Start Your Own Wine/Spirit Brand

562 Wylie Road Southeast,Marietta GA 30067

26 July, 2021

Description

Get the tools and knowledge you need to bring your brand to life! THIS IS NOT A HOMEBREWING CLASS! The wine and spirits industry is booming and small, craft labels are making up a large part of the growth. If you've ever thought about creating your own brand/label or considering a private label for your retail or event business, then this class is exactly the starting point you need. As the first of a three part monthly series, this class will cover the basics to starting your label and help you make some early decisions and plan your next steps like: Structure and licensingComplianceStarting budgetPackage designSourcing and blendingPricingMarketing and salesFor Retailers: Wine and spirit retailers have many responsibilities, one of which is to source wines and spirits. Due to industry consolidation, distribution is largely controlled by large wholesalers selling to thousands of accounts. Their businesses are about volume and best-sellers, not curation or working with accounts to source products to fit their business goals and customer base. Mega-wholesalers basically force retailers to sell their customers something they don’t want. And consumers are tired of the boring wines these companies push. Retailers need other options. Creating a private label program is an option that works. It allows a retailer to offer its customers a unique and higher-quality wine or spirit product at lower cost. An added benefit is that the retailer can promote their own brand, and potentially make a higher margin on a higher quality product. For Brands: Launching a new wine or spirits brand doesn't necessarily mean you need to have a vineyard or distillery. In fact, most wine and spirit brands are secretly buying bulk product and packaging it under their label. While there's an allure to a brand that's made from scratch on that brand's property from farm to bottle, the reality is there are very few of those labels out there and, increasingly, good blenders and brokers are dominating the market. If you've always dreamed of having your own brand, finding a manufacturer that can produce to your specifications allows you to focus on building the brand itself rather than the million worries that come with manufacturing. This Class is a Starting Point: Rather than pay thousands of dollars for something like label design alone, get an overview of the steps needed as well as a list of actual industry resources on everything from wine/spirit producers to label illustrators in one session. This introduction class is everything you need to begin the journey to realizing your brand/label in an easy to digest, no-nonsense format with experienced industry experts. The instructors are active manufacturing license holders and have launched several brands both for themselves and others. You'll recognize some of the celebrity private labels they've produced and they may even bring some of the products they've won multiple Best in Class awards with! After this class, if you'd like to further your journey, intermediate and personalized strategic planning classes are available for your appropriate path to launch. However, you need to start here! Shezmu Cellars is an urban winery producing local honey-wines (mead) while also pouring 30 taps of craft beer and over 25 wines from North Georgia wine country. Shezmu Cellars believes mead doesn’t have to be a sweet dessert wine and focuses on producing exceptionally sessionable dry meads served carbonated, nitrogenated, and still. Available as a venue for private events, the Marietta winery hosts regular live music, art exhibits and comedy shows among the occasional themed party. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Is parking available? --- Yes, there is plenty of free parking in the lot in front of the winery... but if you're planning on drinking, please plan on taking a Lyft, Uber or designate a driver! Do I need to print my tickets? --- No! We will be able to check you in electronically. Shezmu Cellars is an urban winery featuring over 30 craft beers on tap, and dozens of craft wines including its very own meads (honey wines) which are all made with local honey. Beyond amazing beer and wine selections, Shezmu Cellars is host to lots of events including comedy, live music, art markets, galleries, and more!