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, values-led beverage company. We craft shrubs - a beverage that originated in the 1800s as a preservation method. Shrubs are a tangy apple cider vinegar mixer best used a splash at a time to craft cocktails with or without the addition of alcohol. Our customers are people who love to craft in their kitchens, enjoy a ritualistic beverage and appreciate a well-crafted drink that can be made simply.
Tell us about yourself
My business partner Layne Cozzolino and I cultivated a friendship around being in the kitchen. Cooking, canning, and fermenting things were a collective passion. We started selling jams, relishes, and salsas at local farmers' markets. We quickly realized we were working in a saturated market, where those types of preserves were a dime a dozen. When we discovered shrubs, we knew we were onto something... something exciting, mostly unknown and delicious. We established Siren Shrub Co. in 2018; holding strong in our values, we continue to source from a local farm in every flavor we produce. We are most motivated by building community wealth, and the way we source our ingredients is just one way we do this!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment is holding steadfast in our values. In the entrepreneurial world, we are sold the message that bigger is better, and you should come in as fast as you go out. That's not our path; we believe in small to small, we believe in quality over quantity, and we believe there is a sustainable and delicious path forward for our business that doesn't have to be a part of that traditional model.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hats are all yours to wear; sometimes they fit well, sometimes they don't, but that doesn't mean you don't have to wear them.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't forget to celebrate the small victories. They are easy to miss.
- Mistakes are a daily occurrence. Learn, grow, ask for help, and try again tomorrow.
- Know how you are going to scale your business 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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