We were lucky to catch up with Josie Rappold recently and have shared our conversation below.

Josie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I’m genuinely very happy to be a business owner. Some days are more stressful than others without a doubt. On the harder days I ask myself, would life just be easier if I had a traditional 9-5 job. Like clockwork when I start to have my doubts about my business, or feel overwhelmed by being a owner/operator, opportunity comes ringing and I’m guided back to the reality that what I’m doing is truly the right path for me. When I worked a regular job I found myself to be really unhappy, stressed, and tired most of the time. I’m a hard worker, and incredibly driven and have learned some of the ropes of business start ups from mentors at previous jobs that I often reflect on or lean on in times that I feel uncertain about my path. What stresses me out about my business is very different than what stressed me out about my regular jobs. When I would clock in my heart would sink and I would be filled with a lack of passion and for me to do things with passion is everything which ties in to my stressors as a business owner – often times I wonder is my passion present, am I making the connection with my community through my products as intended. A regular job felt like a distraction from the work I am passionate about. How do I strengthen these passion projects and make them understandable and palatable to an audience that doesn’t know me personally. When that connection feels distant, I have to look inward and remind myself that I am working towards the future I have always wanted, and that I am doing what I was put on earth to do.
When I can search within myself to find the sources of stress, and solutions to stress is how I realized I could never go back to traditional work. The self fulfillment and the ability to encourage others to explore food and flavors through my kombucha, hot sauces and jellies brings me a joy that working a regular job could never fulfill, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share what I make with people even on the hard days.

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.

My name is Josie Rappold, and I am the owner and operator of Josie’s Brew.
I grow most of my ingredients or forage them, what I don’t grow I source from other local farmers.
The whole point of Josie’s Brew is to create and foster a sense of wellness, community, and excitement about cooking and trying new things. All of my products are unique but very versatile which gives my customers a lot of opportunity to get creative in the kitchen!
Currently my main focus is on fermentation, and the benefits of it for the body and mind. I create fun kombucha flavors in hopes of getting more people to try something new that’s good for them and my goal is to make it palatable and accessible to people of all walks of life and backgrounds. I often encourage my customers to start their own batches and offer help and supplies along the way if they are interested.
My hot sauces and jellies are meant to inspire people in their home kitchens whether they want a kick of spice, or just to obtain a new flavor to get them out of a rut. I always am happy to give suggestions on how to use them, but I’m more interested in hearing the cool things customers do with my products!
I am the most proud of the communities I get to interact with when I do markets or when I do fund raisers with my items. Being able to share, grow and help others is such a core value to me and as my business grows I hope to grow my outreach to help people explore their own kitchens and really foster a relationship between food and the consumer. What we put in our bodies is so important and eating well and healthy doesn’t have to be boring.
I always like to encourage people to grow with me, and grow with my business because we are all human and learning new things everyday.
Josie’s Brew is a cauldron of inspiration, knowledge, and positivity that is meant to be shared with everyone!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

While I am still building my reputation, I firmly believe that I am where I am today because of the relationships I build with my customers and community.
The connection comes first, money comes second. When you build the relationship with your customers, everything else falls into place.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Consistency, consistency is key to building relationships with your customers and keeping your word. I make sure to show up to every market, and maintain transparency on social media. No secrets, and what you see is what you get with me as a person. Being comfortable with that, and honest with myself makes it feel safe for others to do the same, then we build a relationship where they know how to get in touch with me, and where to find me, and they trust that I will always be there.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @josiesbrewkombucha

Image Credits

Josie Rappold