Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Adam Roth. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Adam, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Balladeer Coffee was born from a love of coffee and my admiration for artists and songwriters who pour their blood, sweat and tears into their craft despite the odds being stacked against them.
After years of working as an artist signed to a major label, an indie label and several publishing companies, I came to the harsh realization that the music industry doesn’t always favor the artists. It’s becoming harder and harder to cut through the noise and to make a living. These days, thriving in the music industry is only possibly by achieving viral success (or so we’re told).
My journey to launching Balladeer Coffee started about a year ago when I began looking into opening a coffee shop. I knew I wanted a music element and a way to support musicians. Along the way to researching the costs to open a shop, I decided against opening a brick and mortar location, and instead opted to launch the company online for the time being.
I set out to create something to honor my community, the deserving songwriters and artists whom create the soundtrack to our lives. I had an idea to feature artists on the coffee bags, but wanted to take that idea further. Eventually, after consulting with other businesses on profit sharing, I landed on 10% of net profits going back to the artists featured on our bags. This felt like a win-win situation for consumers and artists. Alas, a new pathway for music discovery and a new royalty stream for struggling artists was born.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I sing in a band called Grizfolk. Together we’ve toured the world and played late night shows like the Late Show with David Letterman as well as Conan. We’ve had songs in major TV shows and films. We’re currently finishing a new album due out later this year. I’m also a songwriter and producer for other artists. A little over 6 years ago I got sober from alcohol and hard drugs. I fell in love with coffee, tea, and living a healthy lifestyle. I’m passionate about helping other artists through Balladeer Coffee. It’s my dream to create a powerful ecosystem for music discovery.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The income streams from music can be unreliable and unpredictable. After years of frustration, I decided to lean more into my entrepreneurial skills. It started with a passion for real estate. I created several Airbnb rentals in Nashville and one in Joshua Tree, CA. Having rental income has taken a lot of financial pressure away, giving me more room to focus on music and other passions. Arriving at the idea for Balladeer Coffee feels serendipitous in that I’m combining a lifelong love for music with a cause that I’m truly passionate about.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
When I was getting started, I met with a handful of coffee shop consultants as well as business owners. The conclusion that I came to was that it would take a lot of capital to get started, and the company might not make a profit for a while. Business loans can be expensive, and I didn’t want to bring on an investor in the beginning phase. A year ago I took out a HELOC loan on my home, but I never used it. Ultimately after some research and thought, I decided to use the HELOC loan for capital because I could take advantage of interest only payments for 10 years. I know it’s risky because it’s tied to my home, but I was willing to take the risk for a concept I believe in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.balladeercoffee.com
- Instagram: @balladeercoffee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balladeercoffee/
- Twitter: balladeercoffee
Image Credits
Anna Lee. Micah Pringle. Bag design by Logan Bartels.