In Episode 59, I continued the chat with Stephen Myers, from Ep. 58. He is the Founder of Dynamic Beverage Consultants. He is also one of the Originals at Ilegal Mezcal. We dived into the crucial aspects of launching a new brand in the (US) market and how to avoid expensive mistakes. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:34 Your First 1,000 Pounds 4:00 Building Presence In The Trade 8:22 Being Relevant 14:35 Portfolio Strategies, One Bar 17:11 Portfolio Strategies,...

In Episode 58, I chatted with Stephen Myers, Founder of Dynamic Beverage Consultants. He is also one of the Originals at Ilegal Mezcal. We dived into the crucial aspects of launching a new brand in the (US) market and how to avoid expensive mistakes. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:51 About Steve 4:26 Brand Or Liquid Lead 6:34 Brand Story & Differentiation 12:28 Target Occasion 14:06 Creating Demand 16:57 Great Marketing, Bad Commercials 21:20 Beyond...

In episode 57, we've created a cross-episode with the Park Street University Insider Podcast. I spoke to Emmett Strack, and we dived into the latest 2024 trends in the drinks industry. We compared the US and Europe, talking about the cross-pollination of trends in the cocktail scene, and in the overall bottom-up trade. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:16 Role of Convenience & Occasion 8:51 Ascension of Flavor 15:38 Pressurization 18:35 On-Trade In...

In Episode 56, I continued the conversation with Georgie Bell, The Heart Cut's co-founder from Ep.55. She has extensive industry experience, having previously worked at Diageo, Bacardi, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We discussed how to explain a product, starting from a liquid, going into taste profile, storytelling, and target occasions. We closed with a dive into the life of a start-up with learnings and course correction to build bottom-up. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time...

In Episode 55, I enjoyed chatting with The Heart Cut's co-founder Georgie Bell. She has extensive industry experience, having previously worked at Diageo, Bacardi, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We discussed how to explain a product, starting from a liquid, going into taste profile, storytelling, and target occasions. We closed with a dive into the life of a start-up with learnings and course correction to build bottom-up. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00...

In Episode 054 I had the pleasure of speaking with Vani Gupta Dandia. I was a guest in her Marketing with Vani Podcast were she interviews marketing people from various industries. We dived into the Drinks Industry, looking at it from outside. I hope you will enjoy our chat Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:26 Background 2:00 What Differentiates Alcohol 3:05 Target Occasions 7:35 Bridging Categories 9:22 Gender Stereotypes 11:12 Tracking What You Can Track 13:47 Educating Consumers 18:11 Role Of...

In Episode 053, I continued the conversation with Justin Medcraft from Episode 052, so feel free to listen to that as well. He is the Founder of Mate Maker Hard Kombucha. He brings a wealth of previous experience in Spirits and Beer. We discussed building demand for a start-up drinks brand, standing out amongst a sea of products, and focusing on building momentum. I hope you will enjoy our chat. One last thing: If you enjoy this podcast, you will also like the MAFFEO DRINKS Guides. You...

In Episode 52, I enjoyed chatting with Justin Medcraft, the Founder of Mate Maker Hard Kombucha. He brings a wealth of previous experience in Spirits and Beer. We discussed how to build demand for a start-up drinks brand, stand out amongst a sea of products, and focus on building momentum. I hope you will enjoy our chat. One last thing: If you enjoy this podcast, you will also like the MAFFEO DRINKS Guides. You can subscribe free or paid on maffeodrinks.com Time Stamps 0:00...

In Episode 051, I continued the conversation with Ilias Mastrogiannis from Episode 050 so feel free to listen to that as well. I hope you will enjoy our chat Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:15 Winning Large Retailers 5:28 Securing The Foundation 8:34 Non-Scalable Tasks 13:31 1% Better Everyday 17:57 The Necessity of Obsession 25:07 Wrap Up 27:24 Outro About The Host: Chris Maffeo About The Guest: Ilias Mastrogiannis

In Episode 050 I had the pleasure of chatting with Ilias Mastrogiannis. He is the Founder of Distillery Nation Podcast and Mastrogiannis Winery and Distillery, based in Washington State, inspired by Greek tradition. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:51 Ilias' Podcast 3:59 Building Demand 5:30 Starting Product 6:46 Traditional Vs Modern Occasions 10:38 Ring Road of Messaging 16:23 Event Driven Messaging 20:26 Event Specialized Products 24:25 Dusty Vs Vibrant...

In Episode 049 I continued the conversation with Stephanie Jordan from Episode 048. She is the Co-Founder of B-Corp Avallen Calvados. She brings fantastic insights as he runs her Sales & Marketing Consultancy, Drinking Out Loud. Before that, she ran Sales & Global Advocacy for la Hechicera Rum and was the Global Brand Ambassador for Tanqueray Gin after starting her career in drinks on the Global Diageo graduate scheme. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00...

In Episode 048 I had the honor to talk to Stephanie Jordan. She is the Co-Founder of B-Corp Avallen Calvados. She brings fantastic insights as he also runs her Sales & Marketing Consultancy, Drinking Out Loud. Before that she has ran Sales & Global Advocacy for la Hechicera Rum and was the Global Brand Ambassador for Tanqueray Gin after starting her career in drinks on the Global Diageo graduate scheme. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 3:04 Bringing A Non-Trendy...

In Episode 047 I continued the conversation with Jack Orr-Ewing from Ep. 046. He is the CEO of the Westbourne Drinks Company - The Duppy Share. He brings an incredible experience of the various stages of brand development from the start to reaching scale in a market. We dived into efficient marketing spend and how to align the route to market to each brand stage. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction 00:14 Shifting Into Management 6:52 Dangers of Overeating as a...

In Episode 046 I had the pleasure of chatting to Jack Orr-Ewing. He is the CEO of the Westbourne Drinks Company - The Duppy Share. He brings an incredible experience of the various stages of brand development from the start to reaching scale in a market. We dived into efficient marketing spend and how to align the route to market to each brand stage. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Building Demand 5:09 Entering A New Market 10:43 Selecting...

In Episode 045, I continued the conversation with Francesco Sapienza from Episode 044. He disclosed some tips about Drinks Photography and unveiled the behind-the-scenes of working with some of the best bars and restaurants in NYC. It is also in video on Spotify and YouTube. Time Stamps 0:00 Introduction 0:22 A Food Photographer's Red Flags 6:39 Creating The Photograph 10:34 The Role of Light in Sales 16:24 Ensuring a Follow Up 20:04 The Value of a Professional 27:20 Photographic...

In Episodes 044 I had the pleasure to chat with one of my best friends, Francesco Sapienza. He is a NYC-based Food & Drink Photographer. An Engineer by trade, he left a successful career in Stockholm, Sweden to pursue his dream in NYC. We spoke about how to best work with the different players in the hospitality ecosystem. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 2:09 About The Guest 3:57 Choosing a Niche 9:36 Choosing Your Target Customers 11:45 Photographer-Brand...

In Episode 043 I continued the conversation with André de Almeida from Episode 042. In this part we digged into GTR, Global Travel Retail as a Bottom-up Channel. André is a Drinks Industry Consultant and Founder of the "Inside the Cask" website. André has 20 years of experience having worked with Loch Lomond Group, William Grant & Sons, Edrington, and other drinks companies. He is also a Drinks Jury Member at Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Time Stamps 0:00...

In Episode 042 I had the pleasure of chatting with André de Almeida. He is a Drinks Industry Consultant and Founder of the "Inside the Cask" website. André has 20 years of experience having worked with Loch Lomond Group, William Grant & Sons, Edrington, and other drinks companies. He is also a Drinks Jury Member at Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Time Stamps 0:00 Introduction 1:39 Starting From Brand or Liquid? 3:51 Bringing In New Whisk(e)y Drinkers 9:18...

In episode 041, I had the pleasure of chatting with Arturo Isola, Co-Founder of Amazzoni Gin. An architect and designer by training, he entered the Drinks Industry co-creating the first Brazilian Gin on his journey to craft the perfect Negroni. I hope you will enjoy this inspiring Founder’s story. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 2:16 The First Brazilian Gin 8:48 Brand or Liquid Led Business? 13:14 Conceiving The Business Idea 20:06 Breaking into the On-Trade 23:02 Starting Without...

In Episode 040, I continued the conversation with Julian Davies from Episode 039. Feel free to listen to that, as well. He started as a Sales guy for Stella Artois in the UK, then moved to SABMiller where he wrote the brand-building strategy, before taking a Senior Marketing role at Bombay Sapphire. He now consults start-ups and is the Founder of Ostara English vermouth. I hope you enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction 00:15 The Importance of Bartenders 04:27 The Social...

In episode 039, I finally caught up with my old friend and colleague, Julian Davies. He started as a Sales guy for Stella Artois in the UK, then moved to SABMiller where he wrote the brand-building strategy, before taking a Senior Marketing role at Bombay Sapphire. He now consults start-ups and is the Founder of Ostara English vermouth. I hope you enjoy our chat. Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Background 03:54 Communicating Bottom Up Philosophy 10:51 Brand Lifecycles 16:42 Difference...

In Episode 038, I continued the conversation with Daniel Szor from Episode 037. Feel free to listen to that, as well. He has an incredible story as he left his 30-year Investment Management career in NYC, Paris, and London behind to build one of the first English Whisky Distilleries. I hope you will enjoy our chat. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps (0:00) Introduction (0:10) Home Turf Advantage (3:05) Starting A Distillery: Sales (8:44) Bridging Categories (16:34) Discerning...

In Episode 037, I had the honor of chatting with Daniel Szor, Founder of the Cotswolds Distillery. He has an incredible story as he left his 30-year Investment Management career in NYC, Paris, and London behind to build one of the first English Whisky Distilleries. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps (0:00) Introduction (1:14) Building Demand & Background (8:02) Why England? (12:52) Developing English Whisky (19:49) Whisky Innovation (25:58) Distilling Brand Messaging...

In Episode 036, I continued my conversation with Sebastian Barnick in Episode 035. Feel free to listen to that, as well. Starting life in the Royal Navy, he became a certified distiller and WSET educator with a wealth of experience in wines and luxury spirits. He is an NPD professional and runs a sustainable contract distillery in the UK. I hope you will enjoy our chat. I hope you will enjoy our chat. Time Stamps (0:17); Authenticity in Brands (11:23); Modern and Traditional Target...