Co-founder of Four Pillars Gin, shares how he turned a bold idea into a global brand, selling over 6M bottles and growing to 150 team members before a $100M exit, with insights on branding, leadership, and unstoppable growth. (Episode 725 - Stu Gregor)

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Stu Gregor, co-founder of Four Pillars Gin, shares his journey of growing a bold idea into a global gin brand. Starting in 2013, he scaled the business to 150 team members, sold over 6M bottles worldwide, and achieved a $100M exit. Stu dives into the challenges of competing with global giants, the power of storytelling in marketing, and building a strong company culture. He also reflects on navigating crises like COVID-19 and the lessons learned along the way. This episode is packed with insights on branding, leadership, and sustainable growth.

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Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.

And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?

According to Stu Gregor, the hardest thing in growing a small business is the repetition — getting up every single day and pushing forward with the same energy and focus, even when challenges make you want to crawl under the doona and give up.

2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?

Stu Gregor's favorite business book that has helped him the most is “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber. He often recommends it to people starting a business because of its timeless lessons on building systems and processes for sustainable growth.

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?

Stu Gregor shared that he doesn’t follow specific business podcasts, but he listens to Fear and Greed, a short daily business news podcast by Sean Aylmer, to stay updated on current events. He also enjoys podcasts about politics, sports, and music, using them to learn about things outside his own expertise and broaden his perspective.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?

Stu Gregor recommends finding an incredible business partner as the most valuable resource for growing a small business. He believes no one has all the skills needed to succeed alone, and a great partner can balance weaknesses, share the workload, and drive the business forward.

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?

Stu Gregor would tell himself on day one to embrace the incredible journey ahead and have fun, as building a business will be one of the most exciting experiences of his life. He also advises staying fit and healthy, as the demands of entrepreneurship require energy and resilience to handle the challenges along the way.

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Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

Great storytelling is at the heart of building a powerful brand that people truly connect with – Stu Gregor