TEDxSanAntonio - Scott Metzger - Crafting Better Businesses - Insights from the Beer Industry

San Antonio's Founder & CEO of Freetail Brewing Co. says small business is about economies of authenticity in his talk -"Crafting Better Businesses - Insights from the Beer Industry."
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@pzcato]

this dude's got something. can't wait to try Freetail's stuff.

[@lapk]

yes.

[@DamiOlagunju]

I understand the spirit of this speech, but completely disagree with the conclusion. There is absolutely a need to have business that can scale, reduce their costs, which translates to lower prices to the consumer. God forbid if everything we consume is made by inefficient small local businesses, who charge higher prices, simply for the sake of saying its "special" or "differentiated". If this is just a pitch for his craft beer, fine. But please don't paint this ELITIST perspective as an ideal world. The consumers will suffer.

[@jamesmoore3604]

You’re assuming that it is just “special” or “different” and not because craft for the most part is a better product. Not to mention the fact that it’s had significantly less time and capital to become “efficient”. Please explain how this is an “elitist” mindset.

[@smitty7592]

You seem to miss the point. Most do not want to live in a world where there are only a few choices and those choices revolve around economies of scale. Entrepreneurship and innovation are about doing something unique and different...authentic. To your point, there is a place for both, but both are not absolute or exclusive of the other. You do not feel community in a Walmart or Home Depot, but that is not what they are there for. You feel it in your local pub or independently owned brewpub/brewery or restaurant...or any other business that is authentic in what they do and is producing a product that is appealing. One of his points is that we all have a responsibility to not loose this, but foster and promote it.