From Football Players to ENTREPRENUERS
An Interview with the Founders of SIPTALE
Can you share a bit about your individual backgrounds and how they've influenced your journey as entrepreneurs?
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The business that we have created is a culmination of each of our unique experiences. My brother and I (Paul and Bryce Perkins) were both born and raised in Arizona and attended Chandler High School where we both played and became standout football players. We also competed and excelled in track and field (4x4 relays, 200 and 400 hurdles).
Eventually, we parted from the state of Arizona to go our separate ways. Paul moved to California to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I began my collegiate journey at Arizona State University for a short stint, and eventually made my way to The University of Virginia (UVA).
One thing that connects us is our love for football. We would be remiss if we did not include the huge impact that the sport has had on our journey as entrepreneurs. Each of us (the founders of SipTale) received a full-ride scholarship to our respective schools. Paul and I were able to go to the NFL and continue to play the game that we love. Paul was a running back for the New York Giants, Lions, and Colts, while I became the first Chandler High School football player ever to win a Super Bowl with the LA Rams in 2022.
Football is the ultimate team sport and helps to build character. We are conditioned to believe that you are only as good as the sum of all parts, and the hard work that you put in will usually result in a positive outcome. For example, if one person is not a team player, is not blocking, or is running the wrong route, it could be a recipe for either a bad play or potentially a bad season. Like football, we love working with each other, and we are extremely determined to see SipTale take off. Therefore, we work very hard to ensure the success of our business.
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What specific skills or experiences from your past do you find most valuable in your current roles within the beverage industry?
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Kind of what we mentioned earlier; football has taught us so much and has helped develop us into a group of determined and committed guys with very strong work ethics, so no matter how difficult something may be, we put all of our energy to ensure a positive outcome.
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The interesting thing about football is that usually the coaches will give you plays to execute, however, on our journey there are no coaches telling us where to go or what plays to run. This is where our work ethic comes into play. We must take it upon ourselves to find the correct answers while also doing a little learning as we move forward. We do so much behind the scenes for the brand that people will never see, but that’s ok – we work hard so we can play hard.
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Were there any significant moments or lessons from your personal or professional history that directly contributed to the creation of SipTale?
It's interesting, because getting into the beverage industry was never on our radar until I met an owner of a local beverage company. From there, I was inspired to create and collaborate with my brother to create a new and innovating drink that would stand alone from the notoriety of the owners. .
Entrepreneurship often involves taking risks. Can you recall a moment where you took a significant risk, and how it shaped your approach to business?
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I took a huge risk when I both left the school that originally offered me my football scholarship, but the possible outcome outweighed the risk. I know was extremely blessed, and that God watches over us, so we always feel that whatever we do, no matter how big the risk, we will be okay and eventually excel.
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Often times, risk is associated with the unknown, and that’s understandable. But once you are able to conquer the fear of not knowing what’s next and being okay with the journey and trusting in God, the unknown starts to get a little less scary. I went on to start at UVA and led the team to a conference championship and an Orange Bowl appearance. On the other side of pain is success – something our football coaches would say.
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I went on to start at UVA and led the team to a conference championship and an Orange Bowl appearance. On the other side of pain is success – something our football coaches would say.
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Balancing personal and professional life can be challenging for entrepreneurs. How do you manage this balance, and do you find any aspects of your personal life influencing your business decisions?
We're a young, energetic group who enjoys going out and having fun. We pride ourselves in being a fashion-forward brand that enjoys being the center of attention, however, when there is work to be done, it gets our full attention.
To a certain extent, the brand and our lives are interchangeable and at this point. It's hard to tell when we are working or just having fun. I guess that’s the cool thing about our brand, we can be our authentic selves and have a product model that. "The brand is built off our lifestyle"
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Can you share a bit about your upbringing or cultural background and how it has influenced your approach to business and the creation of SipTale?
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While the brand promotes “main character” energy, it also promotes camaraderie amongst family, friends, and sometimes strangers. SipTale is a drink that can be enjoyed alone but is so much better when you share it with others. The memories that you share and the stories that you tell build an everlasting bond.
That's how we grew up. Our family is extremely loving and supportive in everything that we do, which has greatly influenced the way we conduct business and how we communicate with each other. Family means everything to us, and having their love and support gives us the confidence to know that we can achieve anything that we set our minds to.
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What sets SipTale apart?
SipTale is the smooth, reimagined twist of your favorite cocktail. Crafted with the flavor of cognac, it serves an avant-garde experience and elevates everyday moments. While traditionally this refined spirit gets sipped straight from a glass, this is cognac redefined.
SipTale brings the luxury of cognac to a premium cocktail at 7% alcohol and is very satiable. Mixing up a new take on classics with an added depth of flavor, each of our cocktails tells its own story.
This magazine is also about impact. Do you have any social, community or sustainability efforts that you would like to highlight?
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As a new company, we have not yet ventured into community relations. However, each of us is a dedicated philanthropist with a big heart for giving back in our personal lives.
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