E123: The Entertainment-Driven Brewery Model with Chris O’Neill from One Well Brewing

E123: The Entertainment-Driven Brewery Model with Chris O’Neill from One Well Brewing

Author: Small Batch Standard February 6, 2026 Duration: 1:01:59
Join us at CBC 2026 for our free Brewery Profit Workshop on Monday, April 20th. Learn more and grab a spot at sbstandard.com/cbcprofit — In this episode of The True Craft Podcast, we sit down with Chris O’Neill of One Well Brewing out of Kalamazoo, Michigan. We unpack how a brewery that started with just $80K grew into a ~$1M business by paying close attention to why customers behave the way they do...and then designing the business around those behaviors instead of following what some would maybe call industry norms! Highlights include: Why a simple food menu stops customers from leaving (and could even double beer sales) The overlooked difference between attracting customers versus keeping them How the right entertainment mix can change how (and when) customers show up If you’ve ever felt that tension between playing it safe and trusting your instincts as an owner, this episode is a reminder that building something different is often the whole point.

Every week on The True Craft Podcast, hosts Chris Farmand and Katy Noel pull up a chair for the kind of frank talk you’d usually only get in a private office or after hours at a trade show. This isn’t about surface-level success stories. Instead, each episode features a genuine conversation with a craft business owner, digging into the real and often messy details of running an operation. You’ll hear about the specific hurdles they’ve faced, the unexpected opportunities they’ve seized, and the tough, daily decisions that define life as an entrepreneur in this hands-on world. Created by Small Batch Standard, the podcast serves as an essential resource for practitioners who want to move beyond theory and into the practical realities of management and growth. The discussions are grounded, insightful, and focused entirely on the experiences of people who are actually doing the work, making it a unique listen for anyone building a business with their own hands. Tune in for a dose of honesty and actionable perspective that cuts straight to the heart of what it means to be a craft owner today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The True Craft Podcast
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