Client Spotlight: Portland Bottle Shop
Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats, and marketing often ends up being one of the hardest to keep up with consistently. In this client spotlight, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how Portland Bottle Shop built a clear, ongoing communication strategy that supports their business without adding more to their already full plates.
About the Client
Portland Bottle Shop is a neighborhood restaurant and bottle shop located in Sellwood, Southeast Portland. They serve thoughtfully made food alongside an extensive selection of wine and beer, creating a space that’s both welcoming and community-focused.
Owned by Emily and Travis Motter, the shop celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2021 — a major milestone, especially in an industry that faced enormous challenges during the pandemic.
Quick Snapshot
Industry: Restaurant / Retail
Primary Challenges:
Inconsistent communication with customers
No clear marketing strategy
Outdated website and email design
Limited time to manage ongoing marketing
Focus Areas:
Email marketing
Website organization
Social media strategy
Ongoing communications planning
The Challenge
Like many small business owners, Emily shared that staying connected with customers while also attracting new ones was a constant challenge.
Between managing daily operations and a competitive local restaurant scene, creating consistent social media and communication content often fell to the bottom of the list. While they were already sending a weekly newsletter and posting on social media, there wasn’t a clear strategy behind it — and the tools they were using felt cluttered and outdated.
Before Working Together
Before working with Pondering Mind Creative, Portland Bottle Shop had:
A website that needed a refresh and clearer organization
Social media posts without a defined strategy
A weekly newsletter that felt cluttered and no longer reflected the brand
The biggest gap wasn’t effort — it was structure.
The Approach
Together, we focused on building a communications strategy that actually fit their business. The goal wasn’t to do more marketing, but to create a plan that was:
Consistent
Easy to maintain
Aligned with their brand and capacity
By stepping back and looking at the big picture, we created a system that supports ongoing communication without becoming overwhelming.
The Results
Since working together, Portland Bottle Shop has:
A clear, ongoing communications strategy
Consistent and intentional customer touchpoints
A refreshed look across email and digital platforms
A system that’s easier to maintain long-term
As Emily shared, the shift wasn’t just visual — it brought clarity and confidence to how they communicate with their customers.
Why It Was a Good Fit
According to Emily, the collaboration worked because of:
Creativity and flexibility
A collaborative approach
Consistency over time
Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all plan, the strategy was built around what made sense for their business — and adjusted as needed.
In Their Words
What would you tell someone considering working with Pondering Mind Creative?
“It is the best investment you can make for your business!”
If you had to describe your experience in one word?
“Exceptional — everything about our experience working with PMC has been exceptional, from the process to the quality of work to the results.”
Example of the Portland Bottle Shop’s Instagram grid after establishing a strategic communication plan.
Examples of the Portland Bottle Shop’s printed ads after establishing a marketing and communication strategy.
Working with Portland Bottle Shop is a great example of how thoughtful strategy and consistent systems can support real businesses in real life. What once felt unorganized and overwhelming is now a communication plan that clearly reflects who they are and supports where they’re going.
If you’re looking for similar clarity in your marketing — whether through hands-on support or practical tools you can use at your own pace — you can explore ways to work with me or browse the Resource Studio.
