Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty Washington.
Hi Misty, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart with a mission to help those who need it the most and affect change in my community in a way that creates a long-lasting impact. My professional journey began when I joined Bright From The Start, a child care academy in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, with five locations across the city. For twelve years, I acted as the owner and operator, preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers to be successful, bright and caring individuals from a young age. While I found deep purpose and joy in the work I was doing at Bright From The Start. I felt called to make a bigger impact on my community after losing several family members to cancer.
In everything I do, I am entirely committed to being an active member of my community. In search of a business model that would not only drive sales and fill a need for our consumers but also leave a long-lasting, meaningful impact on society, I established Misty Artesian Water in 2014 with a goal to help effect change through support of cancer awareness. I now act as the visionary behind the brand, guiding the creation and execution of the company’s overall vision, purpose, and strategy with passion and determination. Last year, I re-established Misty Artesian Water with a fresh mission, product offerings and leadership team. The new direction led me to move to Atlanta with my three sons and daughter, and I have felt so motivated and welcomed by the city’s diversity, a spirit of giving and resources for start-up companies like my own.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With the rise of COVID-19 over the past year, I’ve faced more challenges than I could have ever anticipated. The pandemic brought to the forefront the challenges of navigating traditional retail in a world where in-store shopping was halted and we all had to rely on e-commerce to get the goods we wanted and needed. As our economy dropped due to the pandemic, I knew that launching a new product during such trying times would be a risk – but I believe in Misty Artesian Water’s offerings, vision and deep belief in the importance of social impact. On a personal note, as a mother of four with my youngest child being a toddler, I faced the obstacle of being a dedicated businesswoman working from home while simultaneously struggling to be an attentive mother. However, I am so thankful to have my family and support system throughout these difficult times, especially my mother, who moved to Atlanta to care for my family and me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At its core, Misty Artesian Water is a social impact company. After I experienced firsthand the devastating impact and emotional toll of losing family members to cancer, I created the idea for the premium ribbon-shaped pink bottles filled with pure artesian water that raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. I chose water as our product because I realized its essential role in every person’s life and decided that it is the quintessential connector to help consumers across the country support a cause about which they are passionate.
In 2020, I re-established Misty Artesian Water to expand from our roots of exclusively cancer awareness to raising funds and awareness for over 1,000 different causes, offering ribbon-shaped bottles in eight different colors. Brooklyn Butler, our vice president of operations, and I also founded Mystic Entities, Ltd. in 2020 – a full-service, custom-bottled beverage distribution network in the United States. To support the success of our brand’s re-establishment, we relocated our headquarters to Atlanta. The move helps best position Misty Artesian Water for our next chapter and continued growth and ultimately allows our brand to reach, fund and raise awareness for more non-profits nationwide. Alongside our relocation, we are launching our non-profit arm, Ribbons of Awareness. A portion of our annual sales will be donated to Ribbons of Awareness with a goal to equip philanthropists with an all-inclusive network of their colleagues, volunteers, and donors. Our mission is to expand the reach of philanthropic organizations across the country. The most fulfilling part of my work has the opportunity to partner with non-profits by supporting their causes through donations and community grant programs. At the end of the day, Misty Artesian Water creates a better tomorrow for the communities our non-profits serve.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I would not be where I am today without the support of Misty Artesian Water’s internal and external teams – from our digital marketing and public relations agencies to our full-time staff. They have each taken on so much responsibility during our brand’s transition to Atlanta. I also have to thank my mother, Doris Washington, who has helped me care for my children during the stay-at-home order that was put in place last year. Our family is ultimately better and happier because she is in our lives.
Contact Info:
- Email: misty@mistyartesianwater.com
- Website: mistywater.com
- Instagram: @mistyribbonawareness
- Facebook: facebook.com/mistyartesianwater
Image Credits
Bonnie J. Heath
