Any advice for someone who started a beverage (Water Bottle) Company who is new to business?

[Joshua_D]

Hello everyone, it's a pleasure to join this group. I started a company call the [GAP Water], because it's fresh mineral water from the rivers of the delaware water gap, the cleanest water in the country. I'm not good at marking it, and I have a very low budget, because I also own and operate a plumbing company [Medusa Snaking & Plumbing]. I would like to make this work, so any interested  parties that wanted to talk, or if anyone can lend a hand I would be eternally grateful. God bless everyone I hope you flourish in your endeavors.

[Lovewell · Accepted solution]

Hey there! 

While we have never done anything like what you’re doing we do have the tiniest bit of insight. 

We own 2 small coffee shops in California and we couldn’t recommend enough going to your local coffee shops or specialty markets and bringing in your product for them to try! We have beverage fridges that we love to fill with unique things! 

We also have a friend who works for “Ready Refresh” which is also Arrowhead I think? They carry a TON of water products and even sodas. They try to have really unique offerings as well. It may seem like a big step but reaching out to them might be cool too. 

We always remind ourselves is that the worst thing that could happen is someone says no. 

also-

bonus points if you’ve been into whatever local coffee shop you have a few times! 
it will feel more genuine to whoever makes the decision at the business 🙂 support local when ya can! 

[maxpete]

@Joshua_D Welcome to the Community and congrats on launching your new business! That's very exciting 🙂 

We have some amazing blog posts around marketing and growing your business which I am linking below. I also am tagging some other folks in the Community here to potentially add their own growth advice too. Rooting for you!

https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Seller-Community-Blog/How-To-Build-a-Strong-Customer-Base-Insight...

https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Seller-Community-Blog/Spread-the-Word-How-to-choose-the-right-adv...

https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Seller-Community-Blog/Marketing-Strategies-for-Small-Business-How...

https://www.sellercommunity.com/t5/Seller-Community-Blog/5-Tips-on-How-To-Use-Social-Media-for-Small...

@Donnie-M, @perkits, and @balmonte 

[Lovewell · Accepted solution]

Hey there! 

While we have never done anything like what you’re doing we do have the tiniest bit of insight. 

We own 2 small coffee shops in California and we couldn’t recommend enough going to your local coffee shops or specialty markets and bringing in your product for them to try! We have beverage fridges that we love to fill with unique things! 

We also have a friend who works for “Ready Refresh” which is also Arrowhead I think? They carry a TON of water products and even sodas. They try to have really unique offerings as well. It may seem like a big step but reaching out to them might be cool too. 

We always remind ourselves is that the worst thing that could happen is someone says no. 

also-

bonus points if you’ve been into whatever local coffee shop you have a few times! 
it will feel more genuine to whoever makes the decision at the business 🙂 support local when ya can! 

[mksavage · Accepted solution]

I agree with @Lovewell that going to local spots is a great idea. We always prefer to stock a local item, over a mass-made item, when possible. I also think there's a lot of value in setting up booths and local events and handing out free samples, or even free bottles of water (especially in warm months!). It takes a bit of cost up front, but we've found that this kind of "experiential marketing" is a great way to build a very loyal customer base. 

[Donnie-M]

@Joshua_D My advice is #1 know your costs inside and out to ship stock etc.  #2 Know your capacity and how long it takes you to fill an order.  Marketing wise - I would try to find some local businesses and see if they would carry your water as their bottled water.  I buy custom labeled water, but it is shipped on a pallet LTL freight, so I can see a different area for what you sell. 

[CareyJo]

Congrats on the new business!  I know a lot of our Square Community can relate to either owning multiple locations or multiple businesses.  I can relate as well.  My tiny piece of advice would be - before you get drug under the steam roller of responsibilities and feel like you can't figure out what direction you're going, make a plan.  We do HVAC full time and we're getting into property ownership on the side.  We need the properties to replace our HVAC income but it can't do that without a dedicated amount of hours to make the dream a reality.  Yet, we cannot slack on our HVAC hours and lose our current income.  It's a delicate balance.  We started with no longer handling any HVAC residential clients on Fridays and only doing the commercial contracts we have that are already set on Fridays.  Any Friday that's not working, he's working on properties and any day that doesn't end up with a full schedule, he can work on properties.  We also sacrifice our nights at least one day a week to catching up on business that can be done after hours and recognize that we cannot have all of our Saturdays free - sometimes we have to do the work on our own house and such that needs to get done and not play.

Make a plan as to how you're going to manage and personally operate two businesses, especially ones that don't operate together.  You need to know when you will be "in" each business and when you will be focusing "on" each business.  They are two completely different things.  I agree with @mksavage and @Lovewell in that you need to partner with local businesses to get your new water into the hands of the community.  I also agree with getting into any expo that you can to showcase your new product.

Agreeing with @Donnie-M that you need to know your costs, processes and procedures inside and out in order to maintain both well.  You may find over time - I need to give this task to a manager or laborer or I need to redo this process so that it runs more smoothly.  Working out the kinks is a growing pain we all go through but the more you can head off at the pass, the further ahead you will be!

Best of luck!!