A maverick for the ages, Paul Hletko wore many hats before launching FEW Spirits, but one thing has always remained consistent throughout —he loves to make new things. Whether that was making blueprints as an engineer, deals as a lawyer or music for his rock-n-roll band, at his core Paul is a creative and always wants to bring something to the table that hasn’t been done before.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I started FEW Spirits about 9 years ago after starting (and failing at) several other businesses.  I finally found one I’m good at! 

What inspired you to start your business?

I was inspired to start FEW Spirits based on family history.  The Nazi’s stole my family’s brewery in (then) Czechoslovakia, and murdered the entire family in the camps.  After the war, although my grandfather survived, he never got the brewery back.  When he died, it struck me that the family history and legacy was gone forever, unless I did something about it.  So I’m doing my damndest. 

Where is your business based?

We are based in Evanston, Illinois.  It is geographically interesting to be based here, as Evanston is the birthplace of the US Prohibition movement, and we are the first alcohol ever made here.  I’m the guy that ended prohibition, where it was born! 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I started, one day at a time.  I raised debt and equity funding, plus personal savings, and went from there!

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

The most effective way of raising awareness is pure hustle.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Our biggest challenges are raising awareness, and financing growth in an industry that has multiple year cash flow cycles due to the need to age whiskey.

 How do you stay focused?

Staying focused is always a challenge for me, as I enjoy a raging case of ADD.  But I work to harvest the benefits by focusing on the job at hand, while allowing the ADD to express itself in innovation and new products.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

We ensure that our products are differentiated by constantly watching what our competitors do, and ensuring that we remain different.  We get knocked off all the time, but we innovate faster than our competitors, so they are always playing catchup!

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Our most effective marketing strategy is hustle.  We are always out there talking with people and letting them know what we do, why we do it, and why they should get excited about it.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Best advice?  Nobody cares.  Work harder.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace.  Humorous, sprawling, and more humor.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

My favorite business tool/resource is Google – you have the key to the entirety of human knowledge available at all times, and within no more than 20-30 seconds.  Got a question?  The Google knows the answer!

Who is your business role model? Why?

I don’t think I have a single role model, as there are many, but I do always come back to the Grateful Dead.  There are a lot of lessons, not just in the music, but in the way they built their fanbase and connect with the fans. 

How do you balance work and life?

I was unaware that you can.  Is this a new trend?

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I decompress by spending time with my family, and by playing guitar.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Over the next six months we plan to release a new product, continue growing the business in the face of the virus, and I’m hoping to play more hockey and try and get back in at least a little shape other than round.

How can our readers connect with you?

@fewspirits on all your social medias, as well as @paulmhletko on the instagrams!