Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in menus but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kyle Ewing, founder of TerraSlate Paper & Waterproof Menus, located in Denver, CO.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At TerraSlate we make waterproof paper and menus for a wide array of customers including Whole Foods, the US Military, Professional Sports Teams, and tens of thousands of restaurants around the world.
Our waterproof and rip-proof paper replaces the need for lamination, it prints through any laser printer or copy machine and is recyclable.
We keep millions of sheets of non-recyclable laminated paper out of landfills every year!
Tell us about yourself
I started TerraSlate 8 years ago in my family room because I didn't have a garage at the time. It's almost hard to imagine the days when I personally printed, cut, nano-coated and shipped every order. Today we ship millions of sheets per year to over 84 countries around the world. It's a journey I have worked incredibly hard for, but is one that has been wildly rewarding as well.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is developing a product that reduces the human impact on our planet and that employs 25 awesome people that I get to work with every day.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is the number of hours it takes to run a successful business every week. I remember taking my wife to South Korea to run the Seoul Marathon and even the night before the race I was up until 5:00 AM working because I was vacationing on Seoul time, and working on Mountain Standard Time. Nonetheless, we ran a great marathon and had an awesome time!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
1. You don't have to spend money to make money - use your cell phone to make sales calls or go door to door. It's free and literally nothing works better!
2. Don't take money from outside investors if you can help it. That way you will retain 100% ownership in your company and you're not beholden to anyone else.
3. Join leads groups, entrepreneur groups, or a group like the Entrepreneurs Organization when you qualify. Having a group of entrepreneurial peers will do wonders for your mental health and the success of your business.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Entrepreneurship is HARD! But if you've taken the first step and started something, you are well on your way to building something amazing! If you run into a roadblock, pivot and keep moving forward.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.instagram.com/terraslatepaper/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleewing/
https://twitter.com/terraslatepaper
https://www.facebook.com/terraslatepaper
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
