Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in olive oil but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Soler, owner of OLIVE OIL GROVE, located in New Hill, NC.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At OLIVE OIL GROVE, we source curated selections of artisanal olive oils and vinegars, and ship them directly to our customer's tables, through the approach we call..."from grove to table®". Our flagship product is our organic early harvest extra virgin olive oil that is not available elsewhere in the United States because the process does not lend itself to mass production. Organic early harvest is literally the healthiest and most flavorful form of extra virgin olive oil available: you need five or more bottles of supermarket extra virgin olive oil to rival the health of a single bottle of our liquid gold (and we have independent third party lab results to prove it). The secret sauce to finding authentic and fresh organic early harvest extra virgin olive oil is in our sourcing approach: we walk the groves, inspect the mills, and talk with the farmers that passionately make their products.
Tell us about yourself
Like many businesses, the idea for OLIVE OIL GROVE came from trying to solve a personal problem: we could not find authentic and fresh extra virgin olive oil in the United States.
On Lucas' yearly trip to Spain, he would stuff his checked luggage with as much olive oil as possible, always wrapped in multiple layers of garbage bags to avoid the on-air oil spill!
We love the extraordinary smile and surprise with the typical US consumer when they taste our fresh and authentic olive oil. Many had never tasted fresh olive oil before.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We kicked off this business during the height of the COVID pandemic, and because of our sourcing strategy, it required Lucas to travel to Spain during that time when there were no tourists. After visiting scores of groves, Spain went into a national lockdown on the day he was scheduled to depart Spain. On the way to the airport, Lucas successfully negotiated three police roadblocks, and finally made it home. Overcoming the odds and selecting an artisanal grove in Spain was definitely one of our proudest accomplishments.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Wearing all the hats, and finding the time to do it all.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Find the cross-section between your passion and what customers want, then chase it.
Start a business that will not only make money, but bring you intrinsic happiness too.
Learn from others: you're likely not the first person to have tried what you're trying.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://oliveoilgrove.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliveoilgrove/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/OliveOilGrove/
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.
