Soda Jerks Matt and Tiffany Rogers and Shawn Clouse have only been in the soda business for two months, but already have made a name for themselves in the community and are quickly spreading the good word about their natural and unique sodas. Pure Sodaworks came about in March of this year when the husband and wife team, were looking for a way to differentiate their five-year-old business of handmade cosmetics, Everyday Eclectic.
The products of Everyday Eclectic are handmade, all natural and use everything as wholesome and close to Earth as possible. When the Rogers happened upon the idea of sodas, they took this same philosophy and translated the ideas to a consumable that uses the same type of plant materials as in the bath and body products of Everyday Eclectic, as well as natural cane sugar, and organic ingredients. As they researched their idea and saw how far their sodas could go, they realized that the sodas needed to be a separate business. Tiffany came up with the name Pure Sodaworks, Matt did the design work, and then they began looking for a means to sell the product.
Shawn Clouse had experience in construction and Matt contacted him to see if he had any ideas on how to build a cart they could sell sodas out of. As Clouse began working on this, the Rogers decided to bring Clouse on as a partner, the cart was finished and health certified, and they started selling sodas in July, with five original flavors. This trio calls themselves Soda Jerks, invoking the historical and nostalgic feeling behind the term. The original soda jerks were found in pharmacies or soda shops, mixing up concoctions of carbonated beverages. The “jerk” term comes from the tap they would push back to get the carbonated beverage and in the end the high stream jerk of the handle that mixed the drink up.
“It has the nostalgia, but also has the misinterpretation for the younger people who don’t know what a soda jerk is,” Clouse says. “Not only do we have a show, but we are also entertaining to watch because you have the syrups we have cooked and the classic seltzer bottles, before we mix it all together by hand in front of you.” The title they have given themselves is also a reflection of their business, Clouse says. While they take the company very seriously, the name also says that they enjoy the work they do, making “fizzy fun.”
Tiffany says one of the best moments at the soda cart so far was when a mother and daughter stopped to buy a soda and the mother shared her memories of soda jerks from her childhood with her daughter while the soda was made. The Pure Sodaworks products are different from those found in the grocery store, not only for the show you get when they are made before you, but also for what’s inside.
“In keeping with our philosophy of using natural ingredients, the number one thing was going to be natural sugar,” Matt says. “In addition, almost all of our ingredients are organic, and if they are not organic then they are actually wild harvested. That’s something you are not going to see in stores.” Clouse says another thing that sets them apart is their flavors. Although they did come up with a traditional root beer and ginger ale, they have played around with flavors to come up with such combinations as orange basil, hibiscus lemon and lavender mint.
“Being able to take a fresh peach from a farm and real vanilla bean and concoct a peaches and cream soda, with real fruit, is awesome. It’s fun to do that and bring that uniqueness to our customers,” Clouse says. “We are taking those things that people are used to and turning them around a bit and making them branch out. We are getting people to try something that is a little bit out of their comfort zone, but nine times out of 10 they are going to love,” Matt says.
Tiffany says: “We keep the recipes simple. There is not ever going to be anything on the label of our product that you don’t understand or a long list of ingredients. It’s a nice alternative to what’s already out there. People are starting to seek out the cane sugar sodas now, because not only are they better for you, but they just taste better.”
Right now the Pure Soda cart can be found during “Street Food Tuesdays” at Warehouse Row, “Fresh on Fridays” at Miller Plaza, the Brainerd Farmer’s Market, and the Chattanooga Market at the Tennessee Pavilion. They have also done Mise En Scenesters Film Club events, Chickamauga’s “Lady’s Night Out,” and Southside Art Stroll. They have an upcoming opportunity with Blue Cross Blue Shield to attend their on-site farmer’s market, and are developing a zero calorie stevia sweetened soda for the occasion, using actual stevia leaves.
They are continuously doing events, making an expanded cart and moving into bottling gradually. Clouse says, “When you go into bottling you are in a different regulation category but the bottles allow us to get into restaurants and we do have local restaurants already interested. It’s just a natural progression. We had no idea we were going to be loved so fast.” The Soda Jerks use their Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep fans updated on where they will be, and have had followers show up at different events with the Pure Sodaworks refillable mug in hand to get their dollar refill.
They plan on cooking up new flavors soon: a strawberry jalapeno soda and a sour
apple soda. “The beauty of it is we can do several things,” Clouse says. “With a restaurant we can do proprietary mixes so they can have their own soda they want, and drink it too. The ability to take anything seasonal and turn it into a soda is what gives us that variety. We are taking the natural steps from being at the cart and adding events, festivals, catering, restaurants, and eventually the world.”