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

Kevin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One thing we always find fascinating is how differently entrepreneurs think about revenue growth and cost reductions – both can be powerful ways to improve profitability. What do you spend more of your time and energy on?

Balancing cost-cutting with business growth is the biggest challenge I face as a small business owner. It often feels like an endless cycle—cutting costs is necessary to keep the doors open, but without reinvesting in growth, the business struggles to reach its full potential. Right now, I find myself working around the clock just to keep things running, which means I don’t always have the time or resources to execute on the strategies that could truly grow the business.

Both revenue growth and cost-cutting are essential, but they are deeply intertwined. Cutting costs can provide temporary relief, but it’s not a long-term solution if it hinders the ability to generate new business. On the other hand, focusing solely on growth without controlling expenses can be equally dangerous. The key is finding a balance—trimming inefficiencies while making strategic investments that fuel expansion.

One example from my own experience is how I’ve had to scale back marketing efforts due to financial constraints. Advertising, collaborations, and events all drive foot traffic and brand awareness, but they also require upfront spending. Without them, revenue stalls. It’s a constant push and pull. I’ve found that being creative—leveraging organic social media, community partnerships, and customer engagement—helps stretch limited resources while still fostering growth.

Ultimately, the challenge isn’t just financial—it’s also personal. As an owner-operator, I wear every hat in the business. There are only so many hours in the day, and without the ability to delegate, it becomes harder to implement the very changes that could break the cycle. Finding that equilibrium between cost control and revenue growth is the toughest part of the journey, but I know that solving it is the key to long-term success.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At 45 Degree Brewhouse, our story is one rooted in a passion for great beer, diverse cultures, and community. Owned and operated by Kevin and Dewi Campbell, our journey began from a shared love of exploration—both in the world and in brewing. Dewi grew up overseas, immersed in the rich variety of global traditions, while Kevin’s career with an international travel company gave him the opportunity to experience the beers and cultures of many countries. This love of people, culture, and, of course, beer became the foundation of our brewery.

We believe a brewery is more than just a place to enjoy a drink—it’s a gathering spot where friends, family, and neighbors come together to share stories and create memories. At 45 Degree Brewhouse, that sense of community is at the heart of everything we do. Our brewery reflects this in every detail, from the spectacular murals on our ceiling, painted by a close friend, celebrating beer and cultures around the world, to our name and logo, designed by a family member. If you look closely, you’ll spot 45-degree angles woven into the artwork, a subtle nod to the unique design of our building.

But the story doesn’t stop there. We’re also proud to brew on a piece of beer history. Our brewhouse originally belonged to Hales Ales, a trailblazing brewery founded in 1983 by Mike Hale, who aimed to bring world-class beer to the Inland Empire. The system features open fermentation tanks, a rare feature that, when combined with the right yeast strains, creates distinctive and complex flavors. This connection to brewing heritage is something we cherish as it perfectly aligns with our commitment to crafting beers that are rich in flavor and character.

Kevin’s brewing journey began back in the early 1990s, during the explosion of the craft beer scene in his home state of Oregon. His first homebrewing kit was a gift from Dewi—proof of true love and support from the start. What began as a homebrewing passion has since evolved into the brewhouse we run today, a reflection of our love for beer, people, and the good times that come when they mix.

At 45 Degree Brewhouse, we’re not just about making beer—we’re about bringing people together to enjoy life’s best moments. So, raise a glass with us, share a laugh, and experience the world of flavors, cultures, and community that we celebrate in every pint.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building our reputation has been a combination of constantly improving our craft and ensuring that every person who walks through our doors has a memorable experience. Brewing great beer and serving great food is a never-ending pursuit—we get better every day, always refining, learning, and pushing ourselves to create something special. But the one thing we can control 100% is the experience our patrons have when they choose to visit us.

We believe that people don’t just come in for a beer; they come in for a feeling, for a moment of connection. That’s why our team is dedicated to engaging with every guest in an upbeat, caring, and genuine way. We want to learn about their story, share a little bit of ours, and create an environment where they feel welcome and appreciated. A great product can bring someone in once, but a great experience brings them back.

At our core, we are about building community. Every interaction matters. It’s our job to never have a bad moment, let alone a bad day, because the people who visit us deserve our best every single time. That philosophy has helped us grow a loyal following—not just because of the beer we brew, but because of the relationships we build.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Running a small business comes with its share of challenges, but one of the toughest moments we’ve faced was when major city construction severely reduced access to our location, leading to a significant downturn in revenue. Practically overnight, foot traffic dropped, and with it, our ability to cover payroll. We had no extra credit options, no cushion—just the reality that if things didn’t turn around fast, we wouldn’t be able to pay our team.

Having to sit down with my staff and tell them that hours would be reduced was one of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had. I knew that they relied on this job just as much as I relied on them. The challenge was being transparent without crushing morale. I had to make it clear that we weren’t giving up—we just needed to be as focused and efficient as possible to build back up. Their response was humbling. They stepped up, rallied around the business, and gave everything they had to keep things moving forward.

What many people don’t see is the toll this takes on a personal level. When the business struggles, it doesn’t just stay at the brewery—it follows me home. The stress strains relationships with my wife and kids. Time that should be spent with family, working out, or simply decompressing gets reallocated to survival mode. Keeping a household running smoothly takes a backseat when every ounce of energy is focused on keeping the doors open. It’s a daily battle to not wave the white flag.

But that experience also reinforced something important: resilience. The only way forward is through. We dug deep, found ways to adapt, and slowly regained momentum. It’s these moments—the ones that push you to the edge—that truly define what it means to be a business owner.

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