Darren Smith | How he started Lake of Bays Brewery
Darren Smith
Starting a Brewery, Leading a Team, and Expansion Plan
Darren Smith
Founder of Lake of Bays Brewery (The Baysville Taproom, The Huntsville Brewhouse & The Bracebridge Barrelhouse).
p.s.
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Today, I’m sitting down with Darren Smith, the Founder of Lake of Bays Brewery.
The brewery started as an idea in his university apartment, and today Lake of Bays Brewery is keeping Canadians thirsts quenched with their incredibly variety of craft beer (we love the Off The Grid Hazy Pale Ale) but they also operate 3 locations, The Baysville Taproom, the Huntsville Brewhouse and the Bracebridge Barrelhouse.
In this episode, we chat about…
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The moment that the idea first hit to start the brewery & what happened after that
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Why they decided to break into the restaurant industry by launching The Huntsville Brewhouse
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The decision to open another location in Bracebridge, The Barrelhouse
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How he finds BALANCE as a busy founder of a company that now employs 50+ people
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& more!
Enjoy this episode with Darren Smith, founder of Lake of Bays Brewing and be sure to share this episode, tagging https://www.instagram.com/lb_brewing/ and https://lakeofbaysbrewing.ca
& to plan your next trip to Bracebridge, head to https://www.visitthebridge.ca/
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Want to take a peek at my “Prep Notes” for the show? 👇
These are totally unedited, and give you an idea of what I do to get ready for the interview.
Intro
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Where did you grow up & where do you live now?
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Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
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Favourite beer that you brew?
Lake of Bays Brewery
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The brewery started as an idea in your university apartment - take us back to the moment that the idea first hit
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What were some of the first steps you took to bring the business to life?
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What makes Lake of Bays Brewery unique vs. other craft breweries?
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Did you ever come up against any doubts that this would take off?
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Did you know that the craft beer industry was about to explode, 11 years ago?
Growth
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In 2018, you launched your first ever restaurant, the Huntsville Brewhouse, located in downtown Huntsville. Why did you decide to break into the restaurant industry? What’s been the highlight of that project?
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Tell us about the most recent project, opening the Bracebridge Barrelhouse? What can people expect?
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LOB now employs over 50 people - that’s incredible! Has becoming a leader been a natural transition for you?
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What is your role in the company today?
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Is there anything that’s felt particularly hard or challenging in growing the business-- that you maybe didn’t anticipate?
Business tips.
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What is 1 skill set or piece of advice that you started your business with, that served you well?
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What is 1 skill set of piece of advice that you wish you knew when you started your business?
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Back in the early days, how did you build relationships with your customers and turn them into lifelong LOB beer drinkers?
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How do you find balance as an entrepreneur? What structures do you have in place that allow you to shut off when necessary?
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You say that your philosophy is simple – make great beer, run a down-to-earth business, and have some fun while we’re at it! What does it mean to run a Down To Earth Biz?
Bracebridge Specific
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Tell us why you love Bracebridge - what is it about this awesome little town 2 hours North of Toronto that you love?
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What advice would you offer to someone looking to start & grow a business in a smaller town?
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What’s your favourite location in Bracebridge: a store, nature spot or place we’d never know about
Watch our Interview on YouTube!
Connect with Lake of Bays Brewery:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS....
Thanks to the town of Bracebridge for partnering with the Visionary Life Podcast.
Some of incredible entrepreneurs that live and work in Bracebridge are sitting down with podcast host Kelsey Reidl to share about their journey of opening their business in Bracebridge and why they love living and working here.
In this 6 episode series, you’ll hear interviews with a variety of shop owners, restaurateurs, visionary entrepreneurs and artists-- there’s an interview for all to enjoy!
Explore all that Bracebridge has to offer: https://www.visitthebridge.ca/
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