Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey infood and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Hugo Quarry, Product Director of LVDY, located in London, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
In the Trustpilot words of one of our customers: "After trying so many different "hangover cures," all to no avail, my cynicism about these products is high." However, after trying LVDY four times, I can clearly say for me that I have found the magic bullet. LVDY is a natural supplement that supports your liver’s metabolism by boosting your body's defense against toxins from alcohol. When we consume alcohol, our body has to deal with toxins like Reactive Oxidative
Species (ROS), which spark a number of unwanted and damaging reactions within our cells. Our body uses antioxidants like glutathione to deal with this. However, they are not able to produce enough antioxidants, which allows the toxins to roam freely in your body and cause damage. LVDY has carefully calculated levels of antioxidants and vitamins to try to help your body repair and recover. So if customers take two LVDY at least an hour before drinking, they are giving their bodies that additional level of protection and tell us ‘the next morning is a breeze.
We cater to a wide range of customers, from those who are planning a big night out but don’t want it to ruin their next morning to those who take it daily as a liver supplement, even when not drinking. At its core, our customers are people who care about their well-being!
Tell us about yourself
I am the Product Director at LVDY, and, having come from a scientific background (studying biochemistry at the University of Exeter), I’ve always been interested in the science of how our bodies react to the things we put in them and, in particular, as a fan of beer, how best to biohack my routine so that the excesses of the night before didn’t impact my productivity the following day.
When I first met our founder, Dr. Iseult Roche, I knew that she was on to a winner, and several “road tests” later, I was invested in bringing this product to market to spread the good word. I love that LVDY makes people’s lives better - whether it be because they’ve not had to spend the day in bed with a sore head after a few too many or just simply because it gives them the peace of mind that they’re supporting their liver.
It’s also turned into a bit of a family endeavor, working alongside my siblings, with each of us bringing a different skillset to the table, each complimenting the others nicely.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Successfully bringing a product such as LVDY to market. Ensuring that you are compliant with all of the regulations and restrictions is not the most straightforward of asks, so to have created a viable business in such an environment is to be commended, particularly as it is a sector that we were relatively new to when we launched the product.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Particularly with LVDY, there is often a lot of skepticism around the product, that a “miracle cure” is too good to be true, so one of the biggest initial hurdles for us was cutting through all of the “noise” in the market and getting people to actually try LVDY.
Once customers saw the effects for themselves, though, the repeat orders and subscriptions that they signed up for were a really nice validation of everything that we’ve been working towards.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The three top tips I would give someone starting a business today are:
- Perseverance - in the beginning, it may feel that you’re not getting the traction you really want, but as long as you keep at it, progressing at least one workstream every day, the results will come. On top of this, having a clear goal in mind is crucial to achieving your objectives, but don't be afraid to adopt a flexible approach if the plan needs to change.
- Know your strengths and your weaknesses - particularly if working as part of a team, don’t be afraid to delegate work between you in a way that suits each of your backgrounds and skill sets. This isn’t about hierarchy - simply a way of making sure that the business is operating in the most efficient way possible.
- Don’t be afraid to invest - it can be daunting at the beginning to think about spending money on things like marketing before you have a consistent revenue stream. However, as long as you have a plan for how and where you are spending your money and your time, and you can see that there’ll be a reasonable return on it, it’s money well spent!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lvdy.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lvdyhealth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lvdyhealth/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lvdy/
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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