Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Danny Herold, director of marketing of Sonder Brewing, located in Mason, Ohio, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Sonder Brewing makes Uniquely Crafted beer in Mason, Ohio. We're a three-year-old start-up brewery with an emphasis on storytelling. We believe that every person and beer has a story, and everyone that enjoys Sonder beer is a part of the Sonder story. We sell beer to bars, restaurants, and stores in the Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky, and Columbus areas.

Tell us about yourself

I came onto the team as the Marketing Director 3 months after Sonder opened its doors, and it's been an absolutely wild ride. My day-to-day work involves:

  • Creating for social media.
  • Operating our website.
  • Producing and hosting our podcast.
  • Working with our operations team, and much more.

The best part about working at a start-up is that you're never just doing the things in your job description, and that's what is exciting for me. Over the last three years, I've worked on massive events, delivered beer, poured beer behind the bar, and many other things to make sure that all the little things are adding up to make the big picture work. I've poured myself into my work since being at Sonder, and seeing people enjoy our beer, interact with our brand, and have an experience with us is what keeps me going. Telling the story of our people and beer and highlighting to the public how talented our team is from top to bottom is my favorite part about what I do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm not an owner here at Sonder, but the pride I have for this place is something that I'm constantly proud of. I love the work we do; I relish how happy our product and space can make people, and seeing people enjoy themselves while having a Sonder beer will forever put a smile on my face. It's hard to pick one accomplishment, we've won beer awards over the last three years, we have navigated a global pandemic with the safety of our team and patrons in mind, we've grown our reach and presence consistently, and we've become a Cincinnati staple in what I feel is one of the best beer towns in the country.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

When you sign up to work for a start-up company, you also sign up for an abnormal schedule. It's a lot of long nights and weekends on the job, but when you love what you do and care about the place you work at, it's all worth it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Bet on yourself, be patient and enjoy the journey. Betting on yourself is hard and feels daunting, but it is insanely fulfilling. The cliché quote is that Rome wasn't built in a day; it takes time to build and grow a business. Focusing on the end goal at the expense of enjoying the journey can hold you back from what you're trying to accomplish; if you aren't enjoying the journey, you'll never feel like you got to the end goal.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I'm not an owner here at Sonder, but our ownership team leads by example every day, and it shows in every single team member. Seeing how much they love and care about us makes it all the more worthwhile to pour ourselves into this place.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://sonderbrewing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonderbrewing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonderbrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonderBrewing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonder-brewing/

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.