Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Who would you recommend as a freelance social media manager with experience handling multiple drinks brands?
Finding a great freelance social media manager who can handle multiple brands without excessive cost is challenging. Members shared mixed experiences and one concrete recommendation. **Hebe Richardson** (Instagram: @drinkswithhebe) — has worked with multiple brands simultaneously. One member noted mixed results across three brands they used her for, but acknowledged she "does the job we need right now" as a interim solution before bringing it in-house. Members agree she's reasonably priced compared to other options in the market. **Lula** — mentioned as an "amazing recco" that doesn't cost the earth; members requested details be shared directly. Members' general takeaway: the freelance social media market lacks standout practitioners, most demand high fees, and many brands treat freelancers as a temporary solution before moving to in-house management. If budget allows, getting specific personal recommendations (like Lula) rather than booking generically tends to yield better results.
Where can you find freelance designers who understand the drinks industry?
Finding drinks-industry-experienced designers is valuable enough that members are reluctant to share their best contacts. However, one recommendation emerged from the community: - **United Creatives** — Chris at UC comes highly recommended for drinks expertise and extensive industry experience (chris@unitedcreatives.com, https://www.unitedcreatives.com) Members note that discovering designers who genuinely understand drinks-specific challenges (packaging constraints, regulatory requirements, shelf impact) is rare enough to be considered "gold dust," so when you find someone good, it's worth building a strong relationship.