Built from scratch: How a family turned craft beer into a holiday tradition

When Kym and Joe Toner started GiveThemBeer in 2014, they didn't have investors, a large team or a detailed business plan.

They had $10,000 from selling their boat, a 1,000-square-foot warehouse and an idea: Turn great craft beer into a memorable gift.

Kym had experience in the gift industry, and both she and Joe had developed an appreciation for craft beer as the category grew across the country.

Joe came up with the name GiveThemBeer, and the couple got to work.

Their first gifts featured six craft beers arranged in metal buckets.

Joe shrink-wrapped each order himself before shipping it.

The company received its first order on Feb.

23, 2014.

In its early years, GiveThemBeer was a family project built around busy schedules.

Kym stayed home with the couple's young children and worked on the business after they went to bed.

She answered customer emails, printed orders and handled whatever needed attention the following day.

Joe continued working in corporate insurance while helping build the company.

For several years, GiveThemBeer was not profitable.

"We didn’t have investors or a mentor telling us what to do," Kym said.