Building a Community, Not a Customer Base

By Matthew
CBO of Sēkwl Beverage House

Last week, one of our customers stopped by our Arvada store to pick up their weekly order. But they didn’t just grab their cans and go. They brought us a container of homemade carrot-ginger soup as a thank you. To say it was delicious is a serious understatement! But what popped in my head was, “wow, this person thought about us while they were cooking a nutritious meal for their family, and decided to bring us some.”

Moments like that remind us why we started Sēkwl in the first place. 

Since opening on May 1, we’ve had the chance to meet so many people who’ve made us part of their daily routine. Some of them come by every week to our store. Some share stories about where they discovered us, who they’ve shared Sēkwl with, and even their personal medical journeys and how important functional mushrooms have been to them. We especially love when they bring friends or family just to introduce them to the brand, and to us!

We get to witness a core value every day - that customer loyalty isn’t just about repeat purchases. It’s about relationships. We’ve gotten to know names, faces, favorite flavors, and even little glimpses of people’s lives. That sense of connection has been every bit as meaningful to us as any business milestone.

In the world of beverages, it’s easy to just focus on numbers (cases sold, accounts opened, distribution points gained). And while all of that matters in running a business, for us, a core measure of success is how we are building an incredible community. Our customers aren’t just buyers. They’re the people who make Sēkwl what it is and are our fuel to keep pushing hard!

It’s also been inspiring to hear how our drinks fit into people’s daily lives. Some reach for Chamomile at night to unwind, while others grab Grapefruit before or after a workout. We’ve heard stories about Cranberry Lime becoming part of afternoon routines and Cacao being a new evening treat instead of a cocktail. Knowing our products are part of  our customers’ daily rituals makes every can feel personal. And this is personal for us. 

We’ve also learned that the exchange goes both ways. Customers don’t just support us. They teach us. They’ve shared flavor ideas, sustainability suggestions, and even feedback on packaging. In these early days of Sēkwl, all of these conversations have shaped the way we think about innovation. In that sense, our community is part of the team.

Sēkwl is a functional beverage - sure. But what Sēkwl represents is a moment to prioritize yourself. We exist in a deeply complicated world - a world that humans never evolved to exist in. Humans where never meant to live at a desk and communicate through little devices. We are social beings, and need to slow down a bit in order to thrive. We are so stoked to be a part of slowing down. The greatest compliments we hear are not just about how good Sēkwl tastes, but how it makes you feel.

The gratitude we feel is honestly hard to put into words. From small gestures like bowls of homemade soup to big gestures like bringing our drinks to their family gatherings and talking about their love of this little brand, every interaction is a reminder of the trust people place in us. And that trust motivates us to keep improving, to keep showing up, and to keep earning loyalty every day.

Looking ahead, we want to create even more opportunities to connect. Whether through in-store tastings, like we did recently at Leven’s Supply, like we did recently at Leven’s Supply, local events, or online conversations, we see our customers as partners in this journey.

At the end of the day, the “why” behind Sēkwl isn’t just the product. It’s the people who drink it. So, to everyone who has stopped by, shared a kind word, or even dropped off a soup, THANK YOU! You’re the reason we get to do this, and the reason we love it.

- Matthew 🩵🍄