Daily Inspiration: Meet Steven Swartz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Swartz.

Hi Steven, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a Cincinnati native. Having attended Lakota East High School and then attended College at Colorado State University. While pursuing degrees in Graphic Design and Business, I was a track athlete and team captain. It taught me dedication, perseverance and leadership skills.

Post graduation i travelled, moved to a couple cities for a year or less at a time and gained so much life experience. I did a Design co-op with a Building Company, an internship for a Radio/podcast station/Review website and even B2B office supply sales. I soon found myself surrounded by things i didnt enjoy and with my Father’s influence, looked into entrepreneurship options.

Eventually landing back in Cincinnati (2009) I went to Hondros college to get my real estate license. While i waited to begin, i met Molly Wellman and took interest in her art of cocktails at Japps Since 1879. After a few trips in and conversation with regulars, Molly asked if I wanted to learn more and join the team. It was just the joy i had needed in my life at that time, and I am forever grateful to have had the experience. I learned directly from Molly. Memorizing a dozen drinks weekly and a story and/or history to accompany each. These details helped make a connection to the customer and formed ‘the’ first Impression. The conversation and connections with regulars & out-of-towners alike came natural and became an environment i thrived in. My 3-4 years there taught me that hospitality was not just a service, but an experience. An experience in which detail and nuance matter. I soon partnered with two other bartenders i met from OTR who shared my passion for customer experience & proper cocktail. Imbibe Cincinnati was born (2012)

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It uas been a journey but definitely has had some hurdles. I remember our first year in 2012, we had only booked a few small ( 50-100) person weddings and we got a referral and inquiry from Dan Gilbert. We didnt think anything of it until we had just agreed and said ‘yes, yes, yes we can accomate your needs!’ Then we realized this was Dan Gilbert of Quicken Loans/ Cavaliers… It got real very fast.

We didnt enough supplies. We didnt have containers to tote the supplies, dollys to move it, insurance properly in place for this scale or even vehicles to transport it all. We pressed forward with just a $10k credit card and determination. We ended up servicing 4 bus loads of guests, over 350 with full bar with craft cocktails, homemade syrups and fresh pressed juices. We had all the confidence in the world. It was that confidence and a underlying feeling that this was our shot to get the word out about us that got us through.

We got great reviews, so many satisfied/ impressed customers and that feeling that came with it was accomplishment & pride. Never mind the debt we accrued to make it happen but now we were in it and we had a business.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Our main objective is to make memorable experiences for our clients via beverage services executed to the highest level of detail. Custom craft cocktails, Bourbon tastings, cocktail education classes, and knowledgeable friendly staff who are here do all we can to make your experience one you can talk about for years to come.

We are set apart by a number of characteristics; Attention to detail, creativity, and going above and beyond ‘beverage service’. We note detail, nuance and special requests for guests, relatives and clients to make certain that preferences are heard and carried out. We take pride in being experts in our field. We are always happy to give advice and our opinions on the best solutions for everyone’s perfect scenario.

We are also known for our extensive classic cocktail knowledge and creativity. I have won & placed in many cocktail competitions over the years. From Milwaukee’s Woodford Reserve Manhattan competition, Bombay Sapphires Most Innovative Bartender and Jack Daniels Bourbon & BBQ, I bring curiosity & whimsy to life in the form of a drink.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I would love to expand my knowledge via more books and Podcasts,but kost of the resources and learning comes from real world experiences. We are very diverse in our services and types of functions. Kids birthdays, Quincieras, Corporate Banquets and Weddings all have their own pain points, but myself and teams have countless years of experience servicing over 1000 events since 2012.

Pricing:

• Single Bartender fee for 4 hours of service time and at least 90 minutes setup is $300. *Excluding holidays. Each additional hour of service is $50.
• Each additional bartender for the same 4 hours is $250. Each additional hour of service is $50.
• Service packages start as low as $4.50 per guest up to $35 per for a Full Service Custom experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imbibebarstaffing.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14NQ5EecxN8/