Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mark Heise, founder of Rebellion Brewing, located in Regina, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a craft brewery in Regina, Saskatchewan. Our beer is sold in 300 locations across Saskatchewan, as well as locations in Alberta and Manitoba. Our brand promise is "Great Beer that makes the community better." We believe in living out the values of what it truly means to not just be local but to be community-focused. In addition to winning a ton of local and international awards for the quality of our beers, we are hyper-focused on raising awareness of all the great things in our community and helping out those that need it.
Tell us about yourself
I've always been a bit of an outcast, always doing things differently, a bit of a rebel I guess. I've always loved punk rock and the DIY ethics of working really hard and questioning the status quo. My career background was in accounting, then shifted to technical IT work, project management, strategic planning, leadership, etc. I started homebrewing in 2004, and it became my obsession.
We decided to open Rebellion in 2014, I had never managed a single employee prior to this, let alone an entire business. Rebellion Brewing allows me to bring my "whole self" to work every day; I get to truly be myself, live out my values, be creative, pursue brewing and business excellence, be a positive influence on others, and the best part is seeing the passion and pride that my staff and customers also have in our business. So ya, every day I go to work is pretty rad.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We don't do a hard sell, and we aren't phony. Everything we do is based on being honest and genuine. I love that I am from Saskatchewan, I get to run a business in Saskatchewan, and I get to do it my way. We get so many unsolicited compliments, kudos, thank yous, endorsements, and recommendations for everything we do, from people across this province, and from all walks of life. To know that we mean so much to so many people in Saskatchewan is without a doubt my biggest accomplishment, and it encourages me to keep doing more.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
So many people have taken a chance and put their faith and trust in Rebellion, and in me personally. The hardest thing for me is to not let any of them down. My staff in particular work so hard and have made so many sacrifices, and have gone along with so many of many crazy ideas. Their families depend on Rebellion being a success, and I take this very seriously. I never want them to look back and feel they wasted their time here.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1. You need a compelling vision and purpose beyond "making money," and you need to sell that vision and purpose to all your stakeholders.
2. You need unbelievable confidence and determination to figure things out, and you need to surround yourself with others that feel the same. Running your own biz isn't for the faint of heart. It is a ton of fun, and incredibly rewarding, but it will also absolutely crush you, drain you, absorb you, and it will impact your health and your personal relationships.
3. However much money you think you need, double it.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-heise-60bb70169/
https://www.facebook.com/mark.heise.16/
https://www.instagram.com/markaberrant/
https://twitter.com/MarkTheBrewer
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.
