In this episode, Claudette and Chris Kirkwood sit down withus to share the raw, unfiltered story of how they built not one, but two thriving businesses in the wild world of specialty soda and candy.

What started as a garage experiment inspired by craft beerquickly snowballed into coast-to-coast wholesale with Vintage Soda Company and two busy Rocket Fizz retail stores in Alberta.

From shipping truckloads of glass-bottled pop across Canadato chasing down quirky customer requests like pickle soda and spruce beer, their growth has been anything but predictable.

Claudette and Chris open up about the real stuff mostbusiness owners face: the scary leap from a stable job with a pension to full-time entrepreneurship, the chaos of rapid growth, brutal supply chain shocks (hello, skyrocketing freight and tariffs), and what it actually takes to run two businesses while raising a young family—without losing your mind oryour marriage.

They also reveal how getting serious about their numberscompletely changed the game—cutting stress, reducing wasted work, making smarter pricing decisions, and giving them the confidence to outlast lowball competitors who eventually fade away.

If you’ve ever wondered how to scale without burning out,protect your margins when everything gets expensive, or turn your business into a real asset instead of just another job, this conversation is packed with honest insights you won’t want to miss.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Vintage Soda and Rocket Fizz

02:46 The Journey of Starting a Soda Business

05:01 Growth and Demand for Unique Beverages

07:21 Challenges in Shipping and Costs

09:50 Unique Beverage Offerings and Customer Requests

12:25 Transitioning to a Full-Time Business

14:49 Family Dynamics and Business Decisions

15:21 Navigating Stress and Decision-Making in Business

16:13 The Leap of Faith: Leaving a Steady Job

17:21 Building a Profit Plan for Success

18:37 Adapting to COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities

20:29 Understanding Margins and Pricing Strategies

22:28 Responding to Market Changes and Competitors

25:45 Streamlining Operations with Technology

29:48 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

37:33 Reflecting on Growth and Future Plans

45:14 Navigating Business Growth and Family Time

47:56 Realistic Expectations in Entrepreneurship

49:43 Understanding Business Numbers and Financial Planning

52:43 Valuing Your Business and Confidence in Offers

01:01:43 The Importance of Continuous Learning andAdaptation

01:05:18 Exploring New Ventures and Product Trends

01:07:27 Creating Family Traditions and Work-Life Balance

 Hosts are Greg Forzani and Dennis Taekema.

Our guests are Claudette and Chris Kirkwood Owners of Vintage Soda Company www.vintagesodacompany.com andRocket Fizz Candy Airdrie and Edmonton www.rocketfizz.com

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