Coffee That Benefits People - Salt River Coffee Company
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Athena Williamson, founder, and CEO of Salt River Coffee Company, located in Shepherdsville, KY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Inspired by my personal mission to do something good for all, Salt River Coffee Company came to life as a "coffee that benefits people." From bean to cup, we are committed to paying fairly while sourcing sustainably to benefit our farmers, eco-roasting with zero emissions to benefit our Earth, and small-batch roasted for the fresh coffee experience. Each roast is handcrafted with love to create the amazing flavors we believe everyone deserves.
Our customers range from our local townspeople that stop by our roastery to grab a cup of freshly brewed coffee and try samples, to our e-commerce store where we sell our coffees by subscription and in gift boxes, to our wholesale customers who sell and serve our coffee to their customers and staff.
Tell us about yourself
After three decades as an accounting professional, I wanted to do something that had a more profound meaning. Basically, I wanted to do something I could feel good about every day. My husband and I had a love of coffee. As a military family, we constantly were relocating all over the country. This often made finding good coffee difficult. So, I decided that if we couldn't find it, then we'd make it ourselves, and I started on my mission of building a business that embraced all the values I wanted in my life. I wanted a business that made something in the best way possible that people could enjoy and value. Something that would truly benefit everyone, not just my pocketbook. Being remembered for these values is what motivates me every day to continue building the business and sharing these values with the world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
In our world, every cup matters, and every bean sold helps support our mission to craft a coffee that benefits people. I'm most proud of our ability to give back to our community. We've been in business less than a year, but within the first couple of months of opening, we were able to build a relationship with Active Heroes, a charity for military families dedicated to preventing Veteran suicide. We crafted three specialty roasts dedicated to the cause, donated a portion of every bag sold to charity, and provided free coffee for local events and retreat cabins. As an active-duty military spouse, this cause has become very near and dear to my heart. We've also donated coffee service to several schools in our local district and Sheriff's office. Nothing feels better than giving back.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Starting a business is a huge commitment. The biggest struggle we had was clearly defining our marketing strategies to align distinctly with each of our product offerings. The ubiquitous nature of coffee made identifying our specific customer base extremely challenging as we couldn't just market to every coffee drinker in the world. It took planning and pivoting. In any business, no matter if it's selling a product or service, identifying and truly understanding your customer's needs and serving those needs explicitly is the key to being successful. Then, you need to plan and be open to pivoting when you've gotten it wrong, which is inevitable.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your homework and research every aspect of what it takes to run and grow the company you are aspiring to begin.
- Ask for help as no one ever starts a business completely on their own.
- Plan and pivot.
Make a plan with SMART goals and regularly check your performance. The earlier you catch when something just isn't working the way you expected, the faster you can pivot to improve your results. Wasted resources, especially cash, is why many businesses fail or never really get off the ground in the first place.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The most important thing about being an entrepreneur is to love what you do. It is a hard road starting, running, and growing a business. Loving what you do will help you find the patience and perseverance you'll need to eventually make it a success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://saltrivercoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saltrivercoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltrivercoffee/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salt-river-coffee/
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.