Learn more about Cabarrus Brewing Company and how one of the largest breweries in the area came to be.
Meet Stacey Griffin, Co-owner and Community Outreach Coordinator for Cabarrus Brewing.
Did you always want to be in or see yourself as a small business owner & being your own boss? My father spent his career with the SBA and was the founder of the 8 (a) program (The 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals). He fostered a sense of entrepreneurship in me and my brother and we both went on to eventually start our own companies. I started my own sales and marketing firm early in my early 20's, worked as a sole proprietor in real estate and then opened Cabarrus Brewing with my husband and partners in 2016.
What is it about "Cabarrus Brewing" that stands out in the brewery/beer industry? From the beginning, we wanted to start something that embodied our love for the community in which we have all lived in for 20 + years. Our location in a restored textile mill is important to us as a way to honor the local mill history of the area. Our founding/managing partner, Steve Steinbacher, had the idea of a brewery that not only produces good beer, but is a place that people want to gather with friends and families. Our ability to adapt to an ever changing industry is what I feel helps us stand out. We recognize that not everyone is a beer drinker, so we offer wine, cider, craft cocktails and non-alcoholic options. The introduction of our CBC Kitchen a couple of years ago means food is now a big part of our business model. The actual size of the brewery definitely helps us stand out in the industry. Our brewpub can hold approximately 400 guests. We host all types of festivals, fundraising events for local non-profits and live music events. Our large event spaces allow us to hold a variety of private events....we have had gender reveals to end of life celebrations, and everything in between. Weddings are the next big sector of the market that we are cultivating.
How do you balance a family/work balance being an entrepreneur and having a personal/family life? What does that look like for you and any tips for our readers? It has taken me some time to find this balance. In the beginning of starting any new business, there is little balance as getting started is all consuming. There is so much to accomplish to get the pieces into place that will make the business successful...many long hours spent focusing on nothing else. When my kids were young, it meant carving out family time while working early in the morning and late at night. Having a network of family and friends to help is so important. That helping hand to pick up your kids from the bus or let the dog out when you can't be home in time, is vital in helping with balance. My best advice is to not to fret when things are slow...embrace the slow times as just part of the process and not a precursor of failure. Take that time for selfcare, reflection or to just catch up on sleep! The busy times will follow and you will be thankful you took the time to breathe. Having the right people to help in the business and finding mentors is so important. One person can't do it all so find the experts and listen to them. Honestly, age/experience helps with the balance. I have learned how to prioritize more efficiently and not sweat the small stuff.
What is the part about your business that lights you up the most? The beer part of the business was never my "thing". I knew I had found my focus for the new business when I saw the large footprint of the building we were going to rent. I have volunteered for years for different non-profits, and in helping plan these fundraising events, meetings and galas, I realized that our area needed more large venues for events. I saw clearly how we could be more successful by having events be a part of our business model. In our original business plan, we estimated that we would host 4 events a month...we ended up booking over 200 events that first year! This is a long way of saying that what lights me up is the actual events themselves. The fact that people choose to hold their life moments with us is very satisfying to me. Whether it's a baby shower, retirement party, rehearsal dinner or celebration of life, people are gathering to "raise a glass", be with friends and family and to enjoy each other's company. Helping to make these occasions run smoothly and as stress free as possible is what makes me feel the most accomplished.
Do you have any advice/tips for women wanting to start their own business & go after their dreams? Find something you are passionate about. It took me until I was 51 years old to find my passion so don't give up on finding it! Find the right people to help you. I couldn't dream of doing this without my partners. Knowing that you have others that care about the business the way you do and have your back if you can't handle the load, means everything. Hire the right people. We were not experts in beer brewing so we hired the experts. Our brewing team is top notch and just won medals at the NC Brewers Cup Competition - a gold for our Sew Juicy hazy IPA and a bronze for our Vanilla Coffee Blonde!! I realized as the event side of things took off, that I couldn't do it all and still grow the business so I hired a team to help. It can be hard to take on more help (financially and control wise), but this can be the only way to grow and be successful. Sometimes you have to just take that leap.
What made you take the leap into entrepreneurship and start "Cabarrus Brewing"? The majority of my career had been as an entrepreneur so I wasn't afraid at that point in my life to move forward with another business project. A brewery wasn't my idea, but I became caught up in the excitement of our founding partner, Steve, and my husband's desire to create something lasting in our community. Once I saw the potential for the events business, it seemed a perfect match for the skills I had honed for years planning events for nonprofits.
How has your journey been so far with your business? Definitely some stress and anxiety, but I was expecting that. It is all part of starting a new business. Seeing the business grow as it has and knowing that our community has embraced and supported us for almost 9 years now makes the journey worthwhile.
What is the biggest lesson you've learned on your entrepreneurial journey? To trust my instincts, listen and take the advice/help of others and give myself some grace. I think a lot of entrepreneurs tend to be "control freaks" and it is hard to give up that control when it is your own business. But, it is important to realize that others bring so much to the table that can be of huge benefit to you. I am not perfect and there will and have been mistakes made, but I learn from the mistakes, forgive myself quickly and get on with the business at hand!
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