Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Montana Rae Neiley, founder of The Wine Ship, located in Denver, CO, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Wine Ship is a wine event, education, and content design agency based in Denver, Colorado. We take a unique approach to connect consumers with outstanding wines, offering guidance and support and inspiring our audience to try new things. We offer private and public events, online educational experiences for businesses and wine lovers around the world, and a portfolio of multi-media wine content, including the recent launch of The Wine Ship Podcast. In the Spring of 2022, we will be opening our very own Wine Tasting Room in Denver!

Tell us about yourself

I grew up in Colorado in a family that loves to gather around great food and wine. I went to school for Interior Design and always dreamed of designing restaurants and other gathering places. Over the years, my passion for wine grew into a profession, and I became a Certified Sommelier in 2018. I created The Wine Ship because I saw a need for a platform where people can come together and learn about wine in various creative ways. Today, I get to combine my love of design, wine, and hospitality into creative event production and creating the interior space of The Wine Ship Tasting Room.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I suppose it's my resilience. I've been motivated to keep pushing in the direction of my dreams, even though it can feel like I'm on an island at times. I'm surrounded by brilliant people, and I'm doing my best to listen to their advice and stay humble.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

There's a lot of uncertainty. It's hard to know how the month ahead will shake out, and that's tough. The more time that goes by, the more consistent things are, but trusting in the process is a massive challenge at times.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make a plan. Work the plan.
  2. Be willing to reexamine and adjust the plan constantly.
  3. Seek out mentorship from people with experience in your field.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If anyone is interested in connecting for an event or just has a wine question they'd like answered, please reach out to me through the website or social media! I'd love to get to know you!!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.thewineship.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewineship/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montana.rae.sommelier/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/montana-rae-neiley-83870870/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.