Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Leclair, Founder and CEO of Wolseley Kombucha, located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own Wolseley Kombucha- Manitoba's favorite kombucha brand! We make a fizzy functional beverage made with real organic botanicals. Our customers are health-conscious individuals who want to live a happy and healthy life!
Tell us about yourself
I started brewing kombucha in 2015 in my home kitchen in Wolseley- a granola "hippie" part of Winnipeg. I started out making it for friends and family until it became more than my small home brewery could handle. From there, we moved into a shared kitchen in the Exchange District, where I tested the market to see if this was something worth pursuing. In 2019, I decided to take the plunge and open Manitoba's first kombucha taproom and kombucha brewery. We are in 80+ retail stores/restaurants in Manitoba and Ontario. I have an incredible team that works with me, and I absolutely love what I do. I am motivated by my amazing customers when they tell me how much they love our products or how it's changed their health for the better. We are in the process of scaling up, so stay tuned for WK 4.0!!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I won Woman Entrepreneur of the year in 2021- so to be acknowledged within that community of amazing women entrepreneurs was incredible. I am proud to have a great team working with me, as I couldn't do it without them.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I am still growing the business, so the long hard hours still get to me. I have started delegating tasks, and that has been a game changer for me. It's given me time to focus on growing the business to make it bigger and better!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be passionate about what we are doing.
- Use your resources such as grants, WEC, Futurpreneur, and BDC.
- Make a solid business plan.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://wolseleykombucha.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wolseleykombucha
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolseleykombucha/
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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