Join

Threats, slashed tires challenges for beer keg delivery service

“Business Beat” is a sponsored column written by One Degree Capital CEO and President Rod Loges. His column examines ideas and best practices that help local businesses succeed.

When I tell people about One Degree Capital, I often hear things like “Oh, I’d love to start my own business doing ‘XYZ’ someday.”

To the outsider, it often looks easy to own a business. The reality is that business owners face challenges and surprises all the time. It takes a lot of perseverance to overcome them and be successful.

My lessons in perseverance came to me early in life. I started my first business as a sophomore at Miami University, where I discovered an opportunity to help solve a disturbing problem in the community.

The two-lane, windy highway between small-town Oxford, Ohio (home of Miami of Ohio – go Hawks!), and the nearby City of Hamilton had been nicknamed “The Highway To Heaven” because so many college students died traveling that road. Students regularly drove to Hamilton to pick up kegs of beer for parties from local distributors. Sadly, many drove under the influence, which added to the trouble.

After reading yet another sad story in the local paper, I realized there was a need to help the fraternities get their kegs of beer back and forth from the distributors in Hamilton to their fraternity houses in Oxford – safely.

As I started my business I thought: I’ll just deliver kegs from Point A to Point B. I envisioned walking across campus with everyone shouting out “Hey, Look! It’s the Beer-Man!” I couldn’t wait to get started. This will be so easy!

WRONG! I soon learned a valuable business lesson: There is always one more challenge waiting around the corner. Always.

Challenge #1 – Competition: A few local merchants in town did not appreciate my entrepreneurial drive and saw me as a threat to their “beer fiefdom.” And they weren’t messing around.

I would regularly receive phone messages along the lines of “Listen, you (insert expletive here), we are going to blow up your truck if you keep delivering beer to the fraternities. That’s our business!” Thankfully that never happened. But one Saturday morning I did go out to my truck to find all four tires flattened.

I learned that I had competition – and that is a good thing. If there is no competition, you probably don’t have a strong business offering.

Challenge #2 – Responding to Critics: Not everyone appreciates a good business idea, and a keg delivery service is no exception. I once received a letter summoning me to the Dean of Student Life’s office (I was pretty sure it wasn’t to place an order for the weekend). I soon learned someone (my dear local competitors no doubt) had made up fake posters and put them up all over campus claiming my business would deliver beer to anyone… at any age. Of course not!

I could have allowed myself to get all riled up and launched into a shouting match with my competitors, but I knew that would solve nothing. So I met with the Dean and explained my business model. After hearing me out, the Dean actually thanked me for providing this service as she realized I was keeping college students safe by preventing their temptation to drink and drive.

This incident taught me to “solve the problem” and not go into a frenzy when met with a challenge.

Challenge #3 – Diversification: It took a while, but by my senior year my competition had found their knock-out punch to end my “keg running” operation. They lobbied the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to require my business to carry a $10,000,000 surety bond for my delivery service.

Fortunately for me, I had taken the time to diversify my business in the meantime. Instead of just one college, by senior year, my business served eight campuses in the region and had expanded into t-shirt sales and party supplies to support campus events. My keg runs from Oxford to Hamilton were now just a small part of my overall operation. The importance of diversifying a business’ revenue stream is a valuable lesson that I still use heavily today.

Probably the most important lesson from my first business was always to be positive, and I hear the same sentiment from other business owners as well. You will never persevere if you have a negative attitude.

Ask one of your favorite successful business owners to share their story with you, and I am sure you will get an earful of challenges they face: unrealistic customer demands, equipment malfunctions, employee needs, money issues… the challenges faced by business owners today are as diverse as the businesses themselves. But the successful ones know to approach each challenge with perseverance.

Do you have a story to share about perseverance in your business? I’ll be at Growling Bear Brewery,14051 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193, this Saturday (February 6) at 5:00 and will be happy to buy you a beer in exchange for your story.

I’ll have my blue One Degree baseball hat. Or you can just walk in and shout, “Hey, look! It’s the Beer-Man!” – I’ll find you.

Recent Stories

Stafford residents will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed county government budget that would see the average homeowner pay $276 in Real Estate taxes next year, amounting to an average homeowner’s $3,866 Real Estate tax bill.

Stafford County could get a new skate park at St. Clair Brooks Memorial Park, 80 Butler Road in Falmouth.

Stafford County’s Historical Commission could soon be a thing of the past.

To conduct disaster recovery testing, the Interstate 95/395 E-ZPass Lanes will undergo a double-reversal overnight from March 22 to March 23, 2024.

Are you facing life’s challenges, feeling overwhelmed, or seeking personal growth? Embrace the path to emotional well-being with our expert psychotherapy services!

Why Choose Us?

Our team of compassionate and experienced psychotherapists is here to guide you on your journey to inner peace, self-discovery, and positive change. We provide a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Read More

Submit your own Community Post here.

Dreaming of small-town charm with big-city convenience? Look no further than 7156 Main St in Clifton, Virginia! Nestled just 30 miles from the heart of Washington D.C., this picturesque property offers the best of both worlds.

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city to find tranquility in this quaint, historic town. With its tree-lined streets and friendly community atmosphere, Clifton is the perfect place to call home. Yet, with its close proximity to the nation’s capital, you’ll never be far from the excitement and opportunities of urban living.

Imagine weekends exploring local shops, dining at charming cafes, and enjoying outdoor adventures in nearby parks. Then, commute to D.C. for work or play, soaking in all the culture, entertainment, and career opportunities the city has to offer.

Read More

Submit your own Community Post here.

Van Metre 5K Run

Participate in the 32nd Annual Van Metre 5K Run, a race that goes further than 3.1 miles, and every stride you take supports Children’s National Hospital. The Van Metre 5K Run donates 100% of proceeds to Children’s National Hospital and

×

Subscribe to our mailing list