Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Lawrence. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Antoinette Lawrence was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and resides in Bowie, Maryland. She attended Shaw University in North Carolina, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She attained her master’s degree in Counseling from North Carolina Central University and her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. Ms. Lawrence is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Antoinette Lawrence is an Educator, a Clothing Boutique Owner (toplevelboutique.com), a published children’s book author (amlbooks.com), and now the owner of her own Organic Vodka. Her motivation to write children’s books comes from her past and present family experiences.
In 2011 She began writing her first children’s, “I Remember,” which is a beloved recollection of her childhood. “My Dad, My Granddad and Me,” her second book, is a story about a child who cherishes memories and lifelong lessons that he has learned and shared with his dad and granddad. Her third children’s book, “Dana the Diva,” is a story about a little girl who enjoys being fancy, dressing up in her mother’s clothes, and spending time with her friends. Her fourth book, “Our Dog Dino,” was published in 2020. It is about the mysterious disappearance of the family’s dog named Dino. What happened to Dino? You would have to read to solve the mystery.
Top Level Boutique started in 2015 after Antoinette became frustrated with walking in stores and not finding classy and affordable styles. Her love for fashion and style encouraged her to step and start her online clothing boutique.
The journey of EGO Organic Vodka began in 2019 after Antoinette discovered a newfound love for wine. Sweet wine is one of her favorite types of wine. In 2020, during a pandemic, after visiting a distillery in Maryland and searching for a spirit that was not so strong to her taste Antoinette started research to start her Vodka brand. After a year of research, paperwork, and hiccups, EGO Organic Vodka was launched and can now be found in liquor stores across Maryland.
Ego Organic Vodka EGO is an organic white wheat-based vodka. Double distilled through 18 plates & triple filtered for a buttery smooth taste. In 2022, Ego Organic Vodka won a Silver Medal in the tasting category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Along with being a striving serial entrepreneur, Antoinette enjoys traveling, spending time with family, writing, shopping, and motivating children to read.
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?
The ride is great now, but there were some struggles along the way. With the Spirit business, a lot of paperwork, state requirements, and research goes into making sure things are in place. You have to wait for approvals from different people, which can take months. I also have to pitch my brand to different businesses, which can hit part or miss because you have to get approval from the buyer to carry your brand. But I love talking and interacting with people, so the part is fun. With writing, you just have to find a good publishing company. As a self-published author, I have control of my work, which is rewarding because I can market and be creative with work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Antoinette Lawrence is an Educator, Mentor teacher, Clothing Boutique Owner, published children’s book author, and now the owner of her own Organic Vodka.
(more details about each business are in my bio)
What sets me aside from others is that I am an African American female making my way in the Spirit industry. There are not a lot of females in the Wine and Spirit business, and I am proud to be one of them!
Can you talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy?
Traveling and the beach makes me happy! I love history and water!! When I travel, I see other places, eat different food, and experience other cultures. The beach is my ZEN. I relax, listen to the sound of the waves and clear my mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: egovodka.com amlbooks.com toplvelboutique.com
- Instagram: @egovodka @amlbooks1 @toplvelboutique
- Facebook: facebook.com/toplevelboutique facebook.com/amlbooks facebook.com/egovodka
Image Credits
Phillip Browne Katrina Cousins
