Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Charon Thompson, co-founder of Black Drip Coffee, located in Kansas City, MO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Black Drip Coffee for the Culture. We are an online coffee brand that also does vendor events. We want to be the brand that brings coffee with Hip hop, rap, fashion, sports, history, and the whole black culture. We want to bring quality coffee that can be across the board great and amazing. Black Drip Coffee is brewed from within a desire to bring coffee culture to historically disenfranchised and underserved communities.
Tell us about yourself
As entrepreneurs, there are a lot of late nights and a lot of coffee. We drink a lot of coffee, so why not start our own coffee. New to the coffee world, we wanted to get started, so I brought a roaster and ordered some green beans. Thinking the whole house would smell like coffee, I knew right away it was a huge mistake. My whole house smelled like burnt popcorn for two weeks. Through failure, I realized I needed help to get this up and running.
I searched on LinkedIn for a roaster and came across Issac Hodges, the vice president of sales at FairWave Coffee Collective, which includes the Messenger Coffee and The Roasterie brands. Our goal is to teach our communities the importance of the coffee culture. The experience gave us a deep appreciation for the work being done in the underserved communities of color and fueled our drive to help others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our Octoberfest event actually helps people in the communities. We also had a couple of months of giving coffee to teachers in KC schools via Ritchie Cherry as a couple of months to thank you. We always help others in any aspect of learning about our coffee. Being in a couple of restaurants and stores.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It's always managing time. Having time with family and friends. Having your own business is a sacrifice of work and commitment.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Do the research and have no fear going in of failure. Chances are, you will fail your first go at your business. It's work but find your happiness in what you do. Have your elevator pitch ready because it's a chance you will be asked about your business. Try to have all your social media names the same so you can easily say it's the same on all social media outlets. Word of mouth is your best friend!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
You can find our product at Black Pantry, Kinship Cafe, The Prospect, Love is Key, KC Daiquir, Ruby Jeans, and Distrkt Biscuit. The Sunfresh on Blue Parkway. You can buy our products on our website.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://blackdripcoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackDripCoffeeKC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdripcoffeekc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blackdripkc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blackdripcoffee/
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.