Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Degregorio.
Hi Tania, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sometimes the world is on fire, and you’ve just gotta figure it out. When our industry grinded to a halt in the Spring of 2020, our days managing events and projects morphed into homeschooling our 3 kids and trying to figure out how to move forward.
Times were tough. REALLY tough. For everyone! We had been working on a project creating and and booking events for a year and a half, and were open ONE WEEK until Covid shut us down indefinitely. We tried hard to keep it open but as we all know, it was a ghost town. We were out of a job and scrambling to find our next move. We decided to pack up our kids in our truck and road trip to as many National Parks as time and the little money we had would get us to. We made it to five, and on that trip driving through Zion National Park we decided to have a-go at our dream of making our own sparkling water company. We knew we needed to pivot and now we knew where we were aiming to go
When we returned, we got to it! We wanted to make something healthy, tasty and FUN to drink. While we were both homeschooling in our little pods at either my house or Michelle’’s, we researched and played around with flavor combinations. We spoke with other beverage business owners and spent time creating different flavor profiles. As we found our favorite flavor combinations and recipes, we gave samples to many of our friends and family, and perfected the recipes until they became Daytripper and Revelation! Bootstrappin & determined, we buckled up and believed in a dream.
We hand-drew out the art for the cans, and handed them over to our talented friend and local graphic designer Craig Thibadeau to work his design magic and create a beautiful graphics of art for the cans.
As word got out to our venue, musician, restaurant & service friends…we watched our baby grow! Before we knew it, Netflix reached out interested in carrying Daytripper and we are steadily growing up!
And thats how St Cecilia Soda Co was born!:)
We are:
Tania DeGregorio – Co-CEO // Co-Owner
Entrepreneur, Author, and 28-year veteran of managing music venues & events, including SXSW, ACL-Live, Germania Amphitheater at COTA and House of Blues.
Curious traveler and voracious lover of tacos, wine & pizza
Mama of Maximos & Burrito
Michelle Beebe – Co-CEO // Co-Owner
Venue Manager & Bartender at Donn’s Depot
Event // Project Management Professional with 25+ years in live music & beverage
Mother to Reve and Jack
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A tad more back-story-
St Cecilia is the patron Saint of Music and growing up surrounded by such incredible live music over the past 27 years has become the most important thread in the fabric of who we are. Music has continued to lead our way towards beautiful people, adventures and opportunities. Following St Cecilia has been a blessing and we wouldn’t change it for anything!
We both began our adventures of working in live music venues at Direct Events (RIP) for over 13 years. Tania began managing all 4 venues in 1994, and Beebe was a bartender beginning in 1997. Tania managed four of Austin’s biggest music venues at the time: The (OG) Backyard, Austin Music Hall, La Zona Rosa & Antone’s.
Since then Beebe has gone on to manage Donn’s Depot, and Tania has managed at other music venues such as ACL-Live, House of Blues, Antones, hundreds of SXSW shows, and Austin360 Amphitheater ( also Germania Amphitheater) at COTA, including F1 & sports events.
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Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been rocky and we are always facing new challenges every day! We’ve been through everything from expensive freight issues, to crushed cans to just trying to keep money in the bank!
We have a few competitors out there- but we are working hard to inform everyone that we are different in that our flavors are organic- and not “naturally flavored”- which most dont know can have up to 200 who knows what chemicals in them. Many people love their sugar and fake sweeteners- but more and more people are becoming more health conscious and are starting to look and research the labels of what they are putting in their bodies.
Lastly- it’s tough being the small company without a lot of money for big sponsorship, marketing and pizzazz. We’ve not been able to be a part of many events and menus simply because the big guys with massive branding campaigns are more recognizable and many have paid to have an exclusive relationship with a company. So we have had to get very creative in how to market and get our brand out there and beyond our general scope, with very little money.
We’ve miraculously overcome each obstacle thus far, and that has definitely made us a little more savvy in how we handle business today compared to 5 years ago.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
St. Cecilia Soda Co. is a damn delicious non-alcoholic beverage option made with music lovers and outdoor adventure enthusiasts in mind. It can be enjoyed on its own or as a complement to alcoholic libations, providing hydration from a brand that is rooted in the local Austin community. Made with natural organic ingredient extracts, St. Cecilia Soda Co.’s flavored sparkling waters offer five times more flavoring than other flavored sparkling waters currently on the market.
St. Cecilia Soda Co. is a labor of love. We want to make something that’s healthy and tastes good and helps make the world a happier place,. We design sparkling waters made with love and intention to inspire people to celebrate life and all of the magic it has to offer. Get out there. Be free! Feel good.
Each variety features a unique flavor combination created with intention, packaged in a 100% infinitely recyclable can featuring an original design that begins as a hand-drawn image inspired by the founders’ favorite places, friends and family.
We are proud to be:
NO sugar
NO GMOs
NO carbs
NO gluten
NO BS
100% Organic Ingredients
We are proudly a Certified Women-Owned business
Go-Texan Certified
ACDBE Certified
Our current offerings are::
**Daytripper, St. Cecilia Soda Co.’s initial introduction, is an effervescent blend of Blood Orange, Pink Grapefruit, and Lemon, with can artwork inspired by the anticipation that comes as you head towards Big Bend National Park at sunrise. The image will resonate with in-the-know travelers who recognize the view that comes with an early morning drive East from Fort Stockton, TX.
**Revelation combines tropical hibiscus, serrano pepper, lavender, and lime flavors. Like St. Cecilia Soda Co., the variety is rooted in Austin’s live music community. Inspired by a friend’s song lyrics, its multi-dimensional flavor is as complex as the relationship behind the song.
**Sunsipper, a new flavored twist on the previous un-flavored option, is a refreshing combination of sweet watermelon, herbaceous thai basil and a slight squeeze of lime.
**Wavedancer, the official beverage of your next beach holiday, marries the tropical dragon fruit, exotic lychee, and hawaiian pineapple flavors- to bring on those island and flavor paradise vibes!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Just reach out!
tania@stceciliasoda.com
beebe@stceciliasoda.com
info@stceciliasoda.com
We try to answer IG messages as well but may take a bit longer
Pick up some cans and take us with you on your next adventure!
If you’d like to see us in your favorite store- go up to the manager and request them to carry us!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stceciliasoda.com
- Instagram: stceciliasoda
- Facebook: stceciliasoda
- LinkedIn: st cecilia soda company
Image Credits
Lisa Hause
Hank Wizrodt
