Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Dotson.
Hi Vincent, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Everything for me with Luv Mylk started during covid. I had been laid off from a job right before which gave me time to work on myself. I felt as if I had no direction in life and was kind of on an autopilot which wasn’t fulfilling. I decided to spend the time to focus solely on improving myself, from reading (self-help books), working inwardly (meditating, journaling, gym/boxing), and watching documentaries to learn new information. It really helped me begin anew. One day, I found myself watching one on Netflix called the Game Changers. It showed the lives of athletes who were plant-based, made comparisons of making the switch vs. their regular diet, and the history of humans having a plant-based diet. For me that really opened my eyes on going on my own plant-based journey, it felt like it aligned with what I had been spending months working on. In that journey, it allowed me to experiment in the kitchen with new foods, and with my love for being in the kitchen, it made it enjoyable. During that time, I was looking for a good milk substitute. Being raised on milk it was something that I drank pretty much every day. I had been just buying store-bought non-dairy milk but kept running into a lot of DIY homemade milks online, which led me to finding out about hemp milk. Being a fan on hemp and marijuana lol I figured to try it out. So, in April of 2021, I started working on my own recipes, once I got confident enough in the taste, I had some close friends try to see what they thought. They all really loved it. I’ve had a passion as a kid to build something of my own and I thought maybe it could be this. Over the course of the summer, I worked more on the recipe, got some information on what it would take to start a business in the food & beverage industry, got connected with graphic designer by my friend Josh, and got on the grind. Slowly but surely, I watched Luv Mylk come to life. In the fall, that same friend helped me get into a Local Festival here to basically give out samples to see if people would be interested. There was some few hiccups prior to the festival starting like my tent complete blowing away, breaking my display bottles and set up but was able to overcome it. With giving the samples out, I ended up receiving a lot of positive feedback and even made some great connections (Business mentor and new like-minded friends) which gave me my answer to keep going. Soon after my childhood friend Austin and I began working on the website for the next couple of months while I continued to figure the ins and outs of running a business (permits, licensing, where to sell, marketing, business plan) There was definitely some setbacks of which allowed me to gain newfound patience, but also understanding that things will happen as they should. In the midst of this I had found out that I was going to be a first-time father. That brought in a lot of emotion and thinking, I had envisioned having a child just not at the same time I would be starting a business. It caused me to second guess if I should even start this and instead work for corporate America. I spent a lot of time with myself, and the signs kept pointing back to moving forward with this dream, Luv Mylk. So, while preparing to be a father, I spent the rest of my time working on Luv Mylk. In February/March of 2022 is when I launched. I made a post on IG to my friends and newfound supporters of Luv Mylk from my sampling event to let them know Luv Mylk is live and available. I soon started at the North Park Farmers Market every Thursday, giving samples out and making some sells. While researching to find where my audience would be out of the Farmers Market, it let me to Vegan events. Then began to attend the Vegan Food Pop Up events that would take place on Saturdays. I got into a new groove and met other like-minded individuals who became great friends now and just encouraged me to keep going no matter what. Then the birth of my daughter, Emani, came in May. Which shook my life upside down lol in great way though. It felt as though I had 2 Babies now. While being a full-time dad and full-time business owner, I never lost faith of what I’m setting out to accomplish. Spent the first month of just surviving being a new parent, while still tending to my business duties because it’s like they say you give up a 9-to-5 to work 24/7 which is extremely true, but I wasn’t shy of hard work. As well as being extremely grateful for the mother of my child an taking care of our daughter when I had to prepare for and go to my markets just until she began to work in the fall. Going into the summer each month has been different while adjusting to my new life. I added a new flavor, horchata, which has been a hit. Also been extremely grateful for other events/markets to hear about me and reach out to be a part of what they have. As well as the other people connections I’ve made and them believing in me and helping me in any way they can to get where I’m headed has been a blessing. Of course, it’s not all roses and sunshine, running on low sleep, not necessarily bringing in the online traction I projected, the constant learning from mistakes, the growing pains of running a business. It takes a toll but taking the time to self and just remembering on why I’m doing it gets me right back going as well as looking at my child and her being able to see me accomplish my dreams and give her inspiration to do the same. It leads up to now, I’m currently doing North Park, Chula Vista, Little Italy, and Vegan Food Pop-ups events, as well as delivering to online orders on Fridays. It’s a constant adjustment, but at the end of the day, I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. When building a business, any business, you envision it to go a certain way. It does not definitely go as you want. Facing struggles getting the right permits and licenses, as well as incurring cost you didn’t expect or plan for. I think one of my biggest struggles is just not getting the online orders I thought, so trying to figure how to change that or where I could drive in more business elsewhere from another direction. Just wearing different hats, one day I am a salesman, the marketer, the accountant. I’m forced to learn a lot, and most of it is on the go which can be overwhelming. It requires a lot of organization which I’m not afraid to say I’m still improving on. Long as I am improving is all that matters. Also being a new father, co-parenting, and adjusting to it all. I’m around my daughter just about every day and wouldn’t have it any other way but I had to/still learn how to get work done with her if she’s strapped to my chest, doing tummy time or when she’s sleeping. I even bring her with me when I go to coffee shops to try to get my mylk in there. Every day is a new day with her, but I love that she gets to see me build something I am passionate about. Another thing is finding time to self or more so remembering to prioritize me. I love working on Luv Mylk but at times I would forget to check in on myself and making sure I’m getting the rest I need so I don’t burn out. It’s something I’m still battling now, but long as I’m mindful of that and intentional with getting myself that time I should be fine.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Luv Mylk?
Luv mylk is a non-dairy hemp seed-based milk. It’s all natural, environmentally friendly, and extremely nutritious with one benefit of being a complete protein. Access to healthy living and environments is tantamount. Our motto strives to encapsulate that. Luv Mylk nourishes the body and offers a better, more sustainable vision for our futures. Saving the planet one Mylk at a time. I am the sole owner and operator of Luv Mylk. I think what sets me apart of others outside of my determination is my what I want to accomplish with Luv Mylk. I want to help people change how they see hemp, help people change their lives with what they put in their bodies while making it sustainable and affordable. That why it’s called Luv Mylk, I want to spread love. Loving ourselves, our environment, and the animals. I want to impact people’s lives in a positive way and not just with us adults but even with kids and babies, with Luv Mylk being child-friendly, they are our future. I’m honestly most proud of Luv Mylk in itself and how well it came together, though I wouldn’t have gotten here without the help of the ones close to me. I want the readers to know you can find me certain markets or events, North Park Farmers Market, Chula Vista Market, Little Italy Market, Vegan Food Popup, SD Kollective events. You can also order online; I deliver every Friday. That I’m extremely grateful and appreciate all the luv, support, and feedback from anyone I’ve met while being on this journey
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Yes, I’ve taken risks. I would say I am a risk-taker, but I see it as calculated risk. Weighing out the pros and cons to help make a decision. At the same time, there are things that can go unexpected that shifts it to be even greater, but I believe you can’t get what you want out of life without taking some risk. Being from St. Louis, Missouri, and wanting to live in California without ever being here. Having no family out here, no friends, I knew it was a risk. I didn’t know what to expect with going to school here or how my life would unfold but I felt that this was the best option for me. So, I think long as you weigh out the pros and cons and understand the risk you are going to take then why not. I’ve lived parts of my life with regret on not taking certain risk, which I think about sometimes. But I don’t know, I feel as if there’s an inner or intuition that you can’t describe that just tells you to go for something and when it’s something that can bring you inner happiness it makes it more worth wild. Starting Luv Mylk is the biggest risk I’ve taken yet, especially when becoming a first-time dad which sometimes I honestly get worried cause I don’t know what come out of it, but it always falls back on feeling fulfilled innately and happy which I why I continue to move forward.
Pricing:
- Unflavored Hemp Milk 16oz – $9 / 32oz – $17
- Vanilla Hemp Milk 16oz – $9 / 32oz – $17
- Choc. Hemp Milk 16oz – $10 / 32oz – $18
- Strawberry Hemp Milk 16oz – $10 / 32oz – $18
- Horchata Hemp Milk 16zo – $10 / 32oz – $18
Contact Info:
- Website: luvmylk.com
- Instagram: @LuvMylkSandiego
- Twitter: @LuvMylk
Image Credits
Alicia Tsai
