Chrishon Lampley
CEO/Negociant, Love Cork Screw
What inspired you to start your business?
Life threw a curve ball and I stepped up to bat. Not to mention, I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit from my father’s influence, and my mother teaching me that I’ll always have to work hard as an African American woman. Being an entrepreneur was meant to be.
What challenges have you faced as a woman entrepreneur and how did you overcome them?
One consistent challenge is being mistaken as the ambassador for the brand and not the owner. It’s hard to be taken seriously in an industry that doesn’t look like me. Another challenge is making sure product remains on the shelves at all locations.
What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Failure is inevitable, but it makes your skin thicker and pushes you harder. You become unstoppable. So in the end, you never fail.
What three traits define you?
Resilient, multi-tasker, personable.
What women inspire you?
My mother and my grandmother who survived racism, but pushed through.
How has being a WBENC-Certified WBE helped your business?
The contacts are incomparable. They’ve led me to the right people. The wine industry is difficult, so the connections are great.
What do you see as the coolest or most important trend in your industry?
Wine is becoming less intimidating and more millennials are enjoying varietals in their own way.
As a business owner, what keeps you up at night?
The desire for my parents to live to see me succeed.
What are the biggest obstacles you see for young female entrepreneurs?
The fast-paced culture discouraging them to stick to their goals/dreams. The instant gratification permits them to give up easily.
What do you love about being a business owner?
The unpredictability of it all. Everyday is something new and exciting to face.
What’s the hardest part about being a business owner?
Lack of financial support.
How do you define success?
Success for me is my parents witnessing Love Cork Screw go national.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
You can’t control the uncontrollable.
What’s your favorite career moment?
The day I received my importer/exporter license after being told it wasn’t possible. And definitely being placed in Target locations.
What’s the best way to start your day?
I start it with cycling. It is a great way to help my blood pressure and let off all the stress from my day to day. After that, I answer as many emails and respond to as many people as possible. Then off to the races! Success one bottle at a time.
What do you like about your workspace?
It screams Love Cork Screw with bright colors but corky and cool. I feel good walking into my office because I know something great is being created. I also walk into my space for inspiration when doing interviews or having great conversations with ladies I mentor.
Fill in the blank:
When I face a challenge, I... look at it dead in the eye and knock it out.
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself... never doubt yourself because you are crazy to do this and amazing at the same time.
The one thing I couldn’t live without is… wine.
By this time next year, I will be… in stores nationwide and flying my parents around the world.
The best thing that happened to me last week was… I woke up, and I am happy every morning I do.
To get my creative juices flowing, I… go visit my parents in Vegas.
Love Cork Screw LCS Entertainment, LLC
As seen on CNBC’s “The Job Interview,” LCS Entertainment, LLC is a wine and lifestyle brand dedicated to offering consumers wine, entertainment, and other products and services. LCS Entertainment, LLC provides consumers a line of Love Cork Screw wine varietals that offer the sophisticated and novice wine enthusiasts a range of choices for any palate. Each sleek wine bottle is colorful, whimsical and fun. LCS Entertainment, LLC is a certified MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) and a WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise).
