Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/100667
on the web www.flavor8bottling.com Network, Talo began working on a small business plan, with the help of Quick Start in Menasha. ���That worked out really well,��� he recalls. Still, being self-schooled in the bottling business, Talo ��� a first-time entrepreneur ��� realized it might be helpful to find a mentor. So he walked right into Twig���s Beverages in Shawano, which bottles Sun Drop and is one of only three returnable glass soda bottlers in the state, and queried owner Dan Hartwig. And Hartwig ��� who is now the last returnable-bottle Sun Drop bottler in the nation ��� was happy to help, seeing camaraderie, not competition. ���His products are not competition with mine; I have a franchise that nobody else can bottle that product.��� Hartwig also saw the benefit potential in bulk buying. ���There are not a lot of returnable bottlers,��� he says. ���The more of those that we can have, the better it will be to buy bottles and buy crowns [tops], etc., so we can be stronger. There���s just not enough of us out there.��� Hartwig took Talo under his wing, teaching him the ropes; the two now share resources and attend trade shows together. ���In the marketplace, the more people who have returnables on their mind, the better. Everyone is treated the same,��� says Talo of the bottling industry. ���It���s a great little fraternity.��� Talo believes Flavor 8 is the first returnable glass bottle soda company to launch in about 40 years. It is among only 13 companies in the United States in this niche; most are on the East Coast, though Wisconsin also is home to Little Seymour Beverage in Seymour. ���All are small mom-and-pop companies,��� Talo says. Even though Flavor 8���s flavors will A closer look Flavor Faves? Obviously, the company���s name comes from the fact that it bottles eight flavors: grape, orange, cherry, black cherry, lime, fruit punch, blue raspberry and cream soda. But co-owner Dave Talo notes they���ve recently added root beer to their offerings, and several other flavors (strawberry? lemon?) are under consideration. Even though they���re considering making up to 11 flavors, says Talo, it���s not likely the company would change its name. What���s Talo���s favorite flavor? Working the line, Talo taste-tests sodas every day, but his fave remains black cherry. ���On ice, at night, with a bowl of organic popcorn. That���s a slice of heaven for me,���Talo says. be reaching a larger market through distribution, Talo is pleased to remain a small company with a simple goal ��� ���making soda fun again.��� ���We���re local, we���re simple, we taste great and we keep the price down,��� he says. ���It���s a feel-good thing.��� A Great Fit Continental Girbau is a global commercial laundry equipment manufacturer, headquartered in VIC (Barcelona) Spain. Our North American operations started in Oshkosh with the help of the community���s economic development specialists. Our goal was to find an accessible, centralized location for distribution along with good work force availability. Our parent company had considered Savannah, Georgia, however we found the expertise, the cost of doing business and the work ethic to be much better in Oshkosh. I believe businesses succeed in Oshkosh because of the openness of the community and the available resources to help companies like ours succeed. Michael Floyd President, Continental Girbau, Inc. The Opportunity Oshkosh marketing campaign is a collaborative public/private partnership designed to enhance economic development and promote job growth within the greater Oshkosh area. For retail, commercial or industrial opportunities, Oshkosh makes business happen! - OpportunityOshkosh.com w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m J a n u a r y 2 013 ��� Insight | 43