Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tai Hunt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tai, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

One of the main challenges to profitability in curating local product subscription boxes is the pricing of their products. Other subscription boxes will order from overseas and stack thousands of products in a warehouse to get their product cheaper than we can from local businesses.

It’s important for Locally Hyped subscription boxes to work with local businesses to get high-quality products, but this often comes at a price. It can be difficult to find the right balance of pricing to make a profit while also supporting local businesses.

Another challenge to profitability is the cost of shipping. Shipping costs can be high, especially when shipping internationally. This is another area where working with local businesses can help to offset some of the cost.

Tai, 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?

My name is Tai, and I’ve worked in the restaurant industry for over 25 years. I’ve met a lot of local businesses who want to get their goods out there while keeping things local. This is why Locally Hyped was created: to let people try different goods and learn how to help them.

Locally Hyped boxes are a collection of Colorado local companies’ products we curate. I also publish blogs about various businesses and their stories on my website.

I became interested in doing so when I decided to assist local businesses to help get their items and story out there. I believe the most crucial issue for subscription box success is ensuring the products inside are of good quality, fresh, and appealing to consumers. It’s also critical to keep shipping expenses low, as this can be a high cost for subscription businesses.

I’m unique among the competition because I focus on the individual running their own company. Everyone has a tale to tell, and I aim to get it out to consumers. You’ll have the opportunity to try their products and place an order directly with them if that’s what you want.

I am most proud of being able to help local businesses get their products and story out there. I want potential customers to know that they can trust me to provide high-quality products from local businesses and that they can learn more about the stories behind the companies on my website.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We had to pivot our business when we realized shipping costs were too high. We decided to switch to a local pick-up model where customers could pick up their boxes at a designated location. This allowed us to continue offering our service without passing on the high shipping costs to our customers.

We pivoted Locally Hyped to just boxes and stories. On our website, we wanted to promote local businesses’ items in the style of a catalog. The logistics were a nightmare; some firms have over 50 SKU’s. We’re pleased to focus on their content and curate boxes!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

On weekends, I was able to operate my business by driving Uber. It’s been a struggle to work 60 hours weekly and drive for Uber on the weekends. Throw in my hobby as a bass tournament angler, and it’s been a roller coaster ride.

My advice for others who are looking to start their own business is to be creative and resourceful. There are many ways to skin a cat, so don’t be afraid to try something new. And most importantly, don’t give up on your dream/mission. It will take a lot of hard work, but it will be worth it in the end.

Looking back, I’m glad I could fund my business through my own efforts. It’s given me greater ownership and pride in what I’ve built. If you’re willing to put in the hard work, you can make your dreams a reality. So don’t give up, keep pushing forward, and never give up on your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.locallyhyped.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locallyhyped/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocallyHyped
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.om/company/locally-hyped/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNH-ZEXtpyMt8d2t7842Qw/featured

Image Credits
Christian Ortiz