Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Edward Eaton, founder of Buzz Club, located in Christchurch, New Zealand.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Buzz Club brews premium sparkling meads from native New Zealand honey. Our meads are brewed light and dry, which hit the spot on a summer afternoon. They highlight the floral and fruity flavours of our native honey while remaining crisp and refreshing. As the mead market in New Zealand is still developing, our customers are cider or other alternate alcohol drinkers. People who are looking for something new and who value locally sourced and made products.
Tell us about yourself
Buzz Club was born when my lifelong friend, Wilbur, was beekeeping. He was producing a range of native New Zealand honey across Canterbury and the West Coast. While Manuka honey was fetching a great return, demand for other native honey was hitting all-time lows. As a result, he and many other keepers were forced to walk away from their hives. This results in less of our native forests benefiting from pollination. This drove him to search for new uses for our native honey. The result was mead. Now, Buzz Club is on a mission to brew the future for naive New Zealand honey. Our range of sparkling session meads each highlights different native honey to share the flavours of our native backyard and to inspire growth in a diversified apiculture industry.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Buzz Club was born months prior to the first covid lockdown. Our biggest accomplishment would be surviving these and seeing our products on the shelf at stores across New Zealand.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Three is no singular job description. Every day is full of challenges and surprises, which means being constantly adaptable.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- There is never going to be the perfect time to start, so get going.
- Be confident, not arrogant.
- Don't be afraid to fail.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thebuzzclub.co.nz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuzzClubMead
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buzzclubmead/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-buzz-club/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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