Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jesse Nelson, founder of Conduit Coffee Company, located in Seattle, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Conduit Coffee is a small coffee roaster and event space. We offer subscriptions to our rotating selection of fine coffees and unique blends. We also host education and community events and other roasting and consulting services.
Tell us about yourself
I fell into the home-roasting intrigue in 2006 and founded Conduit in 2011. The core idea behind Conduit is that coffee is a catalyst or conduit for so many industries and businesses. It was the delicious cup in hand that brought me my interest in the big wide world of coffee. I continue to be fascinated with the global connections that allow this amazing product to travel from farm to roaster to your morning cup. It truly is an example of our finite dependence on each other, the planet, and our integration in our crowded world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, our biggest accomplishment is just surviving as a very small business in a competitive market. We thrive in our collaboration with other businesses and energy from community members. It has been a whirlwind of ideas and changes in the last 11 years, and we're proud to continue our work in the Northwest coffee industry. We've also won several awards, including America's Best Espresso.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Everything is a challenge when you're a small business owner. Conduit is in one of the most competitive coffee markets in the world and in a city with some of the highest costs of living. It's very difficult to keep up with Seattle's growth in the past decade, but we strive to keep our coffee tasty and offer interesting services alongside our coffee programs.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't undervalue your time and effort going into the business. As the business grows, it's important to value your time so that there is a budget for that time when you need a break – or a breakdown.
- Keep up on social media. It seems nuts and makes me feel old, but the various social media platforms are all fair avenues for customers to communicate and ultimately shop with you.
- Trademark your brand. The process may seem daunting and expensive, but lawyer up and get it done. It is only worth building your brand if you are certain you own it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.conduitcoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConduitCoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conduitcoffee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/conduitcoffee
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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