Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brian Reeder, co-founder of Vessel Kitchen located in Park City, Utah.
Tell us all about your business...
Our business is a fast-casual restaurant focused on healthy-ish, scratch-made foods that you can customize and combine to your heart's desire.
Our customers are the health-focused, the time-depleted, the travelers looking to eat like they are at home, the business meeting, the post-yoga/crossfit/OTF lunch.
Tell us about yourself...
I've been in restaurants since I was 14. I worked my way up from being a busser/dishwasher to every role a restaurant, bar, country club, brewery, and nightclub have to offer. I helped start my first business at 17 and have opened/started a few businesses over the years.
The majority of my career has been hospitality, either in luxury hotels or high-end restaurants. I started my current brand almost 6 years ago with my business partner, and we're adding our fifth location now, with 3-4 more on the way! My motivation is 80% intrinsic. I love solving the challenges we face creatively and elegantly. Three-dimensional problems require solutions that benefit all stakeholders.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Having 150+ people that work for us and the retention we saw during COVID by taking care of our team.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The loneliness. I have amazing business partners, and we have an incredible leadership team. But when it comes to complex and unpopular decisions, you should own them by yourself. That can be challenging.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You either are sacrificing your time or money at all times. Try to find the balance, but you're continually trading one for the other.
- Don't spend your last dollar the day you open. If you don't have the $$ to keep things going at a loss, re-evaluate.
- Finance is the language of business. If you don't know it, you WILL NOT make good decisions. Simple as that.
Where can people find you?
Website: https://www.vesselkitchen.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianreeder/
https://www.instagram.com/vesselkitchen/
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.
