Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marla Bedrosian, Owner of Domaine De La Riviere, located in Windsor, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a boutique winery crafting small lots of Rosé, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Our customers are those that appreciate handcrafted high-quality Russian River Valley Wines. They seek wines that are under the radar and not massively produced and that every bottle has its own story to tell.
Tell us about yourself
The stories that our customers share with us about their personal experiences while drinking our wines is what motivates me daily. With a 30-year background in hospitality-creating memories is what inspires me. Having the opportunity to share our wines and our experience is what propelled us to begin crafting our limited-production wines.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
During COVID (2020-2021), our little boutique winery participated in over 300 corporate and social virtual wine experiences. Through this, we met thousands of people, which has translated into inspiring many of them to make a trip to Sonoma County Wine Country. Not only do we continue to have our wines connect us to these people, but we are then able to introduce them to our neighborhood wineries, restaurants, and hotels. These relationships have created opportunities for our entire community.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a business owner, it is important to deliver the promise. One of the challenges in owning a winery is the way in which the wine is sold and distributed across the country. One of the hardest issues a small winery deals with is the three-tier system that exists within our country, which makes it extremely difficult to sell our wines to trade outside of a few states. The small wineries cannot complete with the big ones and the distributors rarely want to take on the little guys. Ironically, those that are the most affected are the consumer who is not able to enjoy unique wines.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stay true to your core and your initial vision. Stay focused!
- Realize early on that you cannot do it all in one day....a business grows over time, not overnight.
- Your customers are the most important ingredient to your success. Create moments that they remember how you made them feel.
- “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://domaineriviere.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DomaineRiviere
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domainedelariviere/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/domaine_riviere
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marla-bedrosian-787665a/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.