Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Antonio Querin, Co-Owner of Spirits With Smoke, Inc., located in Calgary, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a Smoked Cocktail Barware company that sells to the home bartender or cocktail enthusiast. Our mission is to ensure that our customers Never Drink Ordinary. We are proud to say that we produce all of our cocktail smokers here in North America by hand with partnerships with local artisans.
Tell us about yourself
We started by making a Smoked Old Fashioned cocktail program in the restaurant we bartended at. At first, we sold the Home Cocktail Smoking Boards on the side while we made them in my grandfather's wood shop. It took us a while to see that there was a business, but over the past four years, we've grown to become an eCommerce and events company.
Honestly, it's the thrill of problem-solving in a growing business, having the freedom to innovate new and exciting products & a learning environment that motivates me every day. Creating Spirits with Smoke has given me a creative space that I don't think I could have found in many other careers.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The moment I realized that we were employing/supporting eight people, including ourselves, was my biggest accomplishment so far. I never thought that our business would grow to this size. It started as a passion project (and still is) and has become so much more.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Learning when to delegate your tasks to others or hiring the right people that want to work as hard as you. It's important to find people that have the skills in areas you lack. I've learned the hard way that hiring people that are both driven and contrast your skillset is invaluable in helping you grow/scale your business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Choose something you are passionate about if you're going to start a business. The days, weeks, and months can be very long and weary, so choose something that won't become boring or tiresome.
- Make a plan but realize that you don't need to stick with it. Make sure to follow your intuition as you move along.
- Have a strong partner that you can depend on but can also have an argument with. You need to be able to fight but still come together afterward in order to achieve your goals.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://spiritswithsmoke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spiritswithsmoke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritswithsmoke/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-querin-b62b24a6/
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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