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Home Small Business: How a brewer who became profit problems
If you've ever been in Texas, you may have noticed a peculiar drink sold called St. Arnold Beer.
It comes in a different bottle, with a picture of San Antonio itself (the patron saint of development of beer) right on the label, and became the small brewery's most successful company in Houston.
But San Antonio has not always been start-up small business is now profitable. In fact, his 13-year history is full of false starts, missed opportunities, failures and future.
I recently had the chance to meet Brock Wagner, founder of San Antonio, and his story had a profound effect on me. It all began in 1994 when Brock had an important realization: time is running out.
At that time, Brock was working in the financial services industry a good salary, but when his father died unexpectedly, gave Brock a chance to reflect. He realized that time was limited and that he did not want to spend the rest of his life in a job he did not want.
He sat down one day and made a list of what he loved. At the top there were two issues: drinking beer and beer making.
For the average person, they may have seemed like a poor opportunities for career change. After all, all his training was in financial services. What going to do, go drive a Budweiser delivery truck?
But Brock decided to follow only your heart, and seek funding to create the first micro-brewery Houston.
From the beginning there were problems with the idea of creating small businesses. Money was tight for such a risky endeavor. Investors were reluctant to put your hard earned money in a business where the founder had no experience in the beverage industry. But after more than a year, Brock had secured just enough to start (one of his first investors was Kenneth Lay of Enron, which is another whole story).
Several years into the project, Brock had secured a facility built all brewery equipment and was ready to start brewing! But a week before he was ready for launch there was another major setback: an inspector of the city that had been testing the pipes made a mistake with a pressure valve, and eventually destroyed $ 100,000 worth of equipment brewer, in just 30 seconds!
What a blow, and just a week before had been set for the launch. Next years were spent in various courtrooms before being reimbursed by the city, but Brock was not dissuaded. He raised more money, rebuilt the facility six months later, finally sent their first bottle of beer Saint Arnold.
It should have been a time to celebrate, but initial sales of the product were disappointing. In fact, five years after issuing its first bottle of beer, St. Arnold was still some benefit. How easy it would have been things to pack and go home? Even the toughest employer would admit defeat after dying five years right? Maybe Houston was not ready for its own micro brewery.
It was at this time that Brock business partner decided to retire from the company. Brock bought its shares (generously ensure that, at least recoup their investment initial, even though the company was losing money) and they parted on good terms.
This was the lowest point of St. Arnold, and Brock. With a business struggle, and very few customers, it was hard to stay optimistic. But over the next five years, Brock was able to slowly but surely transforming the company. Today San Antonio is not only profitable, but is admired and loved as a tradition of Houston. People ask for the product if a particular bar or restaurant, do not carry, and the brewery have a tour every Saturday that is open to the public. Houston and San Antonio have become synonymous, and everything is due to Brock's refusal to accept defeat.
As an entrepreneur you can learn much from the story of Brock, while trying to start our own small business.
First, never, never, never give up. I have yet to hear a single story home of a successful small business that did not face setback after setback. Brock took a year to raise enough money. Most people have quit after a few months of disagreements. A week before launch all its equipment was destroyed in an accident (At a cost of $ 100,000). Most people would have resigned then, after such bad luck. And finally, after five years of losing Money, Brock continued the same situation, after most of the world have admitted defeat.
Secondly, I think it's safe to say that the only reason Brock happened is that he loved what he was doing. If he had to meet all the setbacks and he did not even like making beer, probably not flourish. Loving your work and the company is a prerequisite for success in any small business startup, because even if things seem grim, unless you're doing what you love.
The challenge for us is to find our own brewery San Antonio … a business that we love. And to spend as much time as necessary to make it a success, no matter what the setbacks that may arise.
About the Author
Brian Armstrong makes it easy to learn the secrets of todays top business owners. To discover the “7 Essential Steps to Starting a Business” in his Free Online Course, visit this site now: Small Business Startup
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