Mama Bears Kombucha
Owner Shelly Jensen has worked hard to make her dream of business ownership a reality and she has no plans to slow down any time soon. Mama Bears Kombucha, just one of her many ideas and ventures, was created in hopes to provide healthy, fresh, locally-made, delicious, and organic kombucha to Alaskans and visitors alike. Available in bottles and on-tap at approximately 20 different locations in the greater Fairbanks area, there is ample opportunity to try this refreshing and local beverage.
Using carefully selected, top-quality organic ingredients in a small batch technique allows Mama Bears Kombucha to maximize the health benefits of kombucha while amplifying the delicious taste. Their current signature flavors are Lemon Ginger, Hibiscus, Mango, Pomegranate, Concord Grape, Black Cherry, and Cranberry Apple. Coming soon: Ginger Beer and Water Kefir.
In addition to creating a delicious and inspired product, Mama Bears Kombucha committed to creating a recycling program for their glass bottles and growlers ($1 and $6 refunds, respectively). It is their goal to continue to provide quality products as well as reducing glass bottle waste in the Fairbanks community.
Working with the Alaska Small Business Development Center (Alaska SBDC), Shelly brought her enthusiasm and creativity to work in launching her business. Her business advisor, Alexis Fanelli gushed, “Shelly is one of the most vivacious, energetic entrepreneurs I know! I began working with her years ago on a completely different business and was not at all surprised when she set up a meeting to talk about her new business idea – making some of the most delicious kombucha I’ve ever tasted (and I’ve tasted a LOT).”
On her entrepreneurial experience, Shelly explained, “Over the years, Alexis helped me tremendously on all of the businesses that I own. She helped set up all of the LLCs as well as advising how to structure the businesses (e.g., Oishi Bakery owned by Mama Bears Kombucha, LLC). Additionally, she advised me to choose a POS system that suits the needs of the business.”
For the Mama Bears Kombucha storefront, Shelly bounced ideas off of her business advisor and chose to use a Square terminal for business transactions due to its mobile ability coupled with the flexibility to use it at pop-up stands and farmer’s markets.
With online consumerism growing, Shelly chose another POS system that is well-suited for her online ordering system with a convenient delivery option. Little details like this make business ownership fun, ever-changing, and exciting.
In seeing her client’s success, Alexis reflected, “I feel honored helping her bring her entrepreneurial dreams to life – she brings amazing ideas and energy and I bring the check-lists, which she follows to a “T”. Shelly pours her passion and love into everything she pursues, and it shows in her amazing and delicious kombucha.”
Mama Bears Kombucha has been encouraged by generous support and love from the people in Fairbanks. Keep up with their new flavors on theirFacebook page and enjoy their delightful fermented brew either bottled or on-tap!
