Kym and Joe Toner started GiveThemBeer in 2014 with $10,000 from selling their boat, a small warehouse and an idea for craft beer gifts. Kym brought experience in the gift industry, while both had developed an interest in craft beer. Joe named the company, and its first products paired six beers in metal buckets. He packaged the early orders himself. The company recorded its first sale on Feb. 23, 2014.
The business initially operated alongside family and other work responsibilities. Kym cared for the couple’s young children and handled company tasks after they went to bed, while Joe kept his corporate insurance job and helped grow the business. The company was unprofitable for several years.
The Toners adjusted their approach after learning that customers cared more about the beer than themed packaging or eye-catching labels. GiveThemBeer shifted toward curated selections of well-rated craft beer from breweries around the country. Kym said the couple lacked investors and a mentor, and instead tried different ideas and watched what customers wanted.
The company received wider exposure in late 2015 when its Beer Briefcase appeared on national television. Five weeks later, the family faced a personal crisis: Joe’s 15-year-old daughter, Hannah, was diagnosed with leukemia. For about two years, Joe spent his days at the hospital with her while Kym cared for the couple’s two younger children, then 6 months and 18 months old, and kept the business operating in the time available. The source says Hannah is now healthy and works in the family business.
In 2017, the Toners saw growing interest in adult Advent calendars and adapted their gift-curation model into a daily December experience. Their first beer calendar featured American craft beers. The company later added calendars centered on hard seltzer, cocktails and spirits. GiveThemBeer’s hard seltzer calendar went viral in 2019, according to the source.
The business now sells 21 types of Advent calendars, including food and nonalcoholic options such as pickles, bacon and hot sauce. It has sold tens of thousands of calendars since introducing the collection. Kym said some customers return each year for the same type, while others look for new additions. The company attributes that repeat business to customers making the calendars part of their Christmas traditions.
Another major disruption came in October 2024, when Hurricane Milton damaged the company’s warehouse during the holiday season. The source reports that inventory was destroyed, the building sustained significant damage and the facility lost power for several days. Employees, relatives and friends cleared debris and tried to salvage what they could while continuing to fill orders. Hannah printed orders at her apartment, which had electricity, and transported them to the warehouse team.
The Toners eventually had to leave the damaged building after the landlord told the company to move. GiveThemBeer relocated to a larger warehouse within two weeks and resumed fulfilling holiday orders at full speed, according to the source. Kym said she never considered failing to overcome the setback.
The company’s history, as described in the source, reflects a series of practical adjustments rather than a detailed launch plan: the owners changed products in response to customer preferences, broadened the calendar lineup and continued operations through family hardship and a damaged facility. GiveThemBeer’s current offerings extend well beyond its original craft beer gifts, though the source notes that product selection and shipping deadlines can vary.
