Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Edward Denyer, owner of Eco-Coffee Corporation, located in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a local full-service coffee roastery. We have been providing specialty coffee origins to our community for almost 20 years. We carefully select our beans from a variety of sources, both in Canada and abroad, and we use technology to coax the best flavors out of every batch. We are considered an artisanal roaster as we roast everything in small batches, but we use technology to ensure we achieve the best from every coffee.
Tell us about yourself
I am an entrepreneur at heart who fell in love with coffee many years ago. I continuously aim to provide my customers with the best quality and best service possible, which is also economically viable and sustainable. It's clear that to achieve longevity, you need to acquire the trust of your consumers and then deliver on that each and every time they purchase from you. The opportunity to delight my customers is what motivates me each day to perform, and the great smell of coffee does not hurt either!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been to work with and educate my staff to go on and become bigger and better than I am. It is amazing to be able to teach somebody about something you are truly passionate about and then to watch them surpass you in ability, understanding, and passion.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a small business owner, one of the hardest things to comprehend is the amount of time the business needs. Over time it tends to improve as you learn and become more efficient, but in the beginning, it is incredible how much time it takes to achieve what seemed easy in the planning but a new reality in the execution of it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Never believe you know sufficiently about your business or product. Always be willing and enthusiastic about acquiring more knowledge which will then strengthen your position.
- Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Don't cut corners when dealing with others, as someday you will need them, and if they were not treated well, it would come back to hurt you
- Do things the correct way even if in the beginning it takes longer; mistakes will happen, but if they are small, you can overcome them. Big mistakes, in the beginning, can be very difficult to overcome.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Owning a business is never about only one thing, be prepared to do many things in the beginning. But always look to surround yourself with capable help that will understand where you are going and then let them achieve, which in turn will allow you to address and achieve even more than you ever expected.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ecocafestjacobs.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecocafestjacobs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EcoCafeStJacobs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcoCafeStJacobs/
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.