238: How a “No” Pushed Marvina Robinson Into Creating Her Company, B. Stuyvesant Champagne

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marvina Robinson is the founder and CEO of her own boutique brand champagne company, B. Stuyvesant Champagne that was launched in February 2020.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her journey was anything but “ordinary.” She puts it this way: “There was no direct correlation.” With a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Master’s degree in Statistics, and the career path of working in finance on Wall Street for over 20 years, the entrepreneur bug hit her, big time. Prior to Stuyvesant (as it’s affectionately called), Marvina had her own indoor cycling studio, which she later converted into a café. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the landlord of the building the café was hosted in wouldn’t allow her to sell beer or wine, she took his “no” as a lead to make her vision a reality, and open up a champagne bar. So she took the next lead, and ventured to France to make connections in the champagne and wine world.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While sitting down eating crepes in France at 5 a.m., she met someone who would help her make the introductions she needed to succeed, and the outcome of that is what you see today. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although Marvina didn’t know what she was looking for, at first, and her business plan was in her brain, notebook and laptop, she’s proud that she built her business incrementally, and her “true business” is now falling into place. The insane grind included red eye flights between Manhattan and France for almost a year. For Marvina, it was all worth it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listen to this episode on</span> <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-hustle-pro/id1126021323"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Apple Podcasts</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/13qDj08lBR4ymzGhXIKy8t"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Spotify</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span> <a href= "https://soundclou