Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eric Brass, CEO and founder of Tequila Tromba, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our customers are those who appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and the origins of the products they consume. They see the passion in what we do because they are passionate about their choices. We take life by storm - and so do they!
We are independently owned, and unlike most tequila brands, we are uniquely Distiller-owned. We are the #1 Independent Tequila in Canada and Australia, the #1 Craft Tequila brand in Canada and Australia, and currently growing strong in the U.S. due to our national partnership with Sazerac.
Tell us about yourself
As I'm sure you can imagine, Tequila wasn't my original path! I grew up in Toronto, Canada, with ambitions of entering the world of finance. Moving to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a six-month university exchange program in 2005, I struck an immediate friendship with my Australian roommate Nick Reid and later James Sherry. We were enticed by the culture, the land, and the people of Jalisco. It was over sips of Tequila that we developed a passion for the agave spirit and became inspired! We had a collective idea to educate the greater populace on the nuances of truly remarkable Tequila. We began to develop the idea of Tromba under the guidance of Master Distiller Marco Cedano and his son Rodrigo. We began building the brand bar-to-bar, bottle by bottle, originally using my father's garage as the global headquarters. Over time, our business grew, and we set aside our more traditional jobs to fully follow our passion.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, I am most proud of the team we have created. We have teams in Canada, the US, Australia, and of course, Mexico - where the true heart of our business lies. Across cultures, borders, and languages, each member of Tromba is not only passionate and hard-working, but we all strive to support each other and act as a collective to overcome obstacles and make, what we truly believe, is the best tequila out there.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think most business owners will agree that the hardest thing is consistently managing the major events that you have no control over and don't always have the ability to predict. Every industry is different - but for example, in the world of tequila, we are beholden to the agave crop, and Mother Nature often has plans she doesn't wish to share. Throw that in with the challenges of importing across several international borders and toss it with a global pandemic...it can lead to some sleepless nights.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Be brave! You're going to hit obstacles - many you will foresee, but there will always be those that take you by surprise. Learn how to adjust to the needs of your customers without being too conforming - you don't want to lose track of your brand values. Finally, whatever you choose to do - do it with passion!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://tequilatromba.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tequilatromba
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tequila-tromba/
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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