small business Archives - The John Krol Show

small business

June 5, 2022

#38 – Jim Bronson and Matt Mottor, Your CBD Store and Berkshire Culinary Group, respectively

These two have been through thick and thin and it’s a friendship that has added greater variety and flavor to the Berkshire business scene and our community. Jim Bronson and Matt Mottor met nearly 15 years ago and the instant friendship notably led to the creation of a wildly popular Beerfest, which crushed it with tens of thousands of attendees before the pandemic put a damper on it. The pandemic also led to the reinvention of Jim’s career. After his company of many decades let him go in the midst of restrictions and lockdowns, Jim launched into a franchise Your CBD Store. Similarly, Matt has evolved in his career moving into his own business Berkshire Culinary Group, notably, supporting Shire Breu House providing the food side of the operation. Jim chips in as well on trivia night, and all in all, these two are an inseparable team. Our conversation also includes: Jim and Matt meeting during their time at Sodexo, how the pandemic impacted them, the evolution of the cannabis industry, the particulars of the differences between hemp and marijuana, advertising limitations in the industry, the crushing challenge of inflation (particularly for restaurants), the economics of locally grown food and the tipping point of competitiveness due to inflation vs. imported corporate food, Matt making maple syrup as a child, *John not getting the joke on how many gallons of beer it takes to make a gallon of maple syrup, CBD for pets, Matt’s inspiration to become a chef, and much more!

I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with Jim Bronson and Matt Mottor!

#34 – Sarah Real & Mike Dell’Aquila, Hot Plate Brewing Co.

The love of beer and the magic of the pub. Sarah Real and Mike Dell’Aquila have been together since their days at Penn State, and since, through their days in New York City, traveling around the world and now finding their ways to the Berkshires – they are now fulfilling their dream to open a brewery. Hot Plate Brewing Co. is expected to open on North Street this fall. Meanwhile, the couple is busy telling their story through community, creative social media content and, of course, developing exceptional brews. In our conversation we cover the early days and early inspiration in their days at Penn State, a cross country trip, speaking the language of beer internationally, the universal magic of the pub, making beer in a tiny New York apartment, the incredible origin story of the Hot Plate name, extract vs. all-grain brews, Sarah’s Mexican American heritage and its importance in this industry today, their journey to the Berkshires, falling in love with North Street, the business model for Hot Plate, documenting their journey, German Reinheitsgebot, craft beer as punk rock, beer bros., the three-tier distribution system for beer, shelf wars, quality control, beer telling the story of a culture, the visibility of the brewing process in downtown and an intuitive dog.

I hope you’ll enjoy my conversion with Mike and Sarah!