CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Seven years after social media helped a Charlotte mother grow a business out of her kitchen, her followers are playing a bigger role in the company's future.
Stephanie Rickenbacker was just trying to take care of her family when she started Sweet's Elderberry back in 2016. That's when this story about women helping women got its start.
"My husband was diagnosed with leukemia but it prompted healthy lifestyle changes for me and I learned about elderberry syrup as a way to help keep us healthy," she said.
Elderberry is said to boost your immune system. So Rickenbacker, a mother of two, started making it in her kitchen. She spread the word about her new product in a Facebook group for moms in the Charlotte area. From there, Rickenbacker's business took off and kept growing.
"I did a post in this group thinking a handful of moms would be interested in buying it," she said. "I had 150 people interested. I quickly had to figure out how to make that much and it turned into a business from there."
Armed with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a background in sales and marketing, Rickenbacker moved into a commercial kitchen to handle the surging demand.
"I thought it would be a fun little side gig," she said.
That side hustle landed her product in 270 stores. So far, she's sold more than 200,000 bottles and made more than $3 million in revenue.
"Isn't that wild? It's just wild," Rickenbacker told WCNC Charlotte.
So this year, when Rickenbacker decided she wanted to sell the business, in the hopes of finding something with a slower pace, she went right back to where it all began. Posting about it in the same Facebook group for moms.
"I saw it on the mom group, the same place I started buying years ago," Morgan Smorgala, the company's new owner said. "I looked at my husband and said, 'You're gonna think I'm insane but Sweet's Elderberry is for sale and I think we should buy it.'"
Smorgala had just given birth to her second daughter, but after staying home full-time for four years with her first, she wanted something to feel passionate about professionally. Sweet's Elderberry is exactly what she was looking for.
"I think it's great to show we can still have a job and some flexibility but also be an incredible mom," she said.
Rickenbacker is thrilled to be passing the torch to another mom with the same values.
"It's a huge relief and blessing," she said. "I'm so excited for the future of it."
The new owner promises nothing will change. The ingredients will stay the same, as will the employees, but she is hoping to grow the company.
Contact Michelle at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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