Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Windsor.
Hi Scott, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I went to school for music business, lived in the music industry for a while and then finally fell into the wonderful world of beer. After being in the homebrew industry for around six years in the midwest, my wonderful wife and I moved back out to our old stomping grounds in Orange County and opened up a shop in Costa Mesa. Two years later, we added on a specialty bottle shop. Five years later, we opened up a second location in Anaheim with a bottle shop and tasting room.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Haha, if you could find someone who started their own business and had a smooth road the whole way, I would love to talk to them! Struggles, let’s see here. All of the usual things you hear about someone opening up their own shop. The to do lists a mile long every day, the crazy long hours, learning all the different taxes, permits accounting principles. Trying to stay cash flow positive and managing employees once I had them. I’m sure that list could go on and on. I don’t know that I would use the word struggle, but starting out in the beginning I had clear cut goals, ideals and visions I wanted to see for the shop. And most of all, I wanted to see a community develop around those things. Staying true to who I am and wanting to follow through with these things was and can be a struggle. Sometimes there are easy ways out or easy ways to do things that most businesses take part in. Staying true to the original vision is what keeps the community in tact and customers being cared for and treated as friends rather than dollar signs.
We’ve been impressed with Windsor Homebrew Supply Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a retail shop that sells equipment and ingredients for making beer, wine, cider and mead at home. We also have a small curated bottle shop where we sell local and hard to find beer and wine from around the world. Some might say opening a brick and mortar shop these days when everything is available online is a little crazy. And it totally is. To make things more crazy, I decided that we wouldn’t sell or ship products online. In store only. Homebrewing is such a community-oriented hobby. Brewers are always wanting help with recipes or techniques. They also want to chat with like-minded people about the beers they are brewing. We try and cultivate that community around the shop while being knowledgeable and friendly. I would say that is what I am most proud of. Customers could buy products online but they choose to come in and spend their dollars locally and be a part of the local brewing community. On the craft beer side, we take great pride in curating a small bottle shop with fun and unique offerings. Many of the beers on our shelves and in the fridges can’t be found many other places. We love walking the shelves with customers and trying to find a beer or two that they can take home and enjoy.
What makes you happy?
I would say I’m most happy on a busy day at the shop where I can take a moment and step back and just take it all in. The shop is busy with customers and there is a positive buzz or energy you can feel. People aren’t just there to buy a product and leave. You can tell customers are happy to be in the shop. They feel like a part of it is theirs. And it is. And that is what makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.windsorhomebrewsupply.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/windsorhomebrewsupplyco
- Facebook: facebook.com/windsorhomebrewsupplyco
- Twitter: twitter.com/windsorhomebrew
