Spotlight on Entrepreneurship: A BBQ hobby goes full time

Reprinted with permission from StartupSiouxCity.com

This is the fourth in a week of profiles of local entrepreneurs who have started businesses in Siouxland. Some are small – with only one or two employees – while others have grown through the years to many employees. But all of them have started businesses here and this week share some feedback on what it means to start and grow a business in Siouxland.

BUSINESS OWNER: Derik (and Sue) Lochner
BUSINESS NAME: House of Q
MAIN PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Local Barbecue restaurant also provides catering and delivery
YEAR STARTED: 2009
ADDRESS: 2520 Transit Ave, Sioux City, IA
WEBSITE: YourHouseofQ.com
TWITTER: @theHouseofQ

Q: What makes you an entrepreneur?
A: Starting a business from the ground up with my ideas and my recipes.

Q: What was the driving force behind you starting a business?
A: Some was necessity, but, I had always been self employed with GREAT family support so when it was time to do this it was an easy decision.

Q: What drives you each day?
A: This was my hobby on my days off so now I do what I love EVERY day, and see how happy food can really make people. I grew up on a farm so I know that I could go home smelling much worse than BBQ every day.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome as you’ve grown your business?
A: First was learning how to do things on a much larger scale. Then, and still is, understanding the fluctuations in the business cycle. Working with my family every day.

Q: What has been your greatest reward?
A: Working with my family every day (yes, I meant to have that in both places). Hearing from happy customers every day.

Q: Why are startups and small companies important to a local economy?
A: They, ultimately, drive the local economy. Nearly all of the money spent and generated will be used locally whenever possible, not shipped off to corporate offices. We hire local, buy local, sell local, and are local.

Q: What more can be done to help create, grow and promote small businesses and startups in Sioux City and the region?
A: I think all of what you are doing now is fantastic and I wish these resources were available 5 years ago. Promoting the importance of doing business with local, small business. Keep doing what you are doing so that when someone has an idea they know there are resources available to help them. I think most ideas do not happen because people don’t know how to take that next step.

Q: Any final thoughts?
A: Our mission is to bring delicious, homemade BBQ to Siouxland with our restaurant and catering, along with a massive beer selection.

Know someone who should be featured? E-mail us here.