Business Focus Weekly
A publication focused on helping your business to grow and become more focused.
Side Hustle Syrups
Owner: Dillon Hueser

KW: Tell us about your business.
DH: We are a company that creates drink mixers. Typically designed to make cocktails, but these also work well for sodas and teas. I make a craft consumable concentrated product, so customers can choose their own level of flavor. Been in business for 3 years.

KW: Who is your target customer?
DH: My target audience is usually 25-35 year olds, then mid 40s to 50s. I want people to be able to make cocktails in their own home.  

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
DH: The two biggest things, is the logistics side. Sourcing natural ingredients and the suppliers have been struggling. So that has been frustrating. There has also been a bottle and can shortage, as well as inflation in prices.  

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
DH: I’ve been focusing a lot more on the website. Redeveloped to be more customer serving. Offering delivery, embracing the “drink at home movement.”

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
DH: One of the biggest things that I learned is the value of my time. It was really important for me to go through the process of being a solo-owner, so I could learn how to delegate. Now I outsource more.  

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
DH: Through the COVID pandemic, I've been extremely humbled about people that have been so kind to each other. People have been extremely supportive of local business. 

OFFER: Use ”actioncoach” as a code to get 15% off regular priced item.

Side Hustle Syrups
Owner: Dillon Hueser
Sidehustlesyrups.com
509-435-6773

By Kendra Wiiest
Millwood Brewing Co.
Owner: Chuck Watkins

KW: Tell us about your business.
CW: Millwood Brewery was formed as a community based brewery. A local place for people to socialize. We put together a place for people to socialize in a woman-man cave. We highlight local outdoor events such as hiking, running, biking and winter sports. We have been in business for 3 years.

KW: Who is your target customer?
CW: I would say we serve more of a professional white and blue collar workers, 30-60 year olds. 

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
CW: The ability not to give back to the community. We always do events to raise money for people in need, whether its food or shelter. We helped clean up drug houses. 

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
CW: We increased the speed that we put product in 12oz cans. As in person visits were shut down, we had to shift. It forced us to start getting into canning sooner than we planned, and we will be able to sell product in local stores soon! 

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
CW: I would say, the biggest mistake is when you take your finger off the pulse. You always need to be working on the business. It’s easy to get complacent. Failures can be catastrophic. We have been forced to refocus to find new ways to operate under new restrictions, through this rollercoaster that we have no control of. You have to be able to shift with the unknowns. We care a lot about the people on our team.

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
CW: I own probably the greatest company in the world. Giving in general, when I see acts of kindness from other businesses. It makes me think anything is possible if you put your mind to it.  

Millwood Brewing Co.
Owner: Chuck Watkins
millwoodbrewery.com
509-368-9538
craftbeer@millwoodbrewery.com

By Kendra Wiiest
American Family Insurance
Owner: Laura Lindsay

KW: Tell us about your business.
LL: Established more than 90 years ago, one of the oldest! We are very financially stable and will be here for a long time. We have home, auto, life, farm/ranch, personal, business insurance. This agency specializes in multi-family property insurance. I have been with American Family Insurance for 4 years, but in the industry for 6 years.

KW: Who is your target customer?
LL: Those who are married, usually with kids, working toward fulfilling dreams, owning houses, building business.

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
LL: When COVID happened, we had to close to the public, but were still working in the background. Then, people stopped shopping and our business dropped tremendously. Our rate increase hit in March, then COVID happened. We have had staffing issues, but now are in the recovery process and able to hire again. Having in person appointments is critical to gaining new clients. I miss people! 

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
LL: Offering Zoom appointments. It can be difficult with the older generation and technology. Consistently offering updated technology services and phone appointments, text messages and email. 

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
LL: Biggest mistake was staffing. Hired some people that were not good for the agency. I was not quick enough to fire them. Slow to hire-quick to fire. Now have a 7 step process in order to get hired. Keeping a Bad employees cost you more in the long run.

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
LL: What inspires me the most is being able to be the person that is there to help when life throws a curve ball at you. To not only be able to provide that financial recovery, but also on an emotional level. 

OFFER: Free insurance review, whether policy is with us or not. 

American Family Insurance
Owner: Laura Lindsay
lauralindsayinsurance.com 
509-822-3070
Llindsay@amfam.com

By Kendra Wiiest
The Design Tank
Owner: Rachel Tibbits

KW: Tell us about your business.
RT: I’m an artist and have been for many years. I would paint and give my art away for a long time. Then I started selling it. Then I sold other people’s art. I started this website a year ago, not knowing what would happen. Now I have artists from all over the world that I get to help sell their art! I put their art on canvas, print, apparel, etc., then sell it through the website. Now I also do branded logo wear. Logos, shirts, hats, beanies, or unique apparel... and really helping businesses with their branding. I create a bridge between artists that want to be recognized and their customers. There has been a lot of synergy and like-minded people. I’ve been an agent for artists for 4-5 years, the website has been live for a year.

KW: Who is your target customer?
RT: Many of my artists are internationally recognized and teach art through workshops all over the world (or online). Our audience is clients who are artists that create art that appeal to other artists. Sometimes art collectors.   

KW: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business?
RT: I started the website before COVID, so at first I thought timing was terrible because art is a luxury item. However, there has been such an increase in online purchasing, so we are selling art every single day. I don’t have a brick/mortar storefront, and now I’m not sure I ever will.  

KW: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference?
RT: Just having the website isn’t enough. It takes perseverance, a lot of hours and hard work to make it work. I spend a lot of time creating an online presence through social media, which can be grueling! I spend a lot of time every day building an audience. I couldn’t have made it without social media.  

KW: What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from?
RT: My approach is that every day has been an experiment. Be willing to put the time, money and energy into testing. When it works, that’s great, but how do you adjust when it doesn’t? There is no black/white manual to follow, so you won’t learn until you try. You just have to keep trying, and find the things that work. That has helped me get my business to where it is right now.

KW: What is inspiring to you today?
RT: What inspires me the most is helping artists sell their art. It’s hard to understand if you’re not an artist, but it’s hard to put yourself out there because it is so personal. I’ve had artists who sell their very first piece of art on my website. Knowing that someone is willing to pay for that piece that you’ve created, it is such an honor!

OFFER: Mention this newsletter and receive a free logo design.

The Design Tank
Owner: Rachel Tibbits
509-999-3237

By Kendra Wiiest
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