3 Tier Beverages - Joseph Sepka

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joseph Sepka, co-founder of 3 Tier Beverages, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

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

We are 3 Tier Beverages, a data consulting company that helps small to mid-sized bev-alcohol suppliers analyze and make sense of all the data they have at their fingertips. We want a small craft brewery to go into a retailer presentation and deliver a data-driven presentation that is more sophisticated than a company 10x their size might come up with. And by leveraging the various products and templates we've developed (and the experience of our small but knowledgeable team), we're able to deliver this at a very reasonable and affordable price.

Tell us about yourself

Outside of my family (my wife and newborn son), I've really always been passionate about two things - playing music and data analytics. Both can seem pretty different at first, but I think there are actually a lot of similarities. For example, both tend to get the best results when you collaborate openly with other people and take into account multiple viewpoints beyond your own. Both allow you to get creative and transform complex concepts on the surface into something that's easy for others to digest. I think my biggest motivation is making people happy. Both my passions allow me to do that in different ways.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think our biggest accomplishment so far is taking our business from 10 clients supported by two people (1.5 years ago) to about 100 clients today with a team of 6 people. We found a need in an industry that we're experienced in and took a stab at supplying some solutions. We didn't have all the answers then, nor do we now. However, it's just a matter of continuing to push forward and making sure we take advantage of opportunities when they're presented to us.

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

I think the hardest thing as a business owner is understanding that no one is going to solve your problems but you. It's up to you to anticipate what's coming ahead and to react accordingly. Also, this can mean some very long hours and seemingly endless amounts of things that need to be done. Not only are you responsible for the deliverable to the client, but all the other back-of-the-house stuff as well. Fortunately, we have an amazing (and growing) team to help split up the work now; however, all of us have to wear a lot of hats and be ready for any task that's required.

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

There are a few pieces of advice I would give to someone looking to start a business:

1. Do your research to make sure you're solving a problem that needs to be solved.
2. Know your competition, and understand all the reasons someone would choose what you're offering over the alternatives. This will improve your sales pitch and will help you anticipate how you need to evolve as things change.
3. Make sure you continue to push forward and always be "doing."

Don't worry about everything being absolutely perfect. You'll figure out a way to get wherever you need to be as long as you take that first step.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.3tierbeverages.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3TierBeverages/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephsepka/

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.