This Mom-Daughter Duo Started a Sparkling Side Hustle That Made $500,000 in Much less Than a Year: ‘Born Out of a Simple Frustration’

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A options mom and daughter Sosy and Grace Hachigian, the co-founders of MODA Mocktails. Grace, 26, relies in New York City, the place she leads MODA’s East Coast enterprise. Sosy, 57, relies in Orange County, California, the place she manages the West Coast. Together, they lead MODA nationally, bringing complementary views and expertise to constructing the model.

What was your day job or main occupation while you began your facet hustle?
Grace: When we began MODA Mocktails, I used to be working full-time as an affiliate model supervisor at Nestlé USA. I spent 4 years at Nestlé engaged on manufacturers together with Coffee mate, Nesquik and Starbucks. That expertise gave me a robust basis in model constructing, client advertising and what it takes to carry a product from an concept to the shelf.

Starting a facet hustle in response to a easy frustration

When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
Sosy: MODA was born in 2025 out of a easy frustration: We couldn’t discover a mocktail that checked all our packing containers. We needed one thing with clear elements, daring taste and an accessible value level. Instead, we discovered merchandise with an excessive amount of added sugar, muted flavors or drinks that tasted extra like glowing water than a cocktail. Considering I by no means loved ingesting alcohol, I needed to create one thing that at the moment wasn’t being supplied. 

What have been a few of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom? How a lot cash/funding did it take to launch?
Grace: From the start, we knew that constructing an amazing product was solely half the equation. We wanted to construct the model by getting MODA into as many arms as attainable. We have personally invested over $500,000, which has gone into product improvement, packaging, advertising, sampling and distribution.

Using assets out there for women-owned companies

Are there any free or paid assets which were particularly useful for you in beginning and operating this enterprise? 
Sosy: MODA grew to become WBENC-certified as a women-owned enterprise after we launched. As a mother-daughter firm, that certification was personally significant to us, however the assets have been equally beneficial. From instructional webinars and unique networking alternatives to retail-focused packages, WBENC has given us entry to a neighborhood and assets which have helped us navigate and develop the enterprise.

If you possibly can return in what you are promoting journey and alter one course of or strategy, what would it not be, and the way do you want you’d executed it otherwise?
Sosy: We needed to maneuver shortly, so our first emblem wasn’t fairly proper. It didn’t totally seize the enjoyable, recent and approachable character of MODA. It additionally wasn’t as legible as we needed it to be. Rather than let that gradual us down, we launched, discovered from the market and tailored the brand down the road because the model developed. It was a very good reminder that your first model doesn’t need to be your remaining model.

Behind the scenes of a rising beverage model

When it involves this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve discovered significantly difficult and/or stunning that individuals who get into one of these work must be ready for, however probably aren’t? 
Grace: One of the largest surprises is how a lot occurs behind the scenes of a beverage model. Creating an amazing product is only the start. You’re concurrently managing manufacturing, logistics, distributors, retailers, advertising, stock and numerous relationships that have to nurtured. The enterprise strikes shortly, so it’s a must to be snug fixing issues in actual time and adapting as you develop.

Can you recall a particular occasion when one thing went very fallacious — how did you repair it?
Grace: We have been transport our first buy order to a retailer’s warehouse when the largest storm of the 12 months hit and froze the product in transit. The complete cargo needed to be returned. This pushed again our on-shelf date and meant we needed to scramble to get a brand new cargo out. We pivoted shortly, expedited the alternative product and labored intently with the retailer to get MODA on shelf. It was worrying, however it taught us to remain calm, be resourceful and deal with the answer. 

Reaching constant income inside six months

How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the facet hustle earn?
Grace: It took us about six months earlier than we began seeing constant income as we constructed our retail and distribution footprint, and the enterprise has continued to realize momentum from there. We’re investing closely in distribution, retail enlargement and model consciousness with the purpose of creating MODA a nationwide model and getting it into as many customers’ arms as attainable. As we’re reinvesting into the enterprise, no earnings have been taken out.

What does progress and income seem like now? 
Sosy: We’ve seen robust retail momentum, getting MODA on shelf at a number of nationwide retail chains inside our first 12 months. We’re additionally increasing past conventional retail, with MODA exhibiting up in airports, motels and elsewhere. We’re targeted on constructing on that momentum. MODA has hit $500,000 in income since launch earlier this 12 months with $3 million to $5 million in income projected for 2027. Our purpose for distribution is to be in 4,000 shops by mid-2027.

Building relationships, creating new alternatives

What does a typical day or week of labor seem like for you?
Grace: Every week is full of one thing new, and no two days look the identical. It’s a full-time job break up throughout occasions, in-store sampling, sending product samples, assembly with consumers, managing companions and dealing intently with our gross sales groups. There’s at all times one thing transferring ahead, whether or not it’s getting MODA into extra arms, constructing relationships, creating new alternatives for the model or planning our subsequent manufacturing run. It’s fast-paced and continually evolving, which is strictly what we love about constructing a enterprise.

What do you get pleasure from most about operating this enterprise?
Sosy: What we get pleasure from most is constructing MODA collectively as a household, brick by brick. We love assembly new folks, listening to their tales and bringing a scrumptious, clear mocktail to market that feels accessible and approachable. We additionally love exhibiting up for communities and causes that matter to us. Being capable of construct one thing we consider in, collectively, makes the journey particularly significant.

What is your finest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Grace: Don’t be afraid to start out, and don’t wait till every thing is ideal. Move shortly, make it exist, then construct, be taught and adapt as you go. You’re by no means going to have each reply on day one. The finest technique to be taught is to get one thing into the world, hear intently and maintain enhancing. 

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A options mom and daughter Sosy and Grace Hachigian, the co-founders of MODA Mocktails. Grace, 26, relies in New York City, the place she leads MODA’s East Coast enterprise. Sosy, 57, relies in Orange County, California, the place she manages the West Coast. Together, they lead MODA nationally, bringing complementary views and expertise to constructing the model.

What was your day job or main occupation while you began your facet hustle?
Grace: When we began MODA Mocktails, I used to be working full-time as an affiliate model supervisor at Nestlé USA. I spent 4 years at Nestlé engaged on manufacturers together with Coffee mate, Nesquik and Starbucks. That expertise gave me a robust basis in model constructing, client advertising and what it takes to carry a product from an concept to the shelf.

Starting a facet hustle in response to a easy frustration

When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
Sosy: MODA was born in 2025 out of a easy frustration: We couldn’t discover a mocktail that checked all our packing containers. We needed one thing with clear elements, daring taste and an accessible value level. Instead, we discovered merchandise with an excessive amount of added sugar, muted flavors or drinks that tasted extra like glowing water than a cocktail. Considering I by no means loved ingesting alcohol, I needed to create one thing that at the moment wasn’t being supplied.