ultimately took ten years of hard work and “spongedom” to make my vision a reality.
Pre-pandemic, what BottlesUp! event(s) did you most enjoy planning?
The BeyoU Ladies’ Nights. We did four of them before everything shut down, and the point was simply to gather women together, learn about each other, celebrate each other, and enjoy some great wines. I have 100+ other ideas for events—Trolleys! Boat parties! Field trips! Run for Rosé 5K!—that I can’t wait to implement when it’s safe to do so.
How do you decide where to source your inventory from? What do you value in the companies you choose to work with?
Chicago has a plethora of distributors/importers who represent another plethora of producers. I gravitate toward working with the smaller-sized folks, but there are so many great people in this biz! Our inventory changes weekly, and from the very beginning I’ve been keen on searching for and carrying minority-owned and/or -made products. Quality is always (obviously) important, but I also tremendously value kindness and honesty.
What would you say has been the most challenging part of being a business owner? What are some of the pros and cons of working independently?
Everything is challenging as a business owner, but that is the biggest pro. It might not be a walk in the park, but you can still enjoy (and love) the park.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
Mopping the floors was a game changer. Seriously though. You have to be willing to do whatever qualifies as “dirty work” for something you truly love. Knowing that and appreciating it early on has helped prepare me for small business ownership. In the game of biz, every day is actually practice, and every experience—big, small, clean, dirty, good, bad—will help you succeed. I’m also very grateful for my background in writing and for the resilient ol’ right brain. Communication and creative thinking is vital. I’ve learned that no matter how much/long you’ve “been around,” the solution to a problem (e.g. hi COVID) is often one you haven’t done or thought of before. Facing each day knowing you are fully equipped to handle what comes your way simply by using your head is quite calming. It took numerous chaotic days for me to come to this realization, by the way. And a lot of Champagne.
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 is POWERFUL. I know there are doors/ceilings we’ve faced and continue to face, but I’ve never been one to think those doors are permanently locked or ceilings unbreakable. Being a woman has given me this feral confidence and deep determination. “Speak softly but carry a big stick” resonates strongly here. Speaking of “soft,” I remember a former employer often telling me that I was being emotional. In my head I always thought, “Well, what’s wrong with that?” Emotion is real. Emotion means I care. Emotion encourages connection, which can ignite a community, which can create (and sustain) a business. So if anyone has ever tried to make me feel wrong for being emotional or inferior for being a woman, I simply do not let them. I know better. And someone underestimating or disregarding me or other women has always been such convenient fuel for the fire. As far as supporting and empowering other women in my industry, it’s all very different for everybody right now, so please think about those you know working in the beverage world (restaurants, retail, distribution, supplier, importer...), and reach out to them directly. Tell them you’re there for them, and ask them what they need. If they say nothing, give them Champagne. And then ask again.
In the last year, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your career?
Really listening to my body. Owning a business (or just hustling your ass off) will do a number on your body (ass?) in surprising ways. So take care of it. Prioritize it. Protect it. Because if it’s not properly working, you can’t properly either.
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
Opening this shop. It is my ten-year dream come true. I am proud of it, still in awe of it, and so tremendously grateful for it (and to everyone who has helped me get here). It’s a culmination, but it’s also only the beginning.
Are you involved with any other careers, side projects or organizations?
I’m on the Board of my local Chamber of Commerce (which I encourage every business owner to become involved with), and I’m actually working on a project revolving around moms who work full-time. Those gals...talk about hustle. I’ve been interviewing mothers around the country and gathering advice to eventually publish on a TBD platform. I’d also like to create The BeyoU Ladies’ Foundation to help support and encourage female entrepreneurs in Chicago. This is in the beginning stages, but it is another dream I’m working toward. As far as balancing everything, there’s no real trick…just real hustle (heyo!). Oh, and Champagne.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
Chicago’s beverage industry has an impressive network of genuine, supportive, and uber-talented women. Too many to name (and thank). That said it’d be a disservice not to shout out my aforementioned first boss, Terrie Walker, who gave me my break into this field. She was kind through and through, and I will never forget how that kindness changed my life. (Fun fact: I was on the phone with her when I signed the lease for the BottlesUp! space.) Outside of Chicago and from a retailer-perspective, I’ve had a girl crush on the owner of Domaine LA out in California for a while now. Never met her, just creeped then followed on Insta as one does. She’s been in business 10+ years (#goals) and seems to properly balance selling seriously great products, sharing important messages, and being quite silly. She just seems...real. And anyone being real is always inspiring.
How do you rest, recharge and find inspiration?
Champagne. Music. More Champagne. Travel (*sigh*). Walking around TJMaxx and Homegoods reading those corny inspirational signs (not kidding). I also play soccer and can’t wait to get back on the pitch when it’s safe to do so.
Career and/or life advice for other babes (both inside and outside of your industry?)
Be the change you want to see in the world. Balance humility with knowing full well you’re gosh darn special. Show kindness to everyone. Work hard. Laugh harder. And at least once a month, have Champagne for breakfast.
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