Coshocton eighth-grader starts Mini Mixer business
Ashley Bryant started her own business called Mini Mixer. (Submitted)
The COVID-19 pandemic might have forced Ashley Bryant to miss her normal holiday tradition with family, but it also led her to a new business venture after a fun time at home with them.
“Usually, the weekend of Thanksgiving, she and her nanny and her daughter and my oldest go to ‘The Nutcracker,’” said Valeree Bryant, Ashley’s mother. “They’ve done it for 14-plus years. It’s their routine, but because of COVID it was canceled. They still wanted to get together and do something though.”
They started out making bird feeders and then moved on to making drink mixes. It was jokingly suggested Ashley Bryant should start selling the mixes, and she ended up following through with the idea. The 14-year-old Coshocton High School eighth-grader is now the operator of a new business called Mini Mixer.
“I found an old recipe book my nanny had from years and years ago and started looking through the recipes,” Ashley Bryant said. “I thought we could give the mixes out as little gifts.”
Valeree Bryant said Ashley based the mixes off of the recipes but has a secret ingredient. She also has different flavors to change the mixes up.
Ashley Bryant’s current mixes include Peppermint Hot Coco, Original Hot Coco, Peppermint Coffee, French Vanilla Coffee, Caramel Coffee, Hazelnut Coffee and Cinnamon French Toast Coffee.
“My favorite is the original hot chocolate because that’s the one with the special ingredient,” she said.
When the word got out about Ashley Bryant’s business, the orders took off. “I did 50 plus in one day,” she said. “I had to stay organized. It wasn’t what I expected, but it’s been so fun to do.”
Valeree Bryant said to make the process easier, they figured out they could make big containers of the basic coffee and coco mix and add to it.
“We had to figure things like that out along the way,” Valeree Bryant said. “She keeps a binder with her orders, so she knows what day she did what, who ordered and who payed. She also keeps track of her bank statements and deposits. It hasn’t been a big expense so far with using the mini mason jars.”
Ashley Bryant plans to offer different specials throughout the year. “Jan. 31 is National Hot Chocolate Day, so I’m going to do a special on that day and for different holidays like Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day,” she said. “In the summer time, I might try a smoothie mix.”
Valeree Bryant said they also are looking into being able to ship Ashley’s products.
“We’ve had people ask, so we are looking into jars that aren’t breakable,” Valeree Bryant said.
Ashley Bryant has a Facebook page for her business, and they are looking into setting up an email and Instagram or website. For right now, orders can be emailed to Valerie at bryant33@roadrunner.com. One jar of mix is $3, or you can order two for $5. Each jar makes two drinks.
“It’s really fun,” Ashley Bryant said. “I like helping the community and knowing I’m giving them something they will enjoy.”
In addition to homemade drink mix, Ashley Bryant’s customers also get uniquely decorated jars. “I personalize the tags and decorations on the jars,” she said. “Not one is exactly the same. They are all different.”
Category: People & Places
