One of the questions I get asked most is how I decide which products become part of the Craft Cocktail Infusions collection.
The short answer?
Nothing is ever set in stone.
One of the things I enjoy most about owning a creative business is that every product begins as an idea. Sometimes it becomes exactly what I imagined. Other times it evolves into something even better because customers & retailers have a way of teaching you things that inform your next move.
That’s exactly what happened with my newest semi-custom cocktail and mocktail infusion collection.
It Started with Corporate Gift Sets
When I first began creating gift collections, my focus was on beautifully packaged gift sets for corporate clients. They were designed to create an experience- something memorable that people would actually enjoy instead of another promotional item that ended up tucked away in a desk drawer.
The response was wonderful.
But as more businesses reached out, I noticed something.
Not every company needed a large gift set.
Sometimes they wanted something smaller. Something that could be handed out at an event, included in a welcome bag, mailed to clients, or given to employees without additional gift wrapping.
That simple observation sparked a new idea.
A Smaller Gift That Still Feels Special
I wanted to create a product that was ready to give the moment it arrived.
That’s where these new 8 oz. Cocktail & Mocktail Infusions came from.
Each one makes four handcrafted cocktails or mocktails and now includes a gift bag, ribbon, and a semi-custom tag featuring one logo and a short personalized message.
It’s polished without being complicated.
Personal without requiring a completely custom production run.
And elegant enough for everything from employee appreciation gifts to bridal showers and corporate events.
Sometimes the simplest ideas take the longest to figure out.
Bringing Back Customer Favorites
This collection also gave me the opportunity to do something I’d been wanting to do for a while.
Two customer requests kept coming up.
The first was to introduce Lemon & Lavender, a bright, fresh infusion that balances citrus with soft floral notes. It quickly earned its place alongside some of our best-selling flavors.
The second was even easier.
Customers had been asking if the Old Fashioned Infusion would ever be available in the smaller size.
Until now, it wasn’t.
I’m excited that it’s finally part of the collection because it’s one of those classic flavors people reach for year after year.
Along with Rich Sangria and Strawberry Basil Margarita, these four flavors create a collection that’s perfect for every season.
The Part People Don’t Always See
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that product development isn’t just about creating something beautiful.
It’s also about creating something sustainable.
Several years ago, I offered this smaller size as a wholesale product. Over time, however, the costs of producing, packaging, and preparing that item continued to change.
Rather than keep it in my wholesale collection and slowly reduce its value- or worse, sell it at a loss – I chose a different path.
I stepped back and reevaluated the product. and tried to find a way to make it better.
That’s when I decided to transform it into a semi-custom retail and corporate gifting option instead.
Now it includes the presentation I’d always envisioned: a gift bag, ribbon, and personalized tag that make it ready to gift the moment it arrives.
Sometimes the best business decision isn’t adding another product.
Sometimes it’s refining an existing one until it truly reflects your vision.
Creativity Is Always Evolving
I think people sometimes imagine that creative businesses work from a perfectly mapped-out plan.
In reality, it’s much more fluid than that.
You test ideas.
You listen.
You make adjustments.
You discover what works and what doesn’t
Then you make changes that allow your business to keep growing while staying true to your standards.
That’s not failure, it’s the creative process.
Every product in my collection has taught me something, and every lesson helps shape what comes next.
Honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
After all, the goal has never been to create the most products.
It’s always been to create products that help people slow down, gather together, and enjoy something beautiful- whether they’re thanking a client, celebrating a wedding, recognizing employees, or simply sharing a handcrafted cocktail or mocktail with someone they love.
Cheers! Kim