Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jarret Stopforth, Co-Founder of Dewey Crush, located in Seattle, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Dewey Crush…the original canned Crush cocktail. Our customers enjoy having a good time and celebrating summer all year round by drinking crushes!
Tell us about yourself
The Crush was something my co-founder, Andrew Rigney, introduced me to when I visited him in Dewey Beach, Delaware. He had the great idea to put the crush cocktail in a can so people could take summer with them - so we teamed up to make an amazing drink and brought it to market.
I’m a serial entrepreneur and have been in the food and beverage space for a long time, but this particular project is so fun because we literally get to bring the party to the people. I love creating memories, and people enjoy drinking crushes together and making memories, so we sort of get to be a tool for memory-making!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Staying in business. Look, it’s not a surprise that startups fail more than they succeed, and anytime you are bringing a new product into the market, especially alcohol, with all the laws and red tape and you are competing against all the big beverage houses…you really are climbing up a steep mountain.
There are certain elements that have to exist at a minimum: the product has to taste great, and the brand needs to be approachable to the consumer. Thereafter it’s all hard work and learning about your customer. Success in this market is getting liquid to lips!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The unknowns. If we all could predict the future, there would be no surprises, and we would be able to lay a clear path, but unfortunately, unpredictability is the very world we live in.
Market instability, consumer adoption, competitive landscape, supply chain stability, costs of materials…all these things change constantly, and being flexible is the only way to approach it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Fearlessly put your ideas in front of your friends and family and let them shoot jokes into it. Do not be discouraged by the critique. You either do it early and have time to adapt to the feedback, or it will happen later and under duress.
- Seek advisors early…the right advisors, and do not be afraid to part with some equity to make sure they have a vested interest in your success. And listen to them.
- Build a network every day because raising money is a people game…you could have the best idea and never be able to fund it if you don’t have a network!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://deweycrush.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkdeweycrush/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkdeweycrush/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drinkdeweycrush
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarretstopforth/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkdeweycrush/
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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