We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexey Savin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexey below.

Alexey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

It all started with a simple idea – my love for awesome places, like gorgeous beaches, and my heartache at the sight of plastic trash everywhere. I firmly believed that small actions could create huge change, so me and my co-founders, we decided to tackle the issue of plastic straws.

We thought, “Hey, we can make a difference here!” And that’s when our thrilling journey began.

Creating wheat stem straws felt like a bit of magic. This material not only looks and works just like regular single-use straws but is also 100% biodegradable. It’s nature’s gift, free from any nasty chemicals.

Our idea was to take something people use every day, reimagine it without altering their habits (no metal or glass straws here!).

From there, it was a rollercoaster of execution. We scoured the Earth for the right manufacturer, found our first client, and set up the logistics – one step at a time. When we couldn’t find the right manufacturer, we rolled up our sleeves and built our own process with our own machinery. We reached out to the first 10,000 restaurants and bars in the US, and the feedback was fantastic. Our first sales!

We started expanding the team and were lucky to have incredibly talented folks join us because they shared our values.

This all happened in 2018-2019, right when the plastic straw ban was making headlines. We were in the news every day, which helped us quickly grow our client base. But popularity comes with its own set of challenges. We were growing so fast that we had to ensure we stayed on the right path and didn’t miss any critical business details.

The first two years were the toughest. Sleepless nights, loads of stress, and never knowing when everything would finally click into place like a well-oiled machine.

Starting a business can be challenging, but it’s all about having a fantastic idea and working incredibly hard to make it a reality. And that’s how we got here – having a blast and making the world a better place, one straw at a time. 😊🌍🌾

Alexey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Alexey Savin, and I’m an entrepreneur with a deep passion for nature and a burning desire to make a positive impact on the world. My journey into the world of eco-friendly products led me to launch HAY! Straws back in 2018.

My motivation to start HAY! Straws stemmed from my love for nature and my unwavering belief that we all have a role to play in preserving the environment. I recognized the urgent need for change, particularly in reducing plastic waste, and that’s where the idea for HAY! Straws was born.

With prior experience in working closely with restaurants, I understood the potential to bring about significant change in the industry. I saw an opportunity to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic straws, a product used extensively in the restaurant sector.

HAY! Straws became my platform for driving change. Our mission was clear: to offer eco-friendly line of products that are not only better for the environment but also align with the needs of businesses, including restaurants. We wanted to make sustainability accessible without compromising on quality or convenience.

Today, I’m proud to say that HAY! Straws has grown into a brand that empowers businesses and individuals to make eco-conscious choices. Our journey is a testament to the idea that a simple, everyday item like a drinking straw can be a powerful catalyst for change.

What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to sustainability, and I’m excited to continue this journey, collaborating with businesses, restaurants, and individuals to create a greener, cleaner future. Together, we can make a world of difference

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

It’s actually a funny story. I met my co-founder when he hired me as a sales manager for a startup. We became good friends and decided to start another business together, which we still run today—www.brushmable.com, where we offer eco-friendly bathroom essentials.

Later on, we both left that startup and decided to add HAY! Straws to our ventures. It quickly became our main focus, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

During the challenging times of COVID, we faced some incredibly tough moments as a business. There were instances when we had to make difficult decisions and activate survival mode. It was a time when every penny counted, and we had to optimize every aspect of the company to become more efficient.

One thing I’m really proud of is that, despite these challenges, we never missed a single payroll. Our team came together, and we managed to not only survive but also thrive. It’s a testament to the resilience and dedication of our team.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.haystraws.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/haystraws
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haystraws/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@haystraws1639