Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Patric Stettler, founder of PS Modern, located in Canmore, AB, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

P.S. Modern is a small batch of handcrafted syrup and soda companies.

Your summer spritzer, your sip along the hiking trail, or your child’s favourite refreshment, P.S. Modern elevates the everyday. Our handcrafted syrups and sodas are made locally in Canmore, Alberta.

We draw upon our roots in the European culinary community while gaining inspiration from Rocky Mountain culture to provide adaptable products made for everyone, catered to you.

Tell us about yourself

From glacier-fed lakes in the Bow Valley to elderflower fields in the Swiss Alps. I have drawn on my roots in the European culinary community and my inspiration from living in the Canadian Rockies to create my product line. My culinary experience comes from over 20 years of cheffing, 15 in Switzerland, at leading restaurants and hotels. Both sides of my family have worked in the hotel industry, dating back five generations on my father’s side.

I also owned a restaurant in Switzerland for a few years, where the idea for my syrups (and P.S. Modern) was born. Guests at my restaurant would get a bottle of soda on their tables along with a bottle of my homemade elderflower syrup. The guests mixed in the syrup to their liking, and soon enough, people began requesting to buy it in bottles to take home.

When I returned to Canada, I forgot about my elderflower syrup until I met my wife, Soulafa. We found out we were expecting our first child. To give her something tasty to drink while others enjoyed wine and cocktails, I made a batch of syrup as I used to in Switzerland. Soon, we began bringing bottles of syrup as gifts when we attended gatherings. Though I was used to creative syrups and cordials lining the shelves of grocery stores back in Europe, I noticed this wasn’t the case in Canada and wanted to help others enjoy a taste of the European culinary experience.

That’s how P.S. Modern was born — with love — to elevate your everyday beverages with delicious mountain-made syrup flavours.

With mindfully-selected ingredients, unique flavours, incredible quality, what started as a single syrup has grown into several flavours, including the original elderflower — a love story that Soulafa and I decided to share with the world.

The syrups can be enjoyed in beverages that are cold, hot, carbonated, still, or alcoholic.

P.S. Modern syrups and sodas can be ordered online or found at local markets and a selection of Alberta vendors.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My evolving product line. I found that producing ideas for PS Modern was the easy part. Building all the background processes for the business, like bookkeeping, accounting, banking, etc., was challenging for me. So, I am also most proud of getting all the business start-up items and internal processes in order from the get-go, which I have my wife to thank for that. Our strengths nicely complement one another.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Prioritizing what's important: Trying not to get distracted by all the other shiny opportunities and staying focused on your core business and services.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. The product doesn’t have to be perfect when you first launch. Get it ready and see if there is a demand for the product. You can always fine-tune it down the line.
  2. Start off with a modest budget; don’t overspend. Very often, secondhand equipment is available; you just have to spend some time finding it. If you are printing off business cards, stickers, or flyers, you’re better off buying less than what you think you need. You will very quickly want to make changes to your product. If you print thousands of business cards because they cost a fraction more than 500, you’re stuck with them.
  3. Look for business partners that can nicely complement and promote your product.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

As a creative chef, I am always excited to find new flavours and explore different ways that my syrups can be used. I love hearing from customers about how they enjoyed my recipes and if they've come up with ones on their own. My goal is to continually create an ever-growing list of recipes of PS Modern's multi-purposed syrups that elevate alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as sweet and savory meals, for everyone.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.psmodern.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psmoderncuisine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psmodern_cuisine/

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.