- November 23, 2024
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Jimmy Day’s spirits are high.
It’s been a good year for his company Flagler Spirits, a distillery in Palm Coast.
“This year, we are beating last year’s production,” Day said. “From now to New Years, I’ll be working 60 to 80 hours a week.”
Four drums of distilled spirits sit on a pallet waiting for shipment to a new customer in Iowa.
“Iowa is the 18th state we have delivered to,” he said, as he counts the states off out load. "Yes, I'm pretty sure this is 18.”
Day sees the business as more than a way to make a living. He sees it as a future for his 12-year-old son. His business plan focuses on getting the most use out of everything that comes through the door and reducing waste.
“I live here and I want my great grandchildren to have a clean place to live. We really don’t throw anything out,” he said, pointing to a row of blue containers on a shelf. “Those hold stillage and will become animal feed. We even reuse the boxes the empty bottles come in for shipping, and of course we reused the drums.”
Getting started wasn’t an overnight process, though.
“It was 14 months from the 'ah-ha' moment to license,” Day said.
During that time, he researched and learned everything he could about government requirements, licensing and taxes. “Before I started spending money, I understood how much I didn’t know and focused on that.”
Day’s approach to opening his own business may seem unorthodox, but it’s a process he recommends to prospective entrepreneurs.
“My advice is to do your homework, focus on your business plans and then seriously talk yourself out of doing the business,” Day said. “Spend a lot of time literally trying to talk yourself out of it.”
Flagler Spirits
Owner: Jimmy Day
Phone: 986-0641
Website under construction. Visit the company on Facebook.
