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Highbridge Springs Water is a small business offering limestone filtered spring water that proves the value of creative thinking.
Nearly 50 years ago, Bill Griffin had a vision to purchase a disused underground rock quarry and apply his warehousing experience to transform it into a specialized storage facility. But the engineer he hired to deal with the “humidity” said Griffin first needed to clear the water that was gushing out of a 30-foot hole in the ceiling.
Highbridge Springs Water, located in Jessamine County near a popular railroad bridge across the Kentucky River, began operations in 1982 and Griffin gave responsibility to his five daughters. The family initially did literally everything, including convincing buyers and customers that bottled water was even a product.
However, the Griffins had extensive sales and marketing experience. They have distributed their products at 5Ks and 10Ks, air shows, festivals and food shows. It took us six years to turn a profit.
While there are domestic brands today that are mass produced and can be sold at low prices, Highbridge Springs Water competes on quality, taste, convenience and customer service. We rent water coolers that hold 3 and 5 gallon bottles.
The business currently employs 35 staff and produces 20,000 gallon bottles per day in 12 oz, 16.9 oz, 1 gallon and 2.5 gallon recyclable containers. The company delivers to thousands of customers in Kentucky, and grocers in eight states now sell his Highbridge Springs.
In August, President Linda Griffin received Commerce Lexington’s 2022 Small Business of the Year award.
The company is still owned by the Griffin family and is one of Kentucky’s oldest women-owned businesses.
TLR: What do you wish you knew before starting Highbridge Springs?
HS: The company will be operational after 40 years. We would have built some things differently. Otherwise, it’s a good thing we didn’t know the amount of work and personal time it would take to reach his 40-year goal.
TLR: What was your biggest challenge as a company and how did you overcome it?
HS: The first was to convince customers that there was a viable product worth buying. So many buyers laughed at the idea of buying water that they thought it wouldn’t sell at the grocery store. We offered a number of introductory offers to help us get our products on store shelves and rent coolers, but they didn’t pay off in the end. Expanding production while maintaining quality and regulatory compliance. is always a challenge. The recession that started in 2008 and the recent pandemic may be the biggest challenge. The account disappeared overnight with no idea when it would come back. In the recent pandemic, our number one priority was getting our products to the rest of our customers while keeping everyone safe.
TLR: Do you have any advice for someone considering starting a business?
HS: Be ready for sacrifice and tenacity. For the first few years, the family did all the production, sales, shipping, billing, etc. They worked without pay. Outside employees gradually joined the company, but the business did not reach profitability until the sixth year. Also, no one builds a business on their own. Make the customer your ally. Please support your community. Finally, build a good relationship with a bank you can do business with in the long term.
TLR: Does your company participate in communities?
HS: Highbridge Springs has actively supported its community since its founding 40 years ago. The company was one of the first to participate in what would become the Department of Agriculture’s Kentucky Proud program with local Kentucky products. Highbridge Springs supports numerous community and arts organizations in Central Kentucky as financial sponsors or in-kind contributors, including the Catholic Action Center, Junior League Horse Show, Bluegrass Tomorrow, Golf Trips for All Purposes, and Lexington Human Society. I’ve been Bluegrass State Games, Troubadour Concert Series, Lexington Chamber Music Festival, and more.
Because our products are essential to life, they have helped relief from many natural disasters, from Hurricane Hugo and the Central Kentucky Ice Storm in 1989 to the recent tornadoes in West Kentucky and floods in Eastern Kentucky. . Highbridge staff worked long hours for two weeks after devastating flooding in eastern Kentucky, providing thousands of gallons of drinking water to those in need.
TLR: Is there anything else you would like to know?
HS: As a company with essential products for life, Highbridge prides itself on going the extra mile when needed. We loaded trucks overnight, bottled seven days a week for four months during the 1988 drought, and trucked out during natural disasters. All this is possible thanks to the dedicated employees we have been fortunate to have over the years and still have today. Some he has worked with us for over 20 years and we cherish and appreciate them all.
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