Conversations

photo courtesy of Zack Tuke

We've talked to several people in the alcohol industry, including a very senior executive at a large distributor, a wine importer, a distiller, someone who successfully started their own brand etc.  All have had fantastic advice for us.  Most have said this will be a lot of hard work, which we are ready for!

Through these conversations we've had confirmation that our proposed price point is right, that using a stock bottle is OK, and that there was nothing like what we are proposing on the shelves right now, which are things only industry insiders really know.

We always ask each person: what are the mistakes you see people like us make.  One said he sees new brands that fail because they are a vanity project for the founder (and the founder doesn't want to put the hard work and long hours into selling).  Another said the biggest mistake was to not do a branding brief, so that the brand's identity was crystal clear.  A third said that failing to be distinctive was the biggest weakness he saw -- trying to be everything to everybody.

These conversations are like gold to us, and we take all the advice extremely seriously!