Harvest to Pour: Business of Beverages

Key Takeaways:

- Jeff Stevens founded Wellbeing Brewing after recognizing a lack of good-tasting non-alcoholic beer options for those in recovery or who don't drink alcohol.

- Introducing a craft non-alcoholic beer was initially challenging due to skepticism, but partnerships with retailers like Total Wine helped validate the category.

- Wellbeing Brewing uses a specialized German machine and collaborates with local breweries to craft unique non-alcoholic beers.

- The growing wellness movement and trends like Dry January have expanded the market for non-alcoholic drinks.

- Future goals include increasing production capacity, reopening the online store, and potentially opening a taproom to further promote the brand.

WellBeing Brewing Company

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Some key takeaways and lessons learned from the interview include:

- Facing criticism and pushback when first sharing new ideas can be overcome by focusing on positive discussion and continual learning.

- Providing educational frameworks and structures allows for creativity within guidelines.

- Breaking processes down scientifically makes complex skills more approachable.

- Developing high-quality, durable products solves real industry problems.

- Gathering community and user feedback is invaluable for new product development.

- Building a supportive community takes time and responds positively to criticism.

- Prioritizing quality, service and flexible work-life balance attracts top talent.

- Mentorship, patience and learning from others is important for any entrepreneurial venture.

- Hospitality extends beyond drinks to include educational resources and customer service.

A Bar Above

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Key points from the interview:
- Patric and Kaibab started the winery after meeting through their work in the Colorado wine industry, with a vision to have creative control and showcase unique grape varieties
- They focus on lesser-known varietals and experimentation to create distinctive blends and styles like sparkling wines
- Challenges in starting with limited resources and COVID-19 impacts, but the pandemic increased local visitation and demand
- They source grapes from their 100% estate vineyard and experiment with European and American varieties suited to the region's terroir
- Patric tailors winemaking techniques to each variety's characteristics to bring out unique flavors 
- Marketing focuses on events, festivals, and word-of-mouth while addressing challenges like declining wine sales
- Future goals include expanding food offerings, generating winter sales, and continuing innovation to attract new customers.

Sauvage Spectrum Estate Winery

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Some key takeaways from the interview:

- The importance of high quality grapes for producing good wine.

- Creating memorable experiences for customers through personalized interactions.

- Building relationships with grape growers and customers to ensure quality.

- Making continuous small improvements to processes while honoring tradition.

- The challenges of upgrading infrastructure in an historic business.

- Learning from mistakes but continuing to make decisions and move forward.

- Investing in staff development to build a knowledgeable team and loyal customers.

- Balancing respect for history with a vision for the future of the business.

- Sourcing grapes locally for more control over quality and scheduling.

- Ongoing work to improve soil health and vineyard management practices.

Adam Puchta Winery

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Takeaways

- Nobletons Distilling has a long family history in distilling going back to 1824. Demetrius is continuing a multi-generational family tradition.

- They control the entire process from growing their own heirloom grains to distilling and aging the whiskey. This allows them to control quality and flavor.

- Their 48-day fermentation process gives their whiskey unique long-chain fatty acid profiles that make it thick and viscous.

- They faced challenges starting out but were able to survive the pandemic without taking on debt, which they advise against for new distilleries.

- Their goal is to continue growing distribution while maintaining quality and tradition passed down over generations.


Noboltons Distilling House

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Some key points about developing a Keystone include: 

- It establishes a long-term vision for where the business is headed over the next 2-5 years. This provides direction and focus. - The Keystone is written as a purpose statement that the entire team can understand and work towards. 

- It acts as a filter to determine which projects, ideas and activities most directly support achieving the defined purpose and goals. Only initiatives that align with the Keystone get priority attention. 

- Looking at all business opportunities through the lens of the Keystone helps surface the highest impact work that needs to be done. This leads to clearer prioritization and decision making. 

- Revisiting goals against the Keystone keeps the business focused on profitability and growth, versus getting distracted by non-essential tasks. 

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Key Takeaways

- Developing standardized processes and procedures to allow scaling and hiring employees to take over tasks. This frees up the owner's time.

- Jumping into business ownership means learning aspects of running a business beyond just production, like sales, marketing, and financial management.

- Documenting processes helps new employees understand tasks step-by-step to efficiently take over responsibilities.

- Sourcing ingredients like honey from different regions can impact the flavor and uniqueness of mead products. Consistent quality fermentation is also important.

- Scaling production while moving operations presented challenges like upgrading equipment and establishing new distribution networks.

- Developing standardized processes allows a business to systematize tasks and efficiently train new hires.

- Mead production involves aspects of both winemaking and running a business. Entrepreneurs need skills in areas like cash flow management, sales, and financial planning.

- The mead industry is growing but still, niche, offering opportunities for businesses to highlight unique ingredients in varietal honey.

Martin Brothers Winery

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Use code 'harvesttopour' for 15% off your online purchase from Marting Brothers Winery. 

Blog: 

From Grapes to Gold: The Sweet Evolution of Martin Brothers Winery

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Some key takeaways and lessons learned from the interview include:

- Restaurant owners face many challenges in commercializing products and need expertise to navigate CPG processes.

- Innovation and creative problem-solving techniques are crucial for developing unique, premium products.

- Building a loyal consumer following on social media helps prove concepts and drive sales to retailers.

- Coming fully prepared with packaging, formulas, sourcing, etc. is important for finding the right co-packer partner.

- Legal compliance, distribution challenges, and production planning must be addressed.

- Treating retail shelf space as valuable real estate requires ongoing sales and marketing support.

- Case studies provide insights on overcoming obstacles like shelf-stable milkshakes or frozen scones.

- A fully managed approach can help restaurant brands overcome barriers to retail success.

Gail Kurpgeweit

Pivot North Consulting

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Mastering Co-Manufacturing for Food Brands -------- Use the offer word ' HARVEST ' for 20% off.

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Some of the key takeaways and lessons learned from the interview include:

- Developing employee purpose and engagement from the top down is important for retention and business success.

- Getting into silence on a regular basis allows your subconscious mind to solve problems and generate new ideas.

- Exercising the mind in new ways through techniques like mindfulness can improve well-being for both individuals and businesses.

- Having a positive mindset that is consciously developed through practices like imagination is important for overcoming challenges.

- Using music, light, and other stimuli can help engage the mind in a unique way to solve problems and communicate consciously.

- Developing specificity in goals and visions is important to manifesting or creating what you want according to your belief system.

- Business owners should find ways to improve their own well-being and mindset in order to better support their employees and customers.

Phillip Bogolub

https://bogolubrecords.com/ajanoi/

Conscious Communication Podcast

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Key Takeaways

- Websites are an important marketing tool and should be regularly evaluated and updated.

- Visuals, language, and messaging should be consistent across a company's website and other marketing channels.

- Websites need to clearly communicate what makes a product or business unique in a way customers can understand.

- Changes to websites often don't need to be expensive, especially for small updates.

- Businesses should consider separate websites if targeting multiple distinct audiences.

- Evaluating websites annually at minimum or more frequently for fast-changing companies is recommended.

Frank Piuck

Cyperhenge

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Some key takeaways and lessons learned from the interview include:

- Starting small allowed Good News to develop systems and values that helped them grow successfully. Beginning in a small space focused them on a few core offerings.

- Understanding your target audience and community is important for finding the right locations. Good News tailors each location to fit the surrounding culture.

- Challenges will come up like any business, but staying focused on your mission and purpose helps overcome obstacles.

- Team communication structures like regular meetings are important as a company expands to multiple locations.

- Unexpected opportunities can arise from passions and mistakes, as the hazelnut coffee milk stout led to opening a coffee roasting business.

- Entrepreneurs need to find their niche and focus on community engagement rather than just distribution to succeed in today's competitive market.

Dan Tripp

Good News Brewing Company

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Episode Notes

Key Takeaways:

- Nolan got his start in the bourbon industry through owning a wine and spirits distribution company in the 2000s. Distributing other companies' products exposed him to opportunities in the bourbon market.

- In 2010, he began sourcing new make whiskey from local distilleries like MGP and experimenting with aging and blending to develop unique flavor profiles.

- Re-barreling whiskey into different barrel types like port, sherry, rum barrels allows for innovation and customized flavor profiles.

- Building a brand is challenging as a non-distilling producer, requiring creativity to differentiate products made from sourced whiskey.

- Generating new product ideas comes from monthly team meetings where trends and opportunities are discussed openly.

- Consistency in blending batches while still introducing some variation keeps customers interested in trying new releases.

- Expanding distribution and online sales helps connect with a wider audience and find new customers.

- Nolan's goals are to continue innovating, run a successful small business, and make Backbone Bourbon a top Indiana destination for whiskey tourists.

Nolan Smith

Backbone Bourbon Company

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Key points and takeaways

• Community Cultures started as a passion project collecting wild yeast samples from nature
• It takes intensive process of isolation, identification, testing to develop wild yeasts for commercial use
• Organic growth from a small garage operation to a larger facility comes with challenges of limited budget
• Fostering team collaboration by playing to strengths and allowing flexibility is important for small businesses 
• Developing unique flavors from native microbes can attract or repel brewery customers
• Perseverance and pivoting ideas over time can turn curiosity into a successful business
• Support people by letting them grow into their positions. 

Community Cultures Yeast Lab

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1202 WEST ELSMERE PLACE, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, 78201, 

 210-236-8351 

MARA@TEXASCULTURES.COMMUNITY

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Key Takeaways and Lessons from the Interview:

- Develop new production processes from scratch when your industry doesn't exist locally by learning skills, finding partners, and creating your own systems.

- Use creative marketing strategies to educate customers about a unique product they've never heard of through various approaches like social media, events, and testimonials.

- Effective communication and organization is critical when your business relies on multiple partners across different steps of the process.

- Overcome challenges through determination, outsourcing selectively, focusing on steady growth, and not getting overwhelmed by obstacles.

- Turn unexpected opportunities into thriving businesses by pursuing your passion, conducting market research, and solving real consumer needs.

- Learn from mistakes, know your limitations, and rely on referrals rather than hiring without vetting when growing your team.

Learn more about Sharon and Avacado Tea Co.

Avacado Tea Co. 

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Key Lessons

- Starting small and building incrementally based on family passion can lead to successful growth over time
 

- Understanding regulations fully from the beginning and having proper processes in place can avoid issues down the road 
 

- Creativity and experimentation with different aging and finishing techniques allow for unique product profiles
 

- Direct customer engagement through tastings and events is important for building awareness as a small brand
 

- Finding niche opportunities like private labeling can help scale the business beyond production constraints
 

- Ongoing education helps refine operations and identify areas for improvement or expansion
 

- Effectively communicating roles and responsibilities among family/partners is critical for coordination

"I've stood in front of thousands of people and gotten the best feedback you can ever get, facial expressions. I mean, people can try to be nice, or try to not be nice or whatever, you know, but nobody wants to just say something terrible. But you can tell genuinely when people really like your product over and over and over again." -Russ Broker

Russ Broker

Blacksmith Distillery

Private Labeling Program

TheForge@BlacksmithDistillery.com

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Key Take Aways

- Have a clear vision and core values for your business.

- Be flexible within those values and open to new ideas, but don't lose focus of your vision.

- Use a "keystone" approach to evaluate new ideas by checking if they help fulfill your purpose and overcome challenges.

-As business grows, the owner needs to shift from always seeking the next new idea as an entrepreneur would, to more selectively choosing ideas that align with and further their established vision and core business as the owner.

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Some key business lessons learned from this interview include:

- Pay employees a livable wage to attract and retain talent long-term.

- Focus on quality, customer service, and atmosphere as the three main levers to control the customer experience.

- Effective communication between ownership/management and store-level teams is critical as a business grows.

- Competitions can help drive industry standards and skills development for employees.

- Sourcing green coffee beans requires developing relationships with specialized importers over time.

- Providing alternative "currencies" like recognition helps motivate employees beyond just financial compensation.

- A business owner should develop their skills alongside industry evolution for continued success.

- Mistakes will happen early on but can provide valuable learning opportunities if addressed properly.

Howard Lerner

Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co.

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Key Takeaways

- Having a clear vision and values is important, but also being flexible to allow the business to grow.

- Building strong community relationships from the beginning, whether through farmers markets or local businesses, is crucial for success.

- Connecting personally with coffee farmers to understand their processes and challenges helps develop unique coffee offerings.

- Communication is key at every level, from suppliers to staff to customers, to ensure quality and growth.

- Staying true to providing a quality specialty coffee experience while also experimenting with new ideas and flavors keeps customers engaged.

- Continuing to support and be involved in the local community as it grows is important for small businesses.

"I think some of the things that I've learned, is that be open to making mistakes, that's going to be part of a business, you're going to try things that you're like, hey, is this a good idea? "  -Brandon Runk

Course Coffee

1218/1220 N 2nd St.
St Charles, MO 63301

217.481.6244

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Key Takeaways:

- Developing a strong business plan is important for securing financing. Having a clear vision and story is also helpful.

- Understanding your business model and communicating it clearly to customers is important to avoid confusion and negative feedback early on.

- Building community involvement through programs like a pint club and events helps create loyal customers and advocates.

- Having a diverse team that brings different skills and perspectives can help the business in areas like legal, finance, operations, etc.

- Finding a balance of passion for the work while also having other sources of income helps ensure long term sustainability of the business.

- Constantly evaluating and adapting offerings to meet customer interests helps broaden appeal and sales over time.

"I've been teaching for 15 years, there's no way if I taught the same way I taught when I first started, I wouldn't be teaching anymore. There's just no way. So it's important for us as a business to be, flexible and understanding to our clients, our customers that walk in the door, but also our our employees that walk through the back door." -Michael Crowell

Shortleaf Brewing

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Locations

Winghaven

7434 VILLAGE CENTER DRIVE 

O'FALLON, MO 63368  T: (636) 265-4004

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Lake of the Ozarks

311 SOUTH BUSINESS ROUTE 5

CAMDENTON, MO 65010

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Problem - Team not meeting expectations. 

1st attempt: - Call the meeting

2nd attempt: - Owner implementation 

Together Alone Collaboration

Why this works

How a facilitator can help you connect with your team.

Business Bottleneck Breakthrough

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