From Print Shop to Brewery: Minnesota Entrepreneur's Unexpected Success

In this interview, Mike Lagerquist and Becki True sit down with Ben Findley, owner of Insty Prints of Mankato and co-owner of Tremendous Brewing Company in St. Peter, to explore how he built two successful businesses through mentorship, adaptability, and community connections. Ben shares how a casual conversation about trivia nights led to voicing the legendary Happy Chef statue, how working at a print shop while going to college ultimately led to business ownership, and the dramatic difference between managing an established business versus launching a startup brewery.

Ben discusses the evolution of the printing industry over the past 25 years --from producing thousands of carbonless forms monthly to pivoting toward signage, banners, and custom solutions. He emphasizes the importance of saying 'yes' to new challenges and helping customers find solutions, even when you can't directly serve them. This customer-first approach transformed his print shop and continues to define his leadership style.

The conversation also dives into the brewery startup experience, which Ben describes as a completely different beast from running an established business. From navigating construction and city proposals to understanding diverse beer preferences (and admitting he doesn't actually like beer), Ben reveals the unexpected complexities of launching a new venture. He discusses brewery trends including mocktails and non-alcoholic alternatives, the importance of location clustering for brewery tourism, and how 'brewery folks' travel hours to hit multiple breweries in a region. After just one year in operation, Ben's brewery is already thriving, but he emphasizes there's still much to learn

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