Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alex Ingalls, founder and owner of Pilot Kombucha, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We make culinary-inspired kombucha for adventurous & active people.
Tell us about yourself
I started brewing kombucha to help with the digestive issues I was experiencing due to gall bladder removal. I was brewing for fun for a few years and working as a cook. Then the chef I was working under told me she didn't know why I was working in kitchens when I could sell kombucha to even the most kombucha averse. A year later, I sold my first case of bottles!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We just won a Good Food Award, which is part of the Fancy Food Association. But also - giving myself the gift of my own time back and keeping firm boundaries between work and leisure.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Definitely managing your mental health and preventing yourself from burning out. Eventually, I learned that the to-do list will always be there. It never gets shorter, and at the end of the day, kombucha is no life or death, even though it really can feel that way; realizing that was really freeing.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Check your sense of urgency at the door. Your business most likely won't explode overnight, and laying a good foundation takes time. Prioritize your mental and physical health. Do things outside your business that help fill your tank and restore your energy. Running a small business is a marathon, not a sprint. You will need your health and energy for those high highs and low lows, but if you have a strong identity outside your business, the lows won't feel as low.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Lean on your support system and find a great therapist! Talk about what's stressing you out to people outside the business to get some perspective.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://pilotkombucha.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilotkombucha
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilotkombucha/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pilotkombucha
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-ingalls-98a60088/
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.