Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lane Cheek, Creative Director and Member of the Board of Directors at Honeydrop, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

At Honeydrop, we make premium honey-infused products that contribute a portion of the proceeds from every purchase to our Save The Bees initiative. Our raw honey lemonades contain only 4g of sugar, five ingredients, and 16 calories! They are cold-pressed and never heated. Our cold-pressed wellness shots are infused with Manuka Honey and serve as a daily 2oz dose of immunity, energy, and vitamins. Manuka honey’s healing properties make it a miraculous food that is anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. And our Manuka honey lip balms keep lips nourished with long-lasting hydration. So anyone looking to have a healthy, delicious version of the beverage we all grew up with as a child, look no further Honeydrop is here!

Tell us about yourself

I believe in our products, and I believe in our initiative to give back to our environment. I’m part owner of the business with one of my longtime friends Andrew Lorig, CEO of Honeydrop, and before I was officially involved, Andy would bring products on trips, and we would say things like, “The flavor is amazing but too many calories,” Andy would listen and make changes. He brought me on officially the beginning of 2020 as a Board Member of the Company and Creative Brand Director due to my 10+ years of experience working in the Entertainment Industry.

Being able to work with one of my best friends has been a joy despite the trials the last few years have given many small businesses, but even more important than working just with a friend is working with someone who truly listens and collaborates and has a drive that is inspiring and is why I know Honeydrop will continue to succeed.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Providing truly delicious and great products that are not only good but good for you! Doing all of this with little overhead and managing to continue to grow demand despite the trials the last few years have given us all.

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

One of the hardest things you’ll have to face as a business owner is dealing with the unknown. Every day there will be new challenges and obstacles to deal with. Business is never predictable, no matter how prepared you are. So, do as much as you can to be prepared for the things you can predict, and get ready to roll with the punches for the rest.

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

  1. Get Organized: You’ll need to be organized and keep detailed records for your own sanity, but also as you grow to make it easier to integrate others into your workflow. A solid foundation is crucial for growth.
  2. Provide Great Service: Providing a good product is important, but providing great service is key. Great service combined with a good product ensures gaining customer loyalty and retaining their business.
  3. Be Prepared to Make Sacrifices: You’ll almost certainly end up working harder for yourself than you would for someone else, so prepare to make sacrifices in your personal life when establishing your business. You’ve got to make sure that not only is the business ready for launch, but you are as well. And that’s why it’s important that your business is a passion project you love so that it doesn’t feel like work.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://honeydrop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Honeydropbev/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeydrop/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/honeydropusa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lane-cheek-60a78221/

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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