Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kim Roberts, Co-Owner of Westport Winery, located in Aberdeen, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Westport Winery Garden Resort is home to Ocean's Daughter Distillery, the Sea Glass Grill, the International Mermaid Museum, and Resort Lodging. The resort's guests come from throughout the US, as well as travelers from around the world. The majority of visitors are from the Pacific Northwest.
Tell us about yourself
The company is owned by me, Blain, and Carrie Roberts. Founded in 2008, we're dedicated to finding out what our guests want and then providing them with those products and services with a daily motivation to exceed guest expectations.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Westport Winery was named the 2022 Washington Winery of the Year. In 2017, it was named one of the top twenty most-admired wineries in North America. The Sea Glass Grill was voted the number two winery restaurant in the US.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The most difficult challenges are recruiting, training, and retaining motivated team members. The litany of governmental agencies, taxes, and intricate laws is daunting.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Forget the cliches.
- Don't do what you love to love what you do. Put the customer first; your needs are a distant second.
- Your team members are not family. They come to work for money.
- Don't even think about "under the table" strategies. You are not smarter than the government. Do everything to be 100% compliant. That way, if you make a mistake, that's all it is.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.westportwinery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westportwines/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportwinery/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/westportwinery
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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