Meet Jared Gustafson

We recently connected with Jared Gustafson and have shared our conversation below.

Jared, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

Our company’s motto is “Distributing wellness to businesses and homes”. Therefore, my self-care goes hand in hand with my business as we distribute high-quality kombucha, matcha and cold brew coffee in kegs. Kombucha and matcha are some of the fastest-growing health beverages on the market. Kombucha is full of probiotics that support the gut microbiome, improving digestion. Matcha is my go-to drink whenever I need an energy boost.
I’m also an outdoorsy guy, so being out in nature, taking in the fresh air while soaking up some sun, and getting exercise is my preferred self-care routine.  We all function at our own highest level when we are healthy and strong, both physically and mentally. When I prioritize my well being through healthy habits like hiking trips and enjoying healthy drinks, I notice improved decision-making and problem-solving at work. Adopting a healthy lifestyle supports my effectiveness and inspires my co-workers to see self-care as integral to professional growth.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My wife and I both worked in television before we launched Kombucha on Tap, initially distributing one kombucha brand. Last year the business rebranded to KegJoy, embracing a more inclusive identity with a broader range of healthy beverages. We specialize in non-alcoholic kegs and over the years, the top SoCal kombucha and cold brew coffee brands have come on board with us. The first years were challenging because kombucha was new to the industry. Still, now that the healthy beverages we distribute are much more common with the general consumer, it’s easier to present our offer to clients.
Therefore, the main challenge is not to make them familiar with matcha, kombucha, or cold brew coffee, but to educate them on how draft systems work.. Some of the main struggles we’ve faced were learning which equipment and kegs deliver the most satisfying customer experience.
For many of our clients, a draft system is new; they are having it for the first time, and we have to provide a step-by-step guide from installation to maintenance. Also, if needed, we can assist them every step of the way from installation to pouring the first glass of a fresh drink.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

We started our business in a garage back in 2014 with zero experience in keg distribution, but we had enthusiasm, desire to learn new things and a positive attitude that helped us through the challenges. For us, it was essential to build our business around our passion for promoting wellness. The goal was to create something sustainable enough to support our lifestyle while meaningful enough to keep our enthusiasm and engagement long term.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

We partner up with companies that promote a healthy lifestyle. Our collaboration with the brands we work with currently is more than just transactions; it’s teamwork and, in many cases, a long term friendship. A company can have the best-tasting products and a hardworking sales team, but if the people behind the brand don’t share our values and align with our core mission, it won’t work. We’ve been distributors of certain kombucha kegs since 2014. Some of our partners are like family now, and we look forward to long-term partnerships with newer brands to help each other’s businesses grow and keep healthy brews distributed to people’s homes and offices.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kegjoy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kegjoy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KEGJOY
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzX6TzFkEbfmg5fwL62Cmfg