Fawn Weaver’s Uncle Nearest, Inc. and Nearest Green whiskey distillery was recently placed into receivership.

For a quick bit of history, Uncle Nearest was the first known Black master distiller in the U.S., and his story inspired the brand Fawn Weaver built into a premium whiskey company.

So, what does Fawn’s receivership mean to you as a business owner?

Maybe nothing, right now. But it’s worth paying attention.

Understanding how companies end up in receivership, and what it takes to come out of it, can help you avoid similar pitfalls or navigate them if they ever come your way.

What is Receivership?

A receivership is a legal process in which a neutral third party (the receiver) is appointed by a court to take custody, control, and management of property, assets, or a business.

How do businesses end up there?

  • Debt that outpaces cash flow
  • Over-reliance on outside financing
  • Rapid growth without enough liquidity
  • Unfavorable loan terms or covenant breaches

How can companies regain control?

  • Generate revenue to pay down debt. (This is exactly what Fawn is doing with her #ClearTheShelves campaign.)
  • Bring in financial leadership. A CFO, even a fractional one, can track cash flow closely, monitor burn rate, and extend your cash runway.
  • Restructure financing. Negotiate with lenders or investors to reset terms.
  • Streamline operations. Free up capital by cutting inefficiencies.
  • Leadership Under Pressure

Fawn Weaver faced a moment most leaders dread when her company was placed under receivership.

But she modeled what leadership looks like in tough times.

Her solution was simple but powerful: Clear The Shelves.

She rallied her customer base to buy Uncle Nearest, post about it, and spread the word…and they did using the hashtag #ClearTheShelves.

From a financial perspective, this wasn’t just about visibility.

Clearing shelves created immediate cash flow, strengthened retailer relationships, and preserved momentum at a critical moment.

The results? 

Shelves are emptying, Tours of the distillery in TN are sold out, the company is having record sales nationwide.

Even in the middle of legal and financial challenges, the numbers show one of Uncle Nearest’s best years yet.

The Deeper Lesson

In business, you don’t always get to choose the circumstances. But you do get to choose your response.

Here’s what I’m realizing as an entrepreneur myself.

When you’re stuck in fear or overwhelmed by emotion, it completely shuts down the creative process.

You can’t see possibilities. You only see the pain, the fear, the overwhelm.

Yes, it’s important to express emotion and let it out. That’s part of being human.

But once you’ve done that, you must step outside yourself and ask: What else is possible?

As entrepreneurs, we don’t have the luxury of staying stuck. Give yourself space to process, then move into action.

Brainstorm new ideas. Test fresh approaches. Tap into your networks, your employees, the customers you haven’t spoken to in a while.

The moment you shift your focus from fear to possibility, you begin to shift reality too.

Now It’s Your Turn

Reflect or journal on this:

  • What business challenge are you facing right now that’s bringing up fear or overwhelm?
  • How can you acknowledge those emotions, then step outside them?
  • What’s one creative action you can take today, whether it’s tapping a network, activating your customers, or brainstorming with your team, that could shift the trajectory?

If you’re ready to see what our team of CFOs can do for your small business, Schedule a Financial Strategy Session.

Tricia M. Taitt

Author of Dancing with Numbers

Tricia Taitt is the CEO and Chief Financial Choreographer of FinCore. She holds an M.B.A from The Fuqua School of Business of Duke University, and a BS in Economics with a Finance concentration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. For over 20 years, she’s been a finance professional. Half of the time was spent working on Wall Street while the other half was spent in the trenches side by side with small business owners. As a result of working with FinCore, clients have been able to take control of their numbers and feel more confident in their ability to make decisions, while increasing profits by 10% and building a cash stash to invest in growth. Follow Tricia on LinkedIn and Instagram.