Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ezra Rufino, Founder of Pow, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is called Pow. Pow is changing the way we fuel with adaptogen-infused functional beverages that help you be at your best every day. Inspired by the rejuvenating power of plants, our products incorporate some of the most healing herbs and mushrooms on the planet.
Our flagship product is an adaptogenic matcha called Wonder Matcha. Our customers are health-conscious people who want to operate at their best every day. This can be anyone who is invested in health and fitness, productivity, or even someone who has experienced significant health issues and is looking to turn things around. Typically our customer is a little bit younger (25-45) and is open to trying new things.
Tell us about yourself
I was raised in Brooklyn, NY, by my parents, who were both yoga teachers and students of holistic medicine / natural healing. Over the years, I began to experience worsening chronic health conditions and stress and eventually found my way back to a more holistic perspective on healing. I started Pow as a way to marry my love for the healing power of plants, as well as business and community. I have always been someone who loves the creative challenge of owning a business. I love wearing many hats and solving the puzzles that make a business work. When I started using matcha and adaptogens myself, I knew that I wanted to try and turn it into a business because it's something that I could be really passionate about.
I'm largely motivated by my customers. Every time I hear that someone is really feeling a difference in their life from trying our product, it's a huge motivator. I'm also just motivated by the challenges of day-to-day business, trying to succeed in a way that is sustainable and authentic. It's never easy, but I always come away with something new I've learned.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is probably just in some of the connections that I've built with some of my customers. I have quite a few very loyal customers who come back every month and refer their friends. That makes me really, really happy.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Staying positive and knowing that everything will work out. There are days when everything seems to be going wrong. Maybe I've made a mistake that's going to cost me, or I received a bad review, or sales are slow. Or all three! And on those days, it can be really hard to see all the reasons that you're doing this.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just make a little bit of progress every day, and know that that will add up to a lot over time. Remind yourself of this constantly.
- Don't feel like you need to do everything all at once. As business owners, there are usually about a million things you can do on any given day. And usually, there's a bunch of fun things to do and a bunch of difficult un-fun things to do. Make a list and prioritize. Don't overwhelm yourself; there's always tomorrow.
- Leverage your best customers. Your best customers are your most profitable customers and the ones that are the most passionate about what you do. Don't be afraid to ask them for testimonials, to refer friends, or even what they think you should be building next. And reward them for it; they deserve it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://getpow.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getsomepow/
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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