Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Doug Appeldoorn, Co-Owner of People's Pint Brewing Company, located in Toronto, ON, CA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a community-focused brewery that emphasizes producing beer made with the finest ingredients in small batches with great care. All are welcome at our brewery, and we will not tolerate any kind of discrimination or racist, sexist, or homophobic/transphobic behaviors. Our motto of "Beer by the People for the People" encompasses much more than just beer.

Tell us about yourself

My journey in the beer world began more than a decade ago in 2011 when I took my first Prud'homme Beer Certification course. I was already a big fan of craft beer, but these classes took my passion to an entirely new level. Shortly after that, I began home brewing, and it was then that the idea of one day opening my own brewery took root. If there was something to learn about beer and brewing, I devoured that knowledge and completed the Prud'homme program, graduating as a Master Beer Sommelier. I was invited to teach for the program, which I have done for more than seven years. In 2013, I met my business partner Peter Caira, a fellow home brewer. We shared a passion for brewing beer and wanted to share our obsession with not just our friends and family but everyone. We formed the People's Pint Brewing Collective and brought together other talented home brewers and professionals by holding small batch tasting events. Not only that, but we curated each event and ensured we were offering a variety of very interesting and well-made beers. Our event series was a huge hit. We decided the concept could be elevated to a bricks-and-mortar brewery. In 2017, we had the opportunity to take over the old Junction Craft Brewing space as they had recently expanded and moved to a larger space. In March 2018, we opened our doors to the public and haven't looked back since.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment as a business was winning our first Gold Medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards for our Gosé Cuervo Tequila Lime Sour. It was an acknowledgment that we were no longer amateur brewers but full-blown professionals. It was outstanding to be recognized, and it made us feel we were truly in the big leagues. That beer was also special to us both. It's one of the few beers we developed together and experimented with extensively before settling on the award-winning recipe we offer today. I remember, before we opened the brewery, Peter and I were sitting at his kitchen table playing with the lime, tequila, and salt levels to find the perfect combination. It was a very rewarding experience and a great memory of the early days.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Opening a brewery has far more to it than just brewing great beer. We were both unprepared for the responsibilities of owning a small business. For years prior to owning the brewery, I had had several lucrative side hustles, so I figured I knew enough to get the business off the ground. But the realities of payroll, finance, licensing, and supply chains were not things we knew much about and needed to learn quickly. It was sink or swim, with some lessons harder than others, but they all contributed to where we are today.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

First, you need to be passionate about what you are doing. Passion will get you through the hard times when you question why you decided to open a business in the first place. Second, no matter how much you think you know, there is always more to learn. Educate yourself about all aspects of the business before you take the plunge. Lastly, this will probably sound trite, but you need to believe in yourself and your idea. If you want to convince people of your idea, they won't buy it unless you do it first. If you have doubts about it, you really aren't ready. Business isn't for the faint of heart, so be sure of yourself and what you hope to do.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you need to partner with someone, be sure you have the right partners. Sometimes it is not possible to do everything yourself, so you need to find someone who is the proper fit and can complement your skills. You also need to trust that person because you'll need to lean on each other to succeed.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://peoplespint.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peoplespintTO/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoplespintto/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeoplesPintTO

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.