Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jared Kligerman, co-founder of Wander Nut Butters, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We're a husband-wife team making globally flavoured peanut butters in small batches using only peanuts, spices, and salt in Toronto that are full of flavour and spiced, not spicy. From next-level PB&J's to jump-starting your dinner, they are a new way to "spread the world"! You also spread some goods as 2% of sales are donated to (alphabetically) Anishnawbe Health Toronto, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society, and Egale Canada.
Tell us about yourself
Coming from an entrepreneurial family, I always wanted to run my own business. I love food and have been adjacent to the CPG/food and beverage world for my entire career, including currently leading a shopper marketing agency working with CPG brands across North America. I'm not normally the "idea guy" - I'm the strategist - however, over the pandemic, I had a few ideas, the only one of which that was viable was Wander. I'm putting the theory and second-hand experience I've gathered over the years of talking to founders to work and already have learned so much from the first-hand experience of doing it. Nothing replaces that!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Launching! Not easy to find a truly unique product to bring to market. Once you do, you still need to act on the it. It's a long journey from having an idea to selling your first product, and a lot can go wrong along the way.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Balancing priorities. My top priority is my family and our collective health - this is what guides both my personal and professional lives. I have a 9-5 job where I'm responsible for an incredible team, so this takes a second priority. Out of necessity, Wander takes third place, and it's challenging to balance the other two in a way that allows sufficient time and resources for the growth and success I want.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start developing awareness of your brand and product at least six months before your anticipated launch and, if possible, offer pre-launch sales.
- Make sure you know all the costs involved in getting your product to market and building sufficient margins.
- The startup community is an incredible one - get involved!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://tastewander.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taste.wander/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taste.wander/
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.