Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kevin Park, CEO of Oneroot Inc., located in Concord, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
OneRoot's focus is on producing the cleanest and highest quality honey in Canada. That means we don't treat bees with antibiotics. Our beehives are placed away from conventional farms that can contaminate the honey with pesticides. Our honey comes from the Canadian Boreal Forest. We never blend our honey, and the health of the bees is paramount to us. We believe healthy bees in clean environments produce high-quality honey. Our customer base is very diverse. Anyone who shops for healthy food will appreciate our honey.
Tell us about yourself
My father was a beekeeper in Korea in the '70s. It was his vision to produce high-quality honey in Canada after immigrating here. I had a background in commerce and finance education and had experience in the transportation industry. I joined him back in 2015 to rebrand and promote our honey. It's been a challenging but rewarding path to get to where we are today as a family business. My family motivates me even more so now because my wife and I are expecting our first child. I am proud of our products and what we stand for. We receive a lot of positive feedback from our customers, and this gives me an extra energy boost every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We've been able to hit our annual goals every single year since 2015. In fact, we surpassed our sales goals every year. This gives me the confidence to set ambitious goals and work harder to achieve them.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about being a business owner is the uncertainty. These include financial uncertainty, supply issues, sales channel problems, technical problems, compliance issues, and more. But this is also what I enjoy about being a business owner. It's very rewarding when we're able to solve problems and find opportunities in challenging times to propel us forward.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Set ambitious but realistic goals. You don't want to be disappointed by failing to achieve a goal that's unrealistic. At the same time, you should be ambitious and take on challenging goals.
- Take breaks. It's hard to think about anything other than your business sometimes. But taking some time off will allow your brain to organize your thoughts, and it also helps you to make rational decisions instead of emotional ones.
- Be knowledgeable. You need to become an expert in your field. Do lots of research and stay up to date. This applies not just at the beginning but also while running your business.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Cash flow can be a challenge at any stage of a business. Seek advice and stay informed on cash flow management and financial support available to you by governments and other agencies.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://onehoney.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneroothoney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1roothoney/
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.