Monthly Archives: January 2009

Toasting to Charity with Hope Wines

hope-wine Jake Kloberdanz, CEO of Hope Wine, has taken the idea of “cause branding” where for-profit corporations partner with non-profit organizations to release limited edition products and services to raise money for charities and created a company around it. Realizing that these short term relationships were beneficial for everyone involved – corporations could promote themselves as socially conscious while simultaneously bolstering sales, non-profits received much needed funding and customers could make purchases they felt good about – Kloberdanz didn’t see any reason these same ideals couldn’t function as a sustainable business model year round.

Launched in early 2007, the Southern California based company currently donates 50% of its profits to organizations that fight against Breast Cancer, AIDS and Autism, support U.S. troops and their families and search for ways to save the environment. Inc.com reports:

This year, the company did $1 million in sales, gave away $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations to 20 not-for-profit organizations, and donated 3,400 volunteer hours at 200 charity events. At this point, Hope is “giving away our profit margin”, but Kloberdanz says the company will be in the black in 2009. He’s hired an executive from a major spirit company, and is negotiating with a big distributor to take the brand national (it’s now sold in ten states and on the company’s website.)

Though the company has made great strides in a relatively short time, according to their website they have even loftier goals for the future, hoping “to grow Hope Wine into one of the largest and most recognized brands in the Wine industry.”  And even if they’re only partially successful with their plans, Hope Wine is certainly one brand that will give causes and consumers alike something to celebrate over.  

Inc.com: ’Tis the Season for Hard Core Capitalism?

By Scott Lachut. Source :: PSFK

Xavier Flouret Wines

RougeNoir2_6465

By Deka Design this series of wine labels won the Double Gold Prize for Design at the 2008 San Francisco International Wine Festival just days after being released.

“X” shape is the icon of the brand. X is a little mysterious. X is a little naughty. X also marks the spot: as in the location of the winery shown on the back label. The story of the wine maker is an integral part of the design along with concise facts about the wine itself.

Spotted by Courtney Williamson.

 

Friday Monkey Wines

Merlot05-jpg-2 The Friday Monkey name was chosen with the purpose of gaining immediate brand recognition. Friday is the best trading day of the week for liquor sales in the United States. 

The sight of a cute Monkey swinging on a vine is one which delights people of all ages. Combined on a wine label, they present a whimsical image which is readily noticed with irresistible appeal to the impulse buyer. It’s name is easily remembered and describes the contemporary personality of the wine. The name conveys a feel good factor while making a purchase decision in the store.

Friday Monkey is all set to become a Global wine brand by 2009 with USA being their main market.

By Mike Carter.

Spheric by Mumm

spheric-mumm 1

spheric-champagne-mumm 2

For the 2008 Holiday season, FX Balléry Design imagined 5 giant Murano glass bubbles to symbolize unique Christmas baubles. Inside each blown glass ball rests a G.H Mumm Champagne bottle.

Created in five different patterns and colours, they aim to make each place where they are exposed exceptional, sophisticated and luxurious.

Five declinations of Champagne are featured: Mumm demi-sec, Mumm Grand Cru, Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge, 1999 Mumm Cordon Rouge, Mumm Rosé.

Since November, Spheric by Mumm are available at La Grande épicerie de Paris. One bubble costs 3,500 €. The rich collector can acquire the 5 bubbles for 17,500 €

Source :: Luxuo

3 Trends That Will Influence The South African Wine Industry In 2009

2009 will be testing time for the wine industry. The commodization of wine will continue and most wine producers will be price takers. Red wine prices are expected to increase substantially. Wine producers also face savage price increases for packaging, especially labels, bottles and aluminium closures.

However wine producers should be careful that this "noise" doesn’t deflect attention from the possibilities for adding value to their product. Adding value can mean a lot more than brand image or cutting prices. It’s how well you transact business with your clients, how responsive you are to inquiries and the clarity and speed of your confirmation.

Here are three trends that will influence the South African wine industry in 2009:

Not all consumers are price sensitive. Premiumization (a trend identified by Trendwatching.com) offers wine producers the opportunity to escape the commodity trap with up-market packaging for those products that offer the consumer more than what he thinks he needs, or has become used to expect.

Web savvy marketers know that over 2 billion consumers will be connected to the internet by 2009. With just a hand full of South African wine blogs available, grab the opportunity to communicate with your potential consumer if you have a good story to tell. I recently Googled "South African wines" and not one South African wine estate was listed in the top 10 search results.

Government regulators concerned about the rise of binge drinking will play a greater role in how wine is marketed, and big changes seem to be afoot for the wine industry in France. Warning labels are now reality for South African producers. Advertising of wines is also set for radical change. According to a recent Financial Mail article the South African transport department has proposed that all advertising of alcoholic products that is visible from any public road be banned.

Trendwatching.com comments that 2009 will be an excellent year for those businesses keen on showing consumers that they really care. At the same time, this is a great moment to innovate: shrinking budgets and diminishing revenues from existing offerings normally bring out the best and most creative in business professionals.

But the most important side effect of more austere times is probably that consumers start questioning what truly makes them happy, which more often than not steers them towards the realization that happiness ain’t (just) about traditional consumption. Expect pockets of consumers to switch to lower-consumption models with surprising ease, and to look for different and less costly sources of happiness and thus, ultimately, status. Any way you can help them with that will be a guaranteed winner.

By Mike Carter.