CINCINNATI — With preseason NFL football starting, thousands of fans will begin packing into stadiums once again. This creates big opportunities for businesses that advertise at venues like Paycor Stadium. This year Paycor and the Bengals teamed up for the second year to highlight a locally owned minority business.
What You Need To Know
- Paycor and the Cincinnati Bengals have come together for the second "Earn Your Stripes" contest
- The contest awards one local minority-owned business with a sponsorship package valued at $100,000 that includes a variety of marketing assets and signage, and Bengals season tickets
- This year 43 businesses applied with six finalists in a pitch style competition
- Mixicles, a botanically infused non-alcoholic ice cube company won this year's contest
It’s time to pop some bubbly. That’s because Jen Morales’ company Mixcles is the newest partner of the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We’re able to say that we’re a proud partner of the Cincinnati Bengals," Morales said. "So just in terms of exposure and building awareness which is really the number one thing that a new brand, a young brand has to do is just people need to hear about you.”
Mixicles is the second business to win the Earn Your Stripes competition- a pitch styled competition that gives exposure to minority owned local businesses inside Paycor Stadium.
“It’s so beyond the kind of experience or kind of exposure that you even dream of," Morales said.
In its second year, the contest is a partnership between the Bengals and Paycor. The Bengals said in s statement:
"The Bengals are proud to join Paycor in support of the "Earn Your Stripes" contest. The Bengals thrive on hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the pursuit of one’s true passion – values that resonate with rising minority-owned small businesses in the Greater Cincinnati community. Mixicles displayed great passion and innovation during their pitch. We’re excited to support Mixicles as they continue to grow and hope this program has a positive impact on their business."
Morales, a first-generation Puerto Rican, hopes more people learn about their product- botanically infused ice cubes that make it easier to prep cocktails or mocktails.
“Mixicles don’t have alcohol in them and the idea is you can use them for any kind of beverage," Morales said.
The idea came to her and her business partner about five years ago.
“I haven’t seen anyone use this for home use. I was like these would be so great for parties, tailgating," she said. "So we were like what if we tried to do it?”
Becoming a pro mixologist in the making.
“I did not know how to make a good cocktail previously," she said. "I’ve gotten better because now it’s kind of my job!”
Morales mentions that getting their company’s name out there has been their main challenge. Winning this contest is the perfect way to jumpstart them to the next level.
“We want to grow it from Cincinnati out,” she said. “We’re born and raised here, the business, my kids, my family. It’s really important for us to stay connected. So being aligned with companies like Paycor and a team like the Bengals who have that same ethos, it really warms my heart.”