Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food & beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with John Clerides, owner of Marquis Wine Cellars, located in Vancouver, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Wine, Spirit & Beer retail. People who care about what they drink.
Tell us about yourself
Got into the business purely by accident. My father read an article in the Vancouver Province newspaper about how one BC winery, Mission Hill, was allowed to open off site wine shops & was selling franchises 1986. We were only allowed to sell one wine from one BC winery, Mission Hill, Okanagan Cider & California Cooler. A total of 12 licenses were issued.
Sadly the stores were not doing well and we lobbied the government to carry additional BC products, Mission Hill & the government refused - typical Canadian lack of vision. We persisted and fortunately NAFTA & GATT were ratified and we were permitted to carry imported wines. Note, the government & Mission Hill were forced to allow the private stores to carry imported wine due to these two international agreements and not on any visionary leadership by government.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being the first in BC to champion artisan growers from around the globe who farm in a responsible manner, craft wines with a sense of place.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Dealing with governments at ALL levels that have no vision and have no clue how to help small business grow other than to tax them.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Model the masters; success leaves bread crumbs. Read and work for others. Learn from their success and mistakes.
- Join a business group and offer more to others, it will come back and repay you in more ways than you can imagine.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Get your accounting, book keeping and tax strategy in place we all get old.
Where can people find you and your business?
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.
