Monday mornings can be a struggle, whether you've spent the weekend lounging around or bustling from one activity to the next. For many of us, that first cup of coffee or tea makes everything better—or at least gives us the kick we need to do what needs to be done. This morning, we're featuring Victor Borsukevich's online store, Enjoy Better Coffee, as our Merchant Monday—because when you need that cup of joe to get through the day, you want to make sure it's a good one.
Last week, we had the opportunity to catch up with Enjoy Better Coffee's founder, Mr. Borsukevich. We asked him about what got him into the coffee business in the first place, what's most challenging about running his own business, and what advice he has to offer other entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses.
How did you get into the coffee business?
I found myself entering the coffee business back in 2006 when I was trying to find the coffee brands I had grown accustomed to before moving to the U.S. My searches continued to come up empty-handed, and the coffees I missed were seemingly unavailable everywhere—from grocery stores to online retailers. This helped inspire me to generate a business idea to begin making quality coffees from around the world available on the U.S. market. Now, over 10 years later, our business of providing premium and internationally renowned coffee, tea, and other products has continued to grow.
How did you decide that the Volusion platform was right for your business?
After analyzing several ecommerce platforms, we decided that Volusion was most suitable for our business for its reasonable price points and the company’s ability to provide a range of features that were well-suited to our needs. We especially appreciated that Volusion offered a variety of website templates and that, while the front-end of the site had many robust features to attract customers, the software was easily accessible for even novice users.
What sets Enjoy Better Coffee apart from its competitors?
Enjoy Better Coffee stands out against our competition because we are a well-established company that customers have grown to trust and rely upon. We provide a unique set of products and coffees from around the world that are typically unavailable in stores and from other online retailers. We also have reasonable and fair prices that help keep our loyal customers returning for future purchases.
What is the most challenging aspect of running your own business?
One of the most challenging aspects of managing a business is finding the right partners. Collaboration in business is very important, and it takes time and effort to find the right team. Another challenge is managing to fulfill all the different hats one must wear as a business owner each day. But, having the right people around you can help provide the support needed to navigate these challenges successfully.
Does your business experience any seasonal fluctuations? If so, how do you handle it?
Enjoy Better Coffee, like most businesses, does experience seasonal fluctuations. As a distributor of primarily hot beverages, we experience a high level of business in the fall and winter, a mid-season in the spring, and a low season in the summer. We have found that careful management of our inventory and workforce has been the primary tool to help us successfully navigate both our busiest and quietest months. While we now have a well-oiled machine, this status has taken experience and time to strike that balance.
We've just gotten past the holidays—do you have any insights on how to best handle the rush?
Over the years, the holidays have proven to be one of our busiest times. We have learned time and again that it is very important to be prepared. One insight we have gained is to start early with preparation—the earlier the better. We actually start prep for the holidays during the summer months. We spend this time reviewing our inventory to be certain we have enough to fulfill demand, and ensuring that we have enough hands on deck to effectively carry out high-order volumes.
Anything specific you learned this year?
We have learned a lot this year, which has been an annual trend since we opened business. As a business owner, you must always stay open to learning and growth, and to be ready to evolve and adapt at all times. This year, some of our greatest lessons continue to be learned from inventory and employee management to fulfill high demands during our busy season.
What tips do you have for someone wanting to start their own ecommerce business?
Find a niche. Be diligent about developing your business model and consistently following and adjusting your model as appropriate. And, most importantly, find the right ecommerce software for you and your business. For us, Volusion has been the perfect fit that helps us fulfill our business needs each day.