Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Victoria Pustynsky, president and CEO of Astraeus Purveyors, Inc., located in Portland, OR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm the founder of Aurora Elixirs, a sparkling beverage business crafting elevated plant-infused soft drinks in Portland, Oregon. We make delicious, aperitif-inspired, non-alcoholic drinks that are refreshing and restorative. Our drinks are popular with cocktail enthusiasts who want to drink less alcohol without sacrificing the celebratory occasion.
Tell us about yourself
I spent over a decade in the luxury wine & spirits industry, selling and marketing blue-chip brands. I moved to Portland from New York City, seeking a lifestyle change after becoming a mother. I was inspired by the community of entrepreneurs in the region. I saw an opportunity at the intersection of beverage and the emerging cannabis industry. Aurora Elixirs was born out of my passion and enthusiasm for well-crafted products made with integrity that elevate and transport.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am pretty proud of anticipating trends and actually bringing an idea to a material product that people can order, purchase and enjoy. It is so fulfilling to meet people who have encountered your brand in a restaurant or bar in the mid-west or have pulled it off a retail shelf.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The expectation of always having your head and heart in your company. It is challenging to sketch a line between your working life and your non-working life because there is always overlap. Especially in recent years, when we are rarely in-person or meeting in offices, the expectation that you place on yourself as the proprietor can be relentless and daunting.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find something you are truly passionate about because you will be living it every day.
- Be honest with yourself about where your strengths and interests lie and where you will need help. Because you will need help!
- Mistakes happen (sometimes expensive ones in my own experience), but they should help to get you to your end goal- part of a process.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://auroraelixirs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elixirsaurora
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drinkaurora/
https://www.instagram.com/auroraelixir/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-pustynsky-3118691/
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.