We caught up with Keri Rudolph, the force behind The IV Bar, which offers a range of customised intravenous vitamin drips in a tranquil lounge setting. Her innovative thinking, entrepreneurial courage and commitment to well-being earned her the 2023 Santam Woman of the Future Award.
What motivated you to pursue your entrepreneurial venture?
I spent 20 years in the corporate world, and after my divorce, I wanted more flexibility for the sake of my three children. I first ‘dripped’ at my doctor’s and, while I loved the benefits, I thought there had to be a better way to receive a vitamin drip – I wanted the experience to match the benefits. So I created a ‘Starbucks-meets-slow lounge’ environment, where people could put their feet up, have a cappuccino and get a vitamin drip at the same time. In February 2018, the first IV Bar was born.
How has your business evolved since winning the Santam Woman of the Future Award?
We’ve opened another 10 IV Bars and now have three company-owned stores, as well as a successful concierge offering. We have ventured further into ‘biohacking’ and ‘diagnostics’ with our compression boots offering and DNA kits. Our head office staff complement has doubled, and we’ve moved into our own gorgeous offices.
What have been some of the biggest highlights of your entrepreneurial journey?Watching my business grow from one small IV Bar to 35 branches countrywide – and counting. It still excites me to see my brand in lights or on billboards when I’m in a mall or driving around. And every time I receive a message of praise or a positive testimonial about how our products have changed a person’s life, it makes me smile.
Any key lessons that you’d like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
Take away plan B. If you have another option to fall back on you won’t give it your all. Another key lesson would be to ignore what everyone else is doing, particularly the competition – just focus on what you’re doing, and do it right.
What’s one thing you’ve learnt that you wish you’d known earlier?
You don’t have to be liked by everyone. Business is not a popularity contest. Be fair and firm, and people will respect that. Though not everyone will like you and that’s okay.
What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered, and how did you navigate them?
I haven’t come across too many challenges relating to gender. I think the mindset is changing in entrepreneurship. In corporate environments, there’s still a lot of disparity, and women are not taken seriously. But in entrepreneurship, we seem to be on a more equal footing. Sometimes men are surprised by how much I know and how firm I can be in business conversations and negotiations, but I believe respect is earned regardless of gender.
How important are networks and mentorship for aspiring female leaders?
Mentorship and networks are hugely important. They bring about a sense of community and normalcy. When you’re struggling to balance work with kids and exercise and friends and running a home and dealing with menopause and everything in between, it’s great to know you’re not alone, and that in the end, it’s going to be okay. And if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
What changes would you like to see in the business world that would benefit female entrepreneurs?
I’d like to see more accessible funding that’s more easily available to female entrepreneurs, who so often pay it forward and ensure whole communities thrive. It would be great to see more workshops that teach women how to assert themselves, how to be more confident and how to negotiate more effectively.
For more info, visit https://www.theivbar.co.za/