Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in the food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tony Rubino & Steve Sittler, founders of Smile Tiger Coffee Roasters, located in Ontario, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Smile Tiger is an independent, proudly Canadian coffee roaster and cafe located in the heart of Kitchener, Ontario. Our coffees are roasted on-site and in small batches, ensuring our ability to offer a high level of quality and care in every batch. We source our exceptional coffee via direct trade relationships with our suppliers, as sustainability within the industry is important to us. We carefully craft our coffee and espresso beverages while also being mindful to source our ingredients and food offerings from other local small businesses wherever possible. We have something special to offer every customer, whether looking for a traditional cup of drip coffee without the bells and whistles, a spine-tingling shot of our home-roasted espresso, or a deliciously smooth and sweet seasonal latte - we have it all! We offer a welcoming, warm storefront and cafe experience for all of our guests, in addition to an online store that includes our coffee products, brewing supplies, and subscription services. In addition to our cafe and e-commerce platform, we also offer custom services for wholesale partnerships, events, and even barista training. We are able to accommodate a wide range of personal and business needs, and continue to grow by the day!
Tell us about yourself
There was previously a gap in the Kitchener-Waterloo market for fresh, high-quality and locally-roasted coffee. This was coupled with the desire to share a great hobby and the fascinating world of coffee with our community. What motivates our team is our passion for the coffee industry, combined with the desire to provide exceptional quality coffee and a welcoming experience for our guests. We have a small team who are all very passionate about the quality of the products we offer, as well as making our guests and customers feel excited about experiencing our coffees whether in-store or at home. We believe we have something special at Smile Tiger. We feel the future is filled with endless possibilities, and we can envision Smile Tiger coffee in mugs all over Canada, if not the world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Smile Tiger has continued to grow as a business and increase sales year over year, and has become an established local staple in our community. We are so humbled to have won a few local awards for 'Best Cafe' and 'Best Coffee' in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, which is an accomplishment we are so proud of. We have a truly wonderful team and customer-base that have helped us to achieve this, as well as our drive to learn something new and to become better at our craft each and every day.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As many businesses and industries have now experienced, the pandemic has certainly brought forth many challenges. It has also allowed all of us to review what is essential in our personal and business lives. As a business, we continue wo work hard and believe our future will be based on what brought us to where we are today. We’ll continue to cultivate the relationships with our customers, suppliers, and our local community. We’ll continue to put our customers first and be heart-driven in a post-pandemic world. As business owners, sustainability in our industry and innovation will be extremely important pillars to embrace. Additionally, continuing to evolve our e-commerce business and our existing product offerings will be integral.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Perseverance, optimism, and fearlessness are all key characteristics to embody when starting and growing any businesses. Fearlessness ties in with the ability to take risks and understand that mistakes might be made in the process.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/smiletigercoffee/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/smile-tiger-coffee-roasters/
https://www.facebook.com/smiletigercoffee
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.
