Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Fukumoto, owner of Snack Addicted, located in Honolulu, HI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
From start to finish, we get to handle every single piece of beef chip that goes into every bag. We definitely pride ourselves on the fact that our hard work and passion comes along with it too!
We live in such a special place where we all share this love of each other as well as our love for amazing food and snacks. We take pride in being able to say that our product is handmade in Hawaii because it's not just a process but rather a love of what we do, and even better than that, we share the love of making people happy. It's so amazing when we meet our mainland customers who tell us they heard that they had to bring back beef chips and these other snacks from Hawaii for their friends and family. It's so awesome to think that all of our snack companies (not just ours) have made Hawaii a place to come for some of the best snacks in the world! Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout these years because, without you, we wouldn't be able to still be here doing what we love. On top of all of that, we've had the chance to donate to so many different causes, especially cancer awareness, which is actually why our colors are pink and black.
Tell us about yourself
Snack Addicted's first product started out as a thank you to my awesome massage therapist Arleigh Bumanglag of Hi-Med Therapeutic. He really helped me through my back injury, which occurred during my training for a men's physique competition. He was also preparing for a body-building competition. After talking about his diet, he told me that he really craved chips but couldn't eat them because of the high fat and carbs. I first made a batch of beef jerky for him, but because it contained sugar, he wasn't able to eat it. So after experimenting (definitely not sacrificing taste), I came up with our first Cracked Pepper recipe with no added sweeteners. He also told me that he doesn't really like when beef jerky gets stuck in his teeth and doesn't like chewing a lot, so I went back to the drawing board and decided to cut the meat really thin to make a chip-like jerky. He gave me the approval and also shared some of our beef chips with his friends. They all loved it and asked if I was selling it. At first, I didn't want to, but after all the demands and support of our friends and family, I decided to rent a certified kitchen, and here we are today.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that I've been given the opportunity to work with so many different people and companies who are just starting out. I am able to help promote them and help them grow. I think just hearing that I was able to help make a difference is my greatest reward.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is definitely the part of having to charge my friends and family for something I'm so passionate about. I know it sounds a little crazy, but I truly feel like I wouldn't be who I have become without them.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you don't lose that passion for what you are doing.
- Money is important, but it's not everything. Kindness goes a very long way.
- Think of all your customers as if they were your friends and family; how would you treat them, and what would you say to them if they were purchasing your product.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Life is difficult, and running a business makes it a lot more complicated. If your heart is in the right place, don't ever look at the "negatives" as a bad thing; instead, see them as a lesson you can learn from. It actually makes you appreciate the good things that happen even more!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.snackaddictedhi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snackaddicted/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snackaddicted/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/snackaddicted
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.
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