Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alyssa Ammerman, Co-Founder of Butterfly Spirits, LLC, located in Silver Spring, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Butterfly Spirits is a Maryland-based liquor brand producing a number of unique spirits products. Our business was founded on the notion that cocktails should be a thing of beauty, how they taste, how they smell, and how they look. Our customers are those looking for an elevated drinking experience, searching for something unusual.
Tell us about yourself
I am a physical therapist by training and, until a few years ago, a stay-at-home mom by practice. My husband, Josh, and I have always enjoyed a night on the town complemented by excellent drinks, but I found the options for cocktail creation increasingly limited. With my kids getting ready to leave the nest, it seemed like the perfect time to put my interests forward into a business, and like that, Butterfly Spirits was born.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, for a mother of two with no business experience, the idea of starting a brand from the ground up was daunting. But with a lot of support from my husband, I took the plunge. Without a doubt, I/we have a bunch of mistakes early, but I can proudly say that as we wrap up our 3rd year in business, we are on pace to sell 1000 cases this year across our product offerings!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Managing the detours that inevitably appear in your strategic business roadmap. You spend so much time mapping out your goals and the key steps to achieve them, and then things happen that push you off course. Whether it's launching into the headwinds of the COVID pandemic or failing to secure enough glass bottles to meet your customers' demands, you need to smile and take it in stride.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- No matter how much you think starting your business will cost, add 20%!
- Start small and grow incrementally; if you try to swallow the ocean all at once, you will drown.
- Find other good souls in your business sector and ask for advice. It's amazing how many good people out there have made all the mistakes and can help you avoid them.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://butterflyspirits.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkbutterflyspirits
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkbutterflyspirits/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/butterfly-spirits/
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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