Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Connor Meakin, Founder of Bluebird Provisions, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Bluebird Provisions makes collagen-rich bone broth to help you look, feel and perform better. We're sold online and on Amazon in the USA and Canada. Our customers are people who are suffering from digestive issues or injuries or those looking for better digestion, glowing skin, and the longevity benefits of bone broth.
Tell us about yourself
Running injuries threw my life completely off track starting in August 2016. I experimented with different methods of healing, including lifestyle and natural dietary approaches: herbs, spices, balms, strange protocols, you name it. I tried bone broth, a drink made from simmering bones to extract minerals and collagen. I read all I could about making the best bone broth because no one was selling it at the time. Cooking weekly batches, I drank bone broth like water. I couldn't get enough of it. After a month, I noticed some positive changes in my body. Fast forward to now, my foot is fully healed, and I am back to running and winning ultra marathons. My conviction told me that I had to share bone broth with the world. I quit my job at a software startup, rented a commercial kitchen to make it, and got it listed in local markets. There was little competition in Canada (where we started) in 2017, so I felt like I had to move quickly within Canada to gain market share before we expanded to the US. While bone broth was a new category, google trends data showed me it was a perfect opportunity to get into a growth category.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Pivoting and thriving through the COVID pandemic. COVID hit, and we almost went bankrupt because grocery store sales tanked. We had $500 in the bank account. We pivoted to direct to consumer and gradually saved the business. Now we are thriving online with an SEO-focused strategy.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being a solo founder is incredibly difficult. You have no one to share the stress and burden of failure and tough decisions. It takes a huge toll on my mental health but is also one of the more rewarding things in life.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you have a strong conviction in the business you are starting. If not, you will not see it through, and a competitor who does have this conviction will outlast you.
- Pick a business category that is big. Do not create a new product or category or invest in one that is too small. You'd rather ride a wave and take a small slice of a big category than create a new one.
- Know your core competencies and find people to fill in the gaps. We're not all good at operations, sales, and marketing. Be honest with yourself and look for help in the areas you need it most.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://bluebirdprovisions.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purebonebroth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConnorMeaks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connormeakin/
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.
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