Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nikki Corning, founder of Hydrosaurus Brewing, located in Titusville, FL.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My husband and I started Hydrosaurus Brewing in 2019 out of the sheer love for beer! We love many varieties and really wanted people to have more options to choose from in northern Brevard county. Titusville already has one excellent brewery in town, so another one can only make it better!
If you're like us, you like to brewery hop and sample all of the creations brewers have to offer (we often plan our vacations around how many breweries are within walking distance to our hotel), we hope to attract tourists looking for that variety, as well as have a place for locals to relax & enjoy a few beers with friends, watch a rocket launch from our large Biergarten, and maybe enjoy some music from local musicians while sampling some cuisine from food trucks.
Tell us about yourself
I've been homebrewing for about 8 years, and the more I brewed, the more creative & better I wanted to get. We can't just get up and go to Belgium for a Tripel, Germany for a Hefeweizen, or France for a Saison, so why not perfect your own recipe and have it on hand whenever the mood strikes, while experimenting with the flavors to make it your own? Plus I love the camaraderie that comes with sharing beers with friends, or strangers that become friends over a few pints.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Finally turning something that I love doing into a business that allows me to share that joy with others. It has definitely not been a smooth or easy road, but nothing worth it ever is.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Patience. It has taken us 2.5 years to find the perfect place (that we could afford) for our little establishment, and I'm sure it will take at least another year for planning and building until we can open - hopefully in late 2022. In the meantime, we are very much enjoying having people sample our different beers at various beer fests - the feedback is priceless!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you are ready to work hard and stay motivated - this is YOUR baby and no one will care about its success as much as you do.
- Have a fantastic product and promote that product everywhere you can! The more people see it, the more they will want to try it!
- Don't burn any bridges, professionally or personally - you never know when you might need someone's help or they might need yours, it will only grow your network, allowing you to succeed.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Always follow your passion and never give up! If you are motivated, do your homework, and show that work ethic to others, you will succeed!
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.hydrosaurusbrewing.com
https://www.instagram.com/hydrosaurusbrewing/
https://www.facebook.com/HydrosaurusBrewing
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.