GoBuddy believes everyone could start an online business for free. Our team is dedicated to provide a one-stop cloud platform solution to transform your business. Today we are honoured to have Mark, co-founder of Mak’s Brewery, to talk to us about their entrepreneurial story, and the experiences of doing a craft beer business in Hong Kong!

About Mak’s Brewery

Mak’s Brewery (hereinafter referred to as Mak’s) was established in 2014. It is the first craft beer brewery in Hong Kong that was founded by Hong Kong natives. Mak’s was co-founded by three founders.

The origin of Mak’s Brewery…

The story begins with the college careers of the three founders—they originally hoped to try their own business after graduation, and came into contact with the craft beer brewing industry by chance. Mark mentioned that there were not many brands of beer brewing in Hong Kong at that time, and after they came into contact with these brands, most of their target customer groups were foreigners or tourists, so the idea of creating a craft beer brand belonging to Hong Kong people was born.

Positioning of purely locally made beer.

Mark explained that local manufacturing is not just a definition of production location. Marketing, whether the product meets the tastes of the locals, and whether the resources are invested in local circles, etc. are also the meaning of “local manufacturing.” Therefore, in the early days of Mak’s establishment, they spent a lot of time promoting knowledge about craft beer, so that more people could try different flavors of handmade beer, hoping to make Mak’s closer to the local market.

Difficulties encountered in making a craft brewery in Hong Kong?

The biggest problem is…

Mark admitted that there are not many people in Hong Kong who have a deep knowledge of craft beer, and the problem that Mak’s faced was how to get more people to contact with craft beer, and to balance the needs of different markets and appropriately allocate company resources.

Expand product categories and try different promotional methods

Interestingly, in addition to selling craft beer products, Mai’s Brewery also sells different types of products such as shampoos and T-shirts. Mark said with a smile that the initial development of these products was with a fun mindset and a try, but in fact, the development of different products is also valuable for promoting handmade beer and local brands.

In addition, they will also try to participate in different bazaars and workshops to better understand the tastes of the locals and meet the needs of customers.

The importance of online tools?

Mark said that in today’s society, social media and online sales channels are quite necessary for brand promotion and publicity, so they will also use different online tools to expand their brands. But he emphasized that before choosing a tool, you must first understand the customer groups that your brand needs to contact, so that you can effectively use different channels to achieve better promotional effects.

Tips for people who want to start a business?

Don’t do it for…

Mark said that they started their winery business with a fire, and he sent a message to young people to be clear about their brand positioning and market needs, rather than blindly following because a market is very popular.

Pay close attention to market changes and maintain a big picture.

Because social changes are becoming more and more rapid, Mark mentioned that entrepreneurs should always pay attention to market changes and overall trends, and be prepared for future instability. Finally, he also suggested that everyone think about the arrangements for personnel deployment, resource allocation, and entry and exit mechanisms before starting.

“Building a career is a small puzzle in life, if you have an idea, you might as well give it a try!”

Mak’s Brewery

Website: https://www.maksbeer.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaksBeerr/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maks_beer/

If you are thinking of starting a business, or if you need a digital solution for your business, simply send us an email, let GoBuddy transform your business journey!

Email: hi@gobuddy.asia

Website: http://www.gobuddy.asia