Steeps One Shot is a fiery blend of seven raw ingredients - turmeric, ginger, horseradish, chili, onion and garlic all steeped (infused) for 12 weeks in apple cider vinegar. It is a daily, 10ml, easy-to-take, wellness shot, which is stuffed to the rafters with a mix of organic ingredients and it contains absolutely no nasties or funny stuff.

I originally called the product "Steeps Fire Cider" but I wanted the name to reflect that it needs to be taken on a daily basis in order to be effective; so it launched officially as "Steeps One Shot" last year.

Our current flavour is the "Original" but I am currently putting together more flavours and experimenting with a variety of herbs such as rosemary, star anise, cinnamon, oregano and more. Towards the end of the year there will be a citrus version & a honey version available.

What inspired you to launch your business?

When I discovered the recipe, I was researching gut health and the microbiome because, as a fitness trainer, a lot of my clients were having trouble losing weight but more specifically with gut health issues. On further investigation this went back years and rather than sorting the problems, people had just started to live with their gut issues and work around them.

When I first saw the recipe I thought WOW I really like the sound of this. I cycle 365 days a year, I'm in and out of air conditioned gyms, I have three kids and I'm self-employed, so I need to be in good shape and stay as healthy as possible. For me consuming a variety of real food is so important, and when I researched the health benefits of Steeps One Shot, I started to make it for myself and then also for my clients.

How do you set your product apart from other competitors?

Steeps One Shot is really in a category of its own. You can buy apple cider vinegar, you can buy turmeric or ginger shots but you can't get anything that has such a variety of ingredients in one go.

With the labelling of the bottle I was keen to have the ingredients as prominent as possible on the back. So many food brands hide ingredients within the label and print the ingredients so small you can't read them. For me it's about being transparent and not hiding anything.

Steeps One Shot is also pretty versatile as it can be taken as a straight shot, it livens up tomato juice, beetroot juice or even bone broth and it can also be added to salads as a dressing by itself or as part of a dressing.

We have had some really good feedback from customers who have suffered with acid reflux for many years, people that are constipated and also people suffering from joint inflammation. It really does tick a lot of boxes.

It's punchy and it's not everyone's cup of tea but so many of our customers look forward to doing their daily shot now and are noticing a big difference in themselves.

What is your business end goal?

The business end goal is some sort of exit plan within 10 years. I have totally parked that goal for the time being and now I'm just focusing on the process.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as an entrepreneur?

It is OK to fail and make mistakes. If you don't then you will never move your business forward. It's very easy to let the mistakes/fails put the brakes on your business, but don't let them. Deal with the mess that you have created and move on. You need to remind yourself that it's OK and it really does help to speak to others about. What do they say... a problem shared is problem halved.

Do you have a morning routine or ritual to get your day started on the right foot?

Nope, I don't get up at 5am and meditate for half an hour. I am a pretty good morning person though and I always have been. As a fitness trainer getting up early and seeing clients at 6/6.30am is something I have been doing for well over 20 years. I just get up (right foot or left foot) and get on. I am a doer.

What would be your top tip for entrepreneurs that want to grow a business that is niche?

Research, research, research... and test the market. Keep your costs as tightly controlled as possible to really see if your product and pricing works. Keep your offering niche as well, create a "hero" product then expand. As soon as you expand your range, you have to consider all the additional costs, packaging, labelling, photography etc. As I found out 80%+ of my sales came from just 1 of my products. Lastly but mayber most importantly, your gut extinct is pretty strong, go with it.

How did you conquer those moments of doubt that so often affect entrepreneurs or stop many with great ideas – what pushes you through?

It's always really easy to find the "why won't this work" answers and so much harder to find "why will this work" answers. Advice from friends and family is difficult and can put that doubt in your mind. Typically it's because they care but also they don't see the end goal and/or they don't know the market like you do. They aren't talking from a wealth of experience so that's why having someone, like a business mentor, that you can turn to in those moments is great to have. Moments of doubt are always going to happen but as long as you have crossed the "t's" and dotted the "i's", spoken to the RIGHT people and have a really strong gut feeling you are on the right track.

Is word of mouth working to your advantage?

Yes, but it's a slow burn, you have to be in it for the long haul. Why not let your customers do your advertising for you, result. That's when you know you have a really strong product and brand that can stand on its own two feet. If customers are happy to shout about your product, reward them, encourage them and promote them.

Any moments where you thought you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?

I think to be honest you would be lying to say you never have had those thoughts. You have to wear so many hats and not all the hats fit so some areas of business you feel really confident in and others not so much. There is a lot of noise which you have to work your way through and that can feel overwhelming, such as choosing which social media platform to be on.

What do you think gives a brand longevity?

I first came across the recipe researching gut health and the gut brain connection many years ago and to be honest I have always been fascinated by it. For me the future of health lies within the gut, without shadow of a doubt. I am just here to ride the wave and give people what they need.