Keri Elliot had no idea what she was getting into the first time she tried roasting coffee beans. What started out as a mundane interest only years ago morphed into Roasted By Mom Coffee; a booming coffee business sweeping the hearts (and taste buds) of all local coffee fanatics in 2019. Today we share the story of Keri and her remarkable journey from behind backyard roasting through to building a booming coffee brand.
The Spark of Inspiration
Keri has always been a coffee lover. Working as a barista at Starbucks, she already knew the ins and outs of coffee culture. But her quest for knowledge eventually led to uncovering one of the most consistently unknown DIY hobbies that seemed like such a farfetched idea: home coffee roasting. Taking a hint from numerous social media videos and tutorials, Keri started roasting coffee with the help of a popcorn machine. She quickly roasted one of those orders in her backyard and was soon tasting the most amazing cup of coffee she had ever tasted, this cup opened up another whole new world and the idea for Roasted By Mom Coffee finally began.
Turning a Hobby into a Business
Initially a side project that grew to be much more. It was not a seamless transition. Keri was the first to admit that her business had no real strategy at all in the beginning! Making do with a co-hosting facility for commercial equipment was in fact an ever-better solution while offering its own challenges. Looking back, Keri says she would have been better resourced and more effective had you done proper research and planning from the start.
Navigating Early Challenges
It made sense that only a new brand would dare to launch during the year of our pandemic, so it came with unique challenges. As Keri was getting ready to launch her own store, the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders threw a wrench in her plans. Not knowing what would happen to her business, she started networking (mainly over Zoom) and used word-of-mouth marketing.
Building a Customer Base
Keri became networking in a group of mom-owned businesses and was an overnight success. That connection played a vital part in her word-of-mouth of the brand as she landed her first customer. As her reputation matured, so did her customer base which percolated past family and friends
The Role of Family and Friends
Keri's journey relied heavily on the support of her family and friends. Having a history of beginning but not finishing projects, it was hard for those around her to see this project as anything but another false start. Keri, however, was determined not to let that skepticism derail her. She kept showing up, kept working, and kept ... believing. And in the end, when she achieved her goal, her journey served as an inspiration.
Celebrating Five Years of Success
Keri is proud of having reached the five-year milestone with her business. Many startups don't live to see their second year, so holding court in a successful venture for that long — in that not-long-ago era of not-great e-commerce — is an impressive feat. Keri really knows how to throw a product and inflate a customer base. She does that in no small part by making and selling a really decent product. And she works hard at it.
Measuring Success
Keri gauges her success through the community she has fostered around Roasted By Mom Coffee. For her, it is not merely a matter of sales figures or revenue, but one of customer enjoyment and loyalty. She appreciates the support she has gained and the relationships she has developed, and she is far from the only entrepreneur to prize such distant peaks of the business summit.
Adapting to Market Trends
As inflation climbs, many consumers have tightened their pocketbooks, avoiding the pricier offerings from popular coffee chains. Instead of buying expensive brewed coffee, coffee lovers are rediscovering the charm of home brewing. This trend plays right into the hands of Keri, owner of the local coffee company Roasted By Mom Coffee. When you consider her company alongside other local entities, Roasted By Mom is a more accessible option—cost-wise and otherwise—without compromising quality.
Embracing Technology
Keri's triumph can be directly credited to the digital age. She has used technology to expand her reach and establish her brand. Of all the digital tools at her disposal, she credits social media as being the most instrumental in her engaging with a community of coffee lovers.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Passion, persistence, and a couple of lucky breaks bolstered Keri’s rise. She took the necessary steps, and when she hit roadblocks, she worked around them. And the way that she talks about the path that she’s taken will appeal to coffee enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs alike—because she doesn’t sugarcoat anything. She talks about how she’s struggled, and she describes the ways that she and her business have grown.
Comments