Art on the label?

Another reminder that there is nothing new we can do . . .

We are strongly considering putting original art on the back of our label and I came across this:

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/09/a-new-frontier-for-custom-wine-labels/

A vineyard is putting original art on their labels!  However, they are doing it a bit differently than we are.  We are thinking of  commissioning an artist to make a picture that embodies our brand and where we come from.  The vineyard is envisioning something a bit different.  They are putting collectible art on the bottles and selling them for $800 a pop.

And now for something completely different

A bald eagle landed on our farm!

Another trademark application filed

one of the farm's meadows

Our designer had a really fantastic idea for our vodka (having to do with how we describe it).  Our liquor-label lawyer immediately nixed it, saying the TTB would never allow us to use the phrase on our bottle.

However, this very same phrase was trademarked in the past and -- luckily for us! --  abandoned just this year.  Yay us!  Our application is in.

In more developments

Another big decision was taken over the summer to replace our distiller.  While he makes an excellent product we found that he was unreliable.  We also learned we were not the only people to experience this.  Thankfully we discovered this before our first big production run.

We then spent a fair amount of time visiting other distillers both in and out of state, and have located an AMAZING one, who has an excellent product, and who is super professional.  Everyone who's ever worked with them (our accountant, American Spirits Exchange, our lawyer) gives their highest recommendation.

We are very happy to be working with them!

And so the next regulatory approval

So, we've managed to find the one lawyer in the US with the niche practice of getting formula and label approvals.  I've decided to stop posting names and firms as with everything I've learned from this journey I may want to do some consulting down the road to others wanting to start brands. (apologies for being a bit selfish).

At any rate, with this lawyer's help we've filed three different formula approvals (it is the same formula, just filed under different categories).  This should ensure that a) at least one gets approved and b) that we keep our options open as to how we describe our vodka.

The wait time is now 70+ days for approval, so while our applications wind their way through the labyrinth we will be extremely busy -- and I'll write about what we are up to in my next posts.

I'm Back!

note the bee photobombing my picture

OK, so I have a lot of catching up to do.  The Most Important News is that we have raised enough money to go forward -- and so we are.  Although we are working pretty feverishly there won't be very much tangible for the next six months, as we work through regulatory approvals, setting up a website, securing other trademarks, organizing promotional events for next summer etc etc etc.  But I'll break out the various things we are up to in future posts.

We knew we hired a good one: Alex Isley just won the design world's highest honor

A slideshow of Alex's work

Really worth clicking through -- he's done some amazing things.

We met with him and his team a few days ago to begin the exciting process of creating the design work for the brand (not only the label).

Crocuses, II

Crocuses, I

This is huge!

So, we've found a company that specializes in back office operations for liquor brands.  They will warehouse the vodka, ship it to distributors, take care of the billing and payment, do all the regulatory filings to get us qualified in every state (so we can launch in NY and CT fairly easily).  Their fee structure means that their interests are aligned with ours, and they act as an informal consultant to brands as well.

We had a great conversation with them.  As always we asked for advice.  One of the partners started (and sold) a vodka brand.  He said it was hard to focus on sales, when he had to devote so much time to permitting etc.  (Which is why he realized there was a niche for his business).  He said the best thing to do is focus on sales and marketing, and especially to the end consumer.  He's seen brands focus so much on getting into stores they don't pay enough attention to getting the product out of stores as well.  He also advised to use stock everything (bottle, cork etc).

This company comes highly recommended from a couple of brands we've talked to, as well as our accountant.  We are so excited to work with them.

Today on the farm: snowdrops!

Marketing to Women: They're doing it right!

check out their website!

The three Ross Valley moms always joked they should mass produce their famous school-fundraiser margarita recipe. No one thought they would.

But last year, Sydney Rainin-Smith, Jill Korst and Carey Clahan, who were up to their elbows in limes for yet another parent-teacher association party, started to get serious. In May, they launched Laughing Glass, a company that makes a low-calorie, organic agave-sweetened premixed margarita.

The unlikely alcohol producers, from divergent backgrounds, are realizing the market for their concoction – which they call “something women don’t have to hide in the kitchen” – might extend beyond the PTA.

The cocktails are selling out at 50-plus Bay Area storefronts where they are carried, and the founders just ordered a double production run and are getting five to 10 calls a day from grocery stores across the country.

“This is a bigger industry and a bigger market than I was prepared for,” said Clahan.

“But that’s true of any startup,” added Rainin-Smith.

Korst agreed, pouring herself another margarita. “Everyone said we’re not gonna be able to do it, and we’re like, ‘A-ha – in your face.’ ”