Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nick Guerrieri, CEO and co-founder of CHELLY, located in Tempe, AZ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
CHELLY has created a New-Age Infused Limoncello that is solving the 21-34-year-olds problem of what they should drink. Our new-age-infused limoncello brings people together with the perfect blend of lemon fun and flavor. An old-world limoncello re-made for the modern get-together. Our award-winning recipe merges the flavor and texture of a lemon liqueur and a high-octane grain neutral spirit that you can sip to savor, shoot for the sweet heat, or mix it to match your mood.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Nick Guerrieri, and I am a 26-year-old entrepreneur. I went to a university to study finance, and that is what I did right out of college. I was not comfortable in the corporate world for many reasons, and I always had an interest in how businesses ran. So, an opportunity came up where I could start my own business and control my own destiny. My cousin from Italy had this limoncello recipe, and he gave us the recipe to use for friends and family. After constant feedback about how "this is the best thing I have ever had." My college friends and I decided to move forward with selling our product as a business. Fast forward a year and a half; we were legally allowed to sell our product anywhere within Arizona.
It has truly been a blessing and an honor to be able to work on something your family and friends have created, and I am so grateful for this opportunity I have every day. What motivates me every day is striving for excellence, doing it for God, and also commemorating my cousin Guiseppe - who gave my family our recipe!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, my biggest accomplishment is that we won one of the most prestigious and coveted awards (Double Gold at SFWSC) last year! Not too many brands receive this award, and our team did that!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I'd have to say two things that come to mind when thinking about the biggest challenges of being a business owner. Those two things are managing so many different personalities and executing on certain deals knowing you only have X amount of runway left, every decision matters!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top 3 tips would be to make sure you find like-minded business partners/co-founders that you can work well with, make sure to network and gather as much information from industry professionals and those with years of experience within the field you are about to enter, and lastly - don't think too much about how you will do this or that in the future. You will naturally learn as you do it, and starting your own business is full of risk so if you are on the fence, go for it!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The last thing I would like to share is just about the beautiful journey of being a business owner. There is nothing in this world like it, and few truly understand the sacrifice and the amount of persistence and hustle it takes to move a business forward. There are so many life lessons and building moments for you personally that you can either let it break you or you can let it help you and build you up. I prefer the latter!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://drinkchelly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkchelly/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkchelly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drinkchelly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkchelly
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.
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