Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food & beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jason Johnston, owner and founder of Lemon Lily Organic Tea, located in Toronto, Canada.

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

Lemon Lily is a tea company that does things the way it should be.  Organic, All Natural and loaded with creativity.  We cater to tea enthusiasts and people looking for healthy beverages that taste amazing.

Tell us about yourself

About a decade ago, I was traveling the world and fell in love with tea.  I came back to Canada and didn't love the retail options, so I started to make my own blends and realized I was on to something special.  That inner-pride of people gushing own my blends - something that I created thats both healthy and delicious - is what I love the most.  I personally respond to every email and every review 10 years later.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Aside from doubling revenue year over year since we started and being in 600+ retail points across North America, I'm most proud of our ability to have pivoted through covid.  We weren't sure what the future would hold for us, however focusing directly on B2C not only saved our business through all of the retail shutdowns, but also connected us directly with our customers, allowed us to gain thousands of new customers and has given us an incredible feedback loop.  We receive hundreds of positive message, reviews and emails every week and that's very special to us.

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

I think the ability to see the forest through the trees has been one of the hardest things I've had to learn.  I've really needed to work diligently to be a proactive business owner, rather than a reactive one.  Understanding trends, not drinking our own koolaid too much and knowing when to make decisions to act versus when to be patient.

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

Decide before you start where you want to go.  Is it a build and sell, a lifestyle business or a legacy business?

Make sure your decision lines up with your margins and you're built to scale and not built based on your current situation (ie rent and staff-free).

Make sure that you're built internally to do this.  Starting a business can be fun, but once you get past the name and products and paint colours, its a grind.  It can wear you down, it can spit you up, it can eat your life savings and push you right to the edge.  You need to be comfortable living on the edge for a while.  If you cant be uncomfortable, I don't recommend you get into business for yourself.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Your interests and passions will change.  Find ways to engage those inspirations into what you do.  Find meaning in your work and be prepared for tough roads ahead.

I went from a full time career and very comfortable lifestyle with all the shiny things people want, but empty on the inside, to starting my business, depleting my life savings, selling my home and couch surfing to get by, but in that, I found my inspiration, found my happiness and found myself.  I recovered my assets and am more financially sound than every before - on my own terms - but I needed to accept living on the edge first to get here.

Where can people find you and your business?

https://www.lemonlily.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/lemonlilytea

https://www.facebook.com/lemonlilytea

https://www.linkedin.com/company/lemon-lily/


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.