A micro roastery and coffee shop - Folklore Coffee
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andy Pollard, owner of Folklore Coffee, located in Conrad, MT.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a micro roastery and coffee shop in North Central Montana with three locations and one franchise location. Our customers are friends, neighbors and people that we hope will become those things.
Tell us about yourself
Anna and I dreamed up Folklore while living in East Africa. When we were getting ready to move back to the U.S. we wanted to do something that would connect us to our community in a meaningful way. We were already passionate about coffee, but seeing the agricultural side of the industry in Africa had us sold on jumping into coffee with both feet. We are motivated daily by the challenge of pulling all the best things out of one of the most complex agricultural products in the world and the relationships doing so can facilitate.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We take part in an annual roasting competition called Golden Bean North America. It is the largest roasting competition in the world. There are 8 categories. A couple of years ago we entered into 3 categories and medaled in all of them including a first place over-all in the pour-over category.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It is incredibly difficult to decide where to stick to your guns in regard to your vision of what you want your business to be and when to compromise for the sake of things your customers may want.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, establish what about your business gets you excited and/or passionate so that you can come back to it when you are going through the hard parts of running a business.
Second, make your business a reflection of yourself. A definable identity is more attractive to customers than even they know.
Third, don't get so far in that you forget what is most important in life.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Check out our website and order some coffee! You won't be disappointed.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.folklorecoffeemt.com
https://www.instagram.com/folklorecoffee406
https://www.facebook.com/folklorecoffeemontana
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.
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