Serious Hydration for Serious Athletes™

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Belaga, president, and CEO of Wellness Brands Inc., located in Boulder, CO, USA.

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

Wellness Brands develops/markets branded consumer products. With the acquisition of exclusive rights from NASA (electrolyte drink additive), the first brand -The Right Stuff®, launched in June 2009. The Right Stuff is sold to a range of institutions (colleges across the US, most pro teams [NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, etc.] as well as high schools and first responders [military, firefighters, etc.] In addition, it is used by many committed athletes like endurance [e.g., cyclists, runners] and ball sports athletes [e.g., golfers and tennis players].

Tell us about yourself

Before starting this business, I was in a large corporate environment (e.g., Pepsi, Hallmark, and Wyeth). It is extremely rewarding to run a business based on highly efficacious technology. And working with such positive, goal-oriented people (athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, sports dietitians, etc.) is both rewarding and energizing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My proudest days were several years after we started the business. I had taken a relatively amount of money from Friends and Family to help establish and grow our business. First, we crossed the milestone of being cash-flow positive. But, second and much more rewarding were after we turned a profit and I was able to issue a dividend to our investors.

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

While nearly every day provides its own challenges and rewards, it is tough that you never "turn it off" and leave it to the team as a business owner.

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

First and foremost, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and remember to leverage those strengths and find others to address your shortcomings. Second, figure out ways to have sufficient funds to support both your business and your family. Third, solicit other peoples' perspectives. If you can find a or even multiple mentors, so much the better!

Patience - Nearly everything in life comes at a pace slower than most entrepreneurs expect and want!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://therightstuff-usa.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3rvOGiy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therightstuff_usa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_the_rightstuff
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbelagatherightstuffusa/

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.