Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Neil Kittleson, founder of Salty Sailor Coffee Company, located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Salty Sailor Coffee Company is a veteran-owned company with a clear mission: We help as many people as we can to drink great coffee and do good! We know you don't just wake up in the morning and want another average cup of coffee - that's why our flavor palette features 21 varieties. So you can order an exceptionally flavored coffee from places like Bali, Kenya, Mexico, or Columbia without even having to get out of bed. We only source beans from farms that respect their employees and the earth, so every sip counts.
We don't roast your coffee until you order it so that you receive it at peak freshness. This is important to us because we've traveled the world in search of these flavors, so we want you to experience them as they were meant to be. You won't believe the different flavors that are imparted on the coffee based on where and how it is grown and harvested. Forget wine tastings - we should all be doing coffee tastings!
In that same vein, we use all-natural ingredients to individually season each of our flavored coffees so that we can guarantee that your cup has the perfect amount of cinnamon, hazelnut, bourbon, chocolate, or vanilla added. The difference this makes will be evident from your first sip through your last.
Doing good - 5 percent of every sale goes to help Sailors, Marines, and their families in times of need. We donate directly to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, an all-volunteer organization, so every penny of your donation is spent helping someone.
Tell us about yourself
I've wanted to share the flavors of the world that I was able to experience as a Naval officer (and a personal travel lover) with as many people as possible for quite some time. At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, I had a bit of wanderlust hit that I couldn't satisfy with travel, so I took the opportunity to source some of the world's finest coffees and created the brand to deliver those flavors to others that were tired of being stuck at home. At the same time, I wanted to provide some financial relief to the hard-working Navy and Marine Corps families that were impacted by the loss of jobs because of the pandemic. That's why I teamed with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society to raise money through the sale of our coffee.
Building a business is tough, but the mission that we're delivering on keeps me going in those times that you'd rather not solve the latest crisis. Knowing that I'm delivering amazing coffee that is always sustainably grown and ethically sourced while raising money to help those that defend our nation in their times of need is a great reason to push through the tougher times.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'd have to say that our biggest accomplishment with Salty Sailor Coffee Co would have to be the amazing connections we've made all over North America with the brand. We've built something that people feel they can get behind to support, and they genuinely seem just to love being connected to the mission we serve.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a small business owner, you are frequently confronted with problems you've never experienced. You can hire all of the help you want, pay consultants, and look to mentors for advice but at the end of the day, you are responsible for making every decision. There's tremendous freedom associated with that, but at times it's also very lonely.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't wait for perfection. Once I'd sourced the products, the core brand and website were created over the course of two weeks. It was a little rough around the edges, but it allowed me to collect feedback from friends, family, and mentors. Waiting until everything is just the way you think it should be often doesn't take into account the most critical piece - what you're potential customers think. You can love your idea, website, or product all you want, but if it doesn't appeal to your expected customer base, it doesn't matter.
- Have a purpose for what you do beyond making money. You likely won't make enough money for some time to get you through the hard parts of running the business unless you have a real passion for what you're doing.
- Be realistic. Things cost more and take longer than you ever expect. Sometimes a lot longer and a lot more expensive. Plan accordingly and look for advice from others on what resources you'll really need.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We are excited about what we built over the last 15 months and hope that your readers are as well. We are on a mission to deliver the world's finest coffees and to make this world just a little better while we do it. We hope you'll check us out and join us on that mission.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://saltysailorcoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltySailorCoffee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltysailorcoffee/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kittleson/
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.
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