Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Fanya Randall, Founder of NOW COFFEE, located in Austin, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
NOW COFFEE is my business; everyone can be a customer, even if they do not like coffee. My mission is to get year-round mental health awareness and anti-bullying curriculum in all public schools to stop the epidemic of bullying, depression, and suicide. We donate 50% of profits with each purchase. We hope to change the narrative and educate children at a young age to prevent negative outcomes.
Tell us about yourself
Life can be so explosive even after you try your best to steer it in the direction of safe and predictability. There are always key events that happen in life where you really get a good look at yourself and learn if you have all the qualities you think you have but actually find yourself lacking. Mothers have a remarkable instinct when it comes to their children. By the age of 2, I had some serious concerns about the development of my son. My gut instinct knew David had Autism, but hearing it out loud from a well-known pediatric neurologist just made it REAL. "Your son has Level 2 Autism," the neurologist said. I was instantly devastated. I was fighting back the tears so David wouldn't question what was wrong. The doctor left the room, and I looked at David, and within a glimpse, I saw the life I had envisioned for him flash before me and then vanish. I smiled, grabbed his cute, small, doughy hand, and opened the door as I barely had the strength to push the elevator door button. The elevator door opened, and this older man looked at me as he was walking past and said, "You're a great Mom. You are doing a good job." I don't know who he was, but his words were something I desperately needed to hear at that very moment.
Fast forward a few years, David and Dina were attending a Montessori school. One night, my son frantically woke up saying, "head hurt, head hurt." I turned to Dina to see if she could explain what had happened to David. She told me that an older kid pushed him down, then kicked David in the head and called him weird. This was a pivotal moment for me and where my life took a hard right turn. Timing is everything, I was working for a company that I wasn't happy with due to how they were treating employees, including myself, and this gave me a hard push to put my notice in and focus on my new life's work. KINDNESS.
Months later, NOW COFFEE was established, and my journey began at the age of 43. Through countless incidences, I realized the best way to help David was through early education. I hope that by educating our children about mental health awareness and anti-bullying (learning what to do if you or someone else is being bullied, the long-term effects of bullying so children can learn empathy, leadership skills, confidence building, and learning about proactive kindness, and what that looks like, etc.) I am 100% confident that if we educated our kids year-round through the public schools K-12th, we would have an entirely different world that would be what we all envision and want.
The bullying and suicide rates among teens are staggering, and this epidemic needs to stop NOW. This is how I came up with my company's name, NOW COFFEE, to let people know the urgency of the situation. Mental Health Awareness and Anti-Bullying Education are more important than any math or English class. Fast forward a few years, I was voted top 3 favorite coffee companies in Austin, TX! My online coffee website and my NOW coffee truck have literally been a labor of love. I'm truly thankful for the experience I've had because David, through his countless struggles, has taught me to be a better person and mother. I can't protect my children from everything, but I'm 100% confident we can change the landscape in which we live through early education and practicing proactive kindness. I am so grateful for y'all to give me this awesome platform to share my story but also millions of others similar to mine. To donate to our cause, please go to www.nowcoffee.com; we appreciate your support!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is providing curriculum for children in schools that may not have access to this type of learning and education regarding mental health awareness and anti-bullying curriculum. If we can teach a child to advocate for themselves or others, we are changing the landscape where we can prevent negative outcomes in the future.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a small business, there are lots of obstacles, but just starting out can be very costly for operational costs, etc...so getting a good business loan with a decent interest rate can be difficult. Also, marketing costs, etc...but networking is key.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- If it is your passion, these business obstacles will be something you can get through since your passion outweighs the obstacles.
- Understand that things will not always be perfect or go your way, so have a flexible mindset!
- Partner with other businesses and network to help your business grow in your community etc...
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.nowcoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nowcoffeeaustin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowcoffeeaustin/
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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