Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Matthew Hastad, CEO of Remedy Brewing Company, located in Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are Remedy Brewing Company, a regional brewery based in Sioux Falls, SD. We produce high-quality, easy-drinking beer styles intermingled with some real mind-bending experimental beers to provide a little sip for everyone. Combine that with a fun, relaxed atmosphere with plenty of food and activities, and we have a wonderful example of what beer is all about. Our customer base ranges massively. We are family-friendly and promote bringing your fur babies down, so we have everything from college-aged groups to those who are retired and out with their friends.
Tell us about yourself
I was fed up with working jobs where a carrot was dangled in my face constantly for promotion, but no matter how hard I worked, I seemed to be just turning my wheels. I don't like to play office politics and have made it a goal to never let anything like that happen at our company. Show up, work hard, and see the fruits of your labor. Eventually, I convinced two of my close friends that brewing was how we were going to leave our mark on this world and that their expertise complimented mine well, and we filled in gaps for each other. We saw a gap in good, high-quality beer being brewed in Sioux Falls and wanted to take advantage of what was then a fledgling market. The thing that motivates me each day is our customer base. I love seeing people enjoy our beers, especially Queen Bee, and I love hearing someone tell me, "This is my favorite beer." It is so rewarding. Secondarily, my staff. They have put their trust in us to provide a fun, comfortable, safe, and welcoming environment to work in, and we strive every day to give them a great place to come, work, and be able to support their families.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Hiring. Our staff are AMAZING. If you read reviews of our taproom, you'll see that, more often than not, the service is called out as being excellent. I am incredibly proud of that. We've been fortunate to find good people who believe in us and believe in our cause of improving our community, and it really shows in every interaction.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Working on growth. It is incredibly easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day and easy to focus on immediate needs and "do it yourself" instead of delegating. Finding someone to take the smaller tasks off your plate so you can focus on growing the company and the real pressing concerns is tantamount to success but really hard to do.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find the right people for support. You are going to have to do everything upfront, but it is impossible not to lean on someone. Bounce ideas off other industry professionals, find someone to help with tasks, and set yourself up for success with a great support network.
- Be prepared for no. You will hear it often. Don't let it discourage you. Find a way to regroup, improve, and keep chasing your dream.
- Take your financial projections and leave yourself AMPLE wiggle room. Costs have really been volatile for some time now, and every day there seem to be new supply chain issues. Plan for overruns and give yourself a cushion, so you do not have to scramble to pay bills.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.remedybrewco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/remedybrewco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remedybrewcosf/
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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