Business Focus Weekly
A publication focused on helping your business to grow and become more focused.
Trailbreaker Cider
Owner: Trent Maier

KW: Tell us about your business.
TM: We are a hard cider manufacturer, first and foremost. Our focus has been on the production of quality hard ciders – locally produced and sourced. We have a tasting room, and our model has been surrounded by having that retail feature available. We started in Pullman in 2012 and moved to Liberty Lake in 2019. I have personally been making cider for about 20 years – since college.

KW: Who is your target customer?
TM: When we first started, we did not really have a good sense of our target audience, but then it quickly became the Gluten-free crowd. Many of our customers and even three of our four owners have reactions to gluten-related foods, so it became a very important aspect of our business. Cider used to be more attractive to the female customers, but recently men have been joining in on the atmosphere as well.

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
TM: The closure of our retail space because of Covid restrictions. There was a positive side of that as well – and that was finishing the canning system and finishing the manufacturing floor. Since we weren’t open to the public, that gave us the opportunity to finish those goals.

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
TM: The biggest attribute was to expand our business model. We had already set in motion the canning aspect of the business, and even though the retail revenue stream was shut down, we were able to make the best of the time and space we had.

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
TM: Sometimes mistakes end up costing a lot of money. One mistake we made at the beginning was being too conservative and not going big enough. I’ve always been able to look at those mistakes, and have the willingness to make mistakes because you can learn so much from them. When the mistakes cost you money, you will learn to not make that mistake again. As humans we make mistakes – it’s always the willingness to learn from them and not make the same mistake twice. You have to take the risk in order to learn.


KW: What is inspiring to you today?
TM: I find that I have been very lucky in a number of ways – good and bad. When I was younger, I was pretty driven, but not in a known path. When I look at people - like guys working in construction at 6:30 am - working hard every day, that is inspiring. There are people that work very hard and they are willing to get up and make it happen. I appreciate that!

OFFER: Mention this newsletter and get a free appetizer!

Trailbreaker Cider
Owner: Trent Maier
509-279-2159
trent@trailbreakercider.com

By Kendra Wiiest
Realty One Group
Owner: Matt Side

KW: Tell us about your business.
MS: We are the Spokane/CDA franchise for Realty One Group, which is the fastest-growing company in the nation. We are the “un-brokerage”, which means we are not a traditional brokerage where they have a split model. Our model is where you keep 100% of your commission from day one and pay a small fee per transaction. We allow the broker to keep more of their real estate commission in order to provide a higher level of service for their customers and clients. Our franchise opened in 2005.

KW: Who is your target customer?
MS: People that are not satisfied with a traditional sign in the yard, hoping the house sells. Instead, we use technology as a service to offer to our clients and brokers to help them market houses better. We use 3D tour technology- video tour technology which really helps give a more accurate picture of the house, where they are able to essentially “walk” through the house without being there in person. You can check out www.evoreal3d.com for more information!

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
MS: We’ve had to embrace remote conversations more. Even bigger than that, we have been busier than we ever have been!

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
MS: We embraced the things we could do, instead of focusing on what we couldn’t do. We are conscientious about how we communicate with our clients – also wearing masks and keeping a positive attitude while we are out in the public.

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
MS: I have learned that people are more important than the business. Not everyone approaches the world the same way I do. Basically, I learned that, when it comes to my staff, employees, and coworkers, I need to learn how to take care of them first, then the business comes after that. I have a tendency to work all day without a break – but I need to remember to make a space for myself as well as employees – being a good role model, so they feel like they don’t need to keep up with the amount of time I work.

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
MS: I have a brand new broker. She was just licensed a couple of weeks ago and already got her first referral. She was out in her community Facebook group on the first day, as a brand new agent, and reaching out by taking a leap of faith. She is still in the process of building her website, but already working with clients! That is inspiring to me.

OFFER: On the third Thursday of every month, we put together our Thirsty Third Thursday Happy Hour (virtually for now). Join us for one of our get-togethers and mention this newsletter and get one extra entry in our gift certificate giveaway during our Thirsty Third Thursday Virtual Happy Hour.

Join by emailing us at info@rogeclipse.com!

Realty One Group
Owner: Matt Side
509-327-2238
info@rogeclipse.com

By Kendra Wiiest
The Social Hour
Owner: Deece Casillas

KW: Tell us about your business.
DC: I run a production company focusing on comedy. We release and produce podcasts and short films. I also do standup comedy and comedy writing, as well as events (comedy shows) around the entire northwest. It started 10 years ago when I was writing comedy, published a book, and doing small events. It then evolved to putting together local events, podcasts, audio and film work, and full-time stand-up comedy until Covid hit.

KW: Who is your target customer?
DC: It depends on the project I’m working on. With standup comedy, it is anyone that is looking for entertainment – usually 25-45 years old. With audio/podcast, we have a large range of topics, so we target anyone that wants to hear comedy, comic book shows, and navigating life stories, and a myriad of other topics.

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
DC: I am not able to do live performances in Washington. The competition level is much higher with the in-person shows that are available since there are only certain states allowing them.

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
DC: Trying to get as much content as possible online because people are looking for variety – especially once they get through all the Netflix shows. Trying to find areas where we still can do shows and finding creative ways to put shows on – sometimes small private shows in a backyard – using all Covid regulations.

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
DC: The biggest thing I would tell people is don’t wait to pursue what you want to do. Start doing it now – stop reading this article and go do it. Know that the process is incremental – some days there are big leaps, and sometimes just small ones. There is no point in waiting – things will never feel like the perfect time to move. Bet on yourself!

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
DC: Watching people persevere through this very difficult time. It has been nice to see people who have really made the best out of such a bad situation. It is a testament to human nature.

OFFER: We currently do private shows for small groups – Covid compliant, please email me for details and scheduling!

The Social Hour
Owner: Deece Casillas
deece213@gmail.com

By Kendra Wiiest
Raven Executive Consulting
Owner: Donald "Raven" Hubbard

KW: Tell us about your business.
DH: I am a defense tactics instructor, I mostly work with businesses and security personnel. Since Covid, I started doing many private seminars via Zoom with people, doing self-defense and awareness of your surroundings in daily life. I teach people how to be safe in different environments and situations. I got into business because while I was in high school, an active shooter entered my school and shot and killed three students and a teacher. I opened this business in 2006. I’ve been working and training with security since 1987.

KW: Who is your target customer?
DH: In the private industry, my target customer has been with security and law enforcement.

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
DH: One of the biggest things I’ve seen is that there are so many different things going on with law enforcement, race, Covid, etc. With masks, it’s harder to identify people because we can only see their eyes – not their whole face. If they wear glasses, then it is even harder. That is another reason I have been pushing my program because it’s harder to determine if the person standing behind you at the ATM is an attacker. Covid has impacted how people see things, some are desensitized to the idea of people wearing masks.

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
DH: I really push my program through all the different social media platforms to help get them involved. I focus on “how are you protecting yourself?” We have more talks about safety in the workplace from home. Word of mouth, zoom, social media are areas we have increased our marketing.

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
DH: My thought process on this is a smart person learns from their mistakes. They learn from what they’ve done wrong and learn to not make that same mistake again. A rich person lives by an “I can do" factor. A poor person lives by an “I wish” factor. A rich person doesn’t wish for a better job, they go find a better job. If I want something to be positive, I have to work toward my goals. Be proactive – and don’t put yourself in a situation you don’t want to be in.

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
DH: The most inspiring thing for me is to help people accomplish what they want to accomplish and feel safer than they felt when they first woke up.

Raven Executive Consulting
Owner: Donald "Raven" Hubbard
360-261-5481
bsotacademy@gmail.com

By Kendra Wiiest
Current & Future Events
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Useful Business Thought of the Week