Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Patter Gersuk, Founder and CEO of Patterbar, located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Patterbar: 100% whole food, vegan, gluten-free energy bars made in Denver. Our customers are people of all ages who like delicious, real food!
Tell us about yourself
I started Patterbar in 2018. I made these bars for my children because I couldn't find any snacks that didn't have things like added sweeteners, lab-produced ingredients, "natural flavors," and chemical compounds. Years later, my son-in-law encouraged me to make them because he said they were the only bar that actually tasted good and kept him going. Every time I share my bars, every time someone tastes them, their first reaction is - "wow, this is amazing." When they look at the ingredients, they can't believe that there are truly just nuts and fruits: no stabilizers, no preservatives, and no impossible-to-pronounce ingredients. I don't believe that things like soy lecithin and tapioca starch belong in energy bars: they aren't whole food. I do believe that things like dates and nuts and unsweetened fruits belong: fully intact, just as nature intended.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
To have never compromised the integrity of my bar, despite the attendant challenges of producing a bar with real food. There are many, many bars out there that claim to be "all-natural" or "whole food" bars. But they aren't. Look at their ingredients. There is absolutely nothing natural about "natural flavors."
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Every single day comes with its own challenges. Being able to jump from one thing to the next without letting things fall through the cracks while constantly looking ahead to the next thing is definitely a challenge. But as they say, there's no fun in predictability!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Find an idea that is truly unique. Unless you have unlimited capital, it is incredibly hard to differentiate yourself from a crowd. Don't compromise. There is a lot of noise out there, people who will encourage you to take shortcuts to maximize efficiency and cost. Don't listen to them. And finally, make sure you love what you are doing or selling. It makes it that much easier to wake up every day knowing you truly believe in your product.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://patterbar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patterbardenver
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patterbar/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patterbar/
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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