Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kima Mckiernan, Founder of Kovi Kai, located in Santa Rosa, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Kovi Kai is an organic CPG brand that delivers the freshest organic ginger and turmeric in their purest form. By cold-pressing and freezing our roots into easy-to-use frozen cubes, we preserve all the vibrant flavor and vital health benefits of these wonderful ingredients. Our customers are anyone that is health conscious or trying to be!

Tell us about yourself

I am a mom of two boys who love sports. I have always been health conscious about what I eat, and It is very hard when you have so much going on, and life gets busy. The inspiration started with our busy mornings and not having enough time to make myself a healthy ginger tea, so I started making frozen ginger and turmeric cubes on the weekends to have for the week. Then I realized you could pop the cubes into smoothies and stir-fries and make fun fizzy drinks, even cocktails! I thought I should Market this, and that's how Kovi Kai was born. Also, Kovanni, aka Kovi, And Kainoa, aka Kai, that's how I got the name, Kovi Kai. It's named after my two boys.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel like my biggest accomplishment is yet to come. That said, I'm very happy to have my products on the shelves of some awesome health food stores and markets.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

For me, the hardest thing is all the decisions about what is best for the company to make it grow and be profitable, feeling some days I'm making progress and others I'm moving backward.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Get yourself a great team.
  2. Stay positive and be kind to yourself. It really helps in all aspects of life.
  3. Everything takes more time than you think. Be patient.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kovikai.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ko.vikai/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kovikai/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kovi_kai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kima-mckiernan-b59302180/


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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