Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you and what is your background?
My name is Jennie Neu-Sipkay. I’ve been making kombucha for roughly 12 years starting at a cafe I use to work which bloomed into our own business.
Your current job:
Neu Kombucha owner.
In which city:
Farmington, Michigan.
Where does your interest in Kombucha come from?
From a need/want to help people be/stay healthy.
What prompted you to start your company?
Ambition and drive. Working for yourself is very fulfilling.
What makes your product unique?
We make it not them. Minimally processed with a bold flavor.
What do you want to convey through your brand image? Design: how was it designed? By who?
Our labels are bright and full of color. We developed them to be modern yet our bottles are keeping with the old medicine type look.
What are the main challenges in your company?
Finding time for ourselves.
What tools are essential for your work(app, software)?
S.C.O.B.Y and imagination.
A word to define what type of worker you are:
Imaginative, hard-working (taught by father kombucha. He’s AMAZING!)
What does your office space look like?
It’s at home. Very organized and peaceful.
Do you have a way to organize your days to optimize your work?
Yes. Each day includes different tasks which are finished by the end of the day. Lots of notes to self to keep the business on track.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
A very expensive automated bottling line, new/more vessels, and more space. This interview offers a grant right?
What is the best advice you have been given?
Work hard and stay motivated.
How do you control the growth of your company?
We distribute ourselves. We have not signed on to a major distribution company and we like it that way.
What is your strategy for making your beer known? (tastings, festival, etc.) Why this strategy?
We advertise with local writers here and there. Our wholesale customers advertise our bottles on news broadcasts they appear on. Kombucha really sells itself as long as you expose your brand to the public.
What are your end-of-day and early-day routine?
End of day is to say goodbye to the scobys and to make sure all is done. Early day is strengthening and meditation if there’s time. Outside skateboarding if the season’s right.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start a Kombucha company?
Do it! Not to close to our location please . Get proper licensing.
Apart from your computer and your phone, what gadget cannot you do without?
PH tester, pump, capper, bottling machine, social media, hands….
Upcoming products or projects?
We are working on an adaptogenic spritzer and a collagen boosting spritzer. No sugar or calorie.
neukombucha.com | facebook.com/neu.kombucha | instagram.com/neukombucha |