Chad Kowalchuk is a leader and a mentor to many who look up to and follow him. His passion and drive for his company, Spice Addicts, are hard to miss. Chad hardly stops, and he constantly strives to make his business bigger, stronger and the best in the industry.
What is your number one business goal to accomplish this year?
There are numerous business goals which I would like to achieve this year. If I had to narrow it down to my number one goal, it would have to be getting my website up and running. Once my website is completed, I can have my products available to everyone across Canada. As people begin to try my spice blends, they will see how great they really are and start telling others. This will ultimately increase both my customer base and sales. With the increase in sales, I will be able to create more delicious new blends for my customers to enjoy.
When you started your career, how did you know you were ready and what made you start?
I have a great passion for cooking and for years I have been making my own spice blends. I started gifting my Italian blend to family and friends as Christmas presents. After the second year of gifting my blends, my friends and family began to tell me that I should be selling them because they ran out and they couldn’t get enough of their fantastic taste. It did take me about five months of thinking (procrastinating lol) and planning, to see whether or not selling my blends would be something I would like to do and if it would actually be worth it. After comparing the pros and cons, I decided to give it a shot.
Was I 100% ready to begin this new venture?
Absolutely not. I was extremely nervous and petrified that the public would not think that my spice blends were any good. Boy, was I wrong! Everyone loved them, and they kept coming back for more. After my last Christmas Market in December of 2020, I was happy and beyond proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something I normally would be too afraid to do. From this point forward, I knew that I had made the right decision and that my career and business would continue to prosper and grow.
What keeps you motivated on a daily basis?
Staying motivated has been a thing that I have struggled with throughout my life, especially when doing something in which I had little interest. Since I started Spice Addicts, I have been able to stay motivated every day. I believe that I stay motivated from day to day because I am passionate and love what I am doing. Creating new spice blends and hearing from my customers how delicious and full of flavour they bring me so much joy.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business? This is a straightforward question to answer. My parents are my greatest influence in business and so many other ways. Ever since I can remember (which is a very long time), my parents have owned their own companies. Throughout the years, they have started many successful businesses, which are still here. Their drive, passion and motivation inspire me, leading daily by example as great mentors and successful entrepreneurs. I take advantage of all the knowledge and wisdom my parents have shared with me and use it to its fullest potential within my own company, Spice Addicts. I don’t know if they truly know how much they have influenced me, and I appreciate and love them beyond words.
