Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ryan Gluckman, Founder of Origami Coffee Co., located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We sell Japanese-style single-serve pour-over coffee, artisan roasted and packaged in Los Angeles. We sell our pour-over packs through our website origamicoffeeco.com to coffee lovers all across the USA!
Tell us about yourself
We started Origami Coffee Co. after living in Japan for 3.5 years, where we first tried Japanese-style single-serve pour-over coffee. We were surprised by how popular this style of coffee was in Japan while being relatively unknown back home. After relocating to Los Angeles, we decided to spread the word about this unique and fun way of making coffee! Our goal is to make and sell a great-tasting and fun product while also sharing part of Japanese coffee culture.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment so far has been selling out of our first batch of inventory - at first, we weren't sure how long it would take to sell our coffee, but the first batch sold very quickly, and we had to reorder in less than a week which was super exciting!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things has been wearing so many hats, being involved in every aspect of the business, from social media and advertising to web design and operations, fulfillment, and of course, finance and accounting.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The first tip I'd say is to find a product or service you are interested in and enjoy. Secondly, I would say make sure you understand your profitability from the beginning, especially if you are boot-strapping. Lastly, I would say to just take the leap and start, you will learn a lot along the way, and this will be the best way to get experience and find out what works.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://origamicoffeeco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/origamicoffeeco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/origamicoffeeco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/origamicoffeeco
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@origamicoffeeco
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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