Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cara Gambini, co-owner of Texas Hill Country Olive Co., located in Dripping Springs, TX, USA.

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

Texas Hill Country Olive Co. is an award-winning olive oil producer in Central Texas. Our customers are foodies, home cooks, and people who love experimenting with flavor.

Tell us about yourself

I left my corporate career in Oil & Gas to help the family grow the business. We were at a place where we were gaining in popularity but needed to open up some new sales channels and rethink our brink & mortar operations to accommodate the tourism building up in the area. Initially, the excitement of building the family business excited me, but I eventually fell in love with olive oil after an extensive sensory training experience.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment was helping our business survive and thrive during the shutdown. It was two years of pivoting, and a lot of growth came from it.

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

As a small business owner, it is easy to get pulled into the daily operations and be unable to focus on the growth of the business.

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

  1. I think business owners should try to do things themselves first. For example, creating your website, opening social media accounts and making posts, setting up a new sales channel, etc. Once you understand it at an intermediate level, hire someone to manage it. Knowing what level of effort it takes will help you hire the right person without getting burned.
  2. Always have a plan B and C so that you can pivot when you are thrown a curve ball. For example, have multiple sales channels so if one is falling short, you can lean on another.
  3. Hire a great CPA and ensure your books are set up correctly and monitored by them monthly. A great CPA will not only help you see a clear picture of your business, but they can also catch mistakes and/or theft that can take your business down if not caught early.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://texashillcountryoliveco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texashillcountryoliveco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/txhillcountryoliveoil/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/txhillctryolive
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-hill-country-olive-company/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.