Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mindy McCord, Co-Founder of Siren Shrub Co., located in Stevens Point, WI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Siren Shrub Co. is a women-owned and Wisconsin-based beverage company with the intention of creating space for everyone — drinkers and non-drinkers, Friday-night-in aficionados and sophisticated dinner party planners, craft cocktail lovers, and everyone in between.
Tell us about yourself
My background is mainly in administration work, but my passion has always been food. In particular, preserving, fermenting, and canning food. My business partner Layne Cozzolino and I met working at a farm-to-table cafe in our hometown. Our friendship blossomed around the kitchen. We had a collective passion for getting our hands dirty and learning everything we could about local food. We started out making salsa, relish, and jams to sell at our local farmers market...but the moment we discovered shrubs, we felt like we were really onto something. We felt like the shrub was a whole experience, not just another condiment.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Overcoming my imposture syndrome (most days, at least).
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The to-do list is never complete, but trying my best to create healthy boundaries/work-life balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You'll never be totally ready. If you're making a calculated risk, it's okay to do it scared.
- Failure is just learning. You are going to make a lot of mistakes...learn from them and do better next time.
- You need to be able to SCALE your business, know-how before you start.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sirenshrubs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sirenshrubs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirenshrubs/
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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