flyhigher87

Hi Everyone! I am looking for a mentor or recommendations on a consultant. I have been working diligently for months on developing my business plan. I am at the point that I think everything is in line. However, I am struggling desperately to develop my sales forecast and marketing budget. I believe the two walk hand in hand to some degree. Is there anyone with a good amount of experience that would be willing to hop on a phone conversation with me to discuss what are realistic expectations for my given scenario. Also my distillery is outside of the United States so I will not have tours and wine cellar sales to boost my revenue. Therefore I need realistic numbers that will be sold solely to a distributor and what kind of marketing budget it will take to go out and sell the quantity of product I need to sell to stay in business for the long-term. Thank you everyone this forum is my lifeline.

Hey Guys, Hope everyone is thriving and striving! I am American but own and operate a small craft distillery outside of the United States. I am very interested in bringing my product home. I have been in business for about 3 years now and I have talked to a lot of suppliers(bottles, tops, shippers, warehouses...etc) and I believe my business plan(prospectus P+L and cash-flow statements) is getting to be fairly accurate. Now I have run into one major number that I have been unable to justify my assumptions. And that is my MARKETING budget. I think we all know that when done properly producing a product(unless you re doing something crazy) produces reasonable gross margins. However, the question is and it is a big question can you sell the product??? My belief is the answer to that question is(assuming we have a good product and I believe I do) how much are you willing to spend in time and money on marketing? I have found in my numbers almost without doubt that is the defining question to whether I can be profitable or not. 1. How much do I need to spend per case in marketing to 1 sell my product and 2 create a reasonable growth rate? (Let us assume my product will retail for $24.99 per bottle) 2. What is a reasonable growth rate? (10%, per month?) 3. Is there some sort of tipping point? Not sure how to say this properly, but let us say I need $25 in marketing per case. But I only start with $25 dollars and let us say that is for some reason not possible to create a demand with my $25. Would you say I need to start with $20,000 expecting $25 per case in marketing. If anyone understands what I am asking and can describe it better, please do so. So please if you could let me know what you guys are spending on marketing and how that is working for you, I would be grateful. I know these are big questions with 1 million variables flying in every direction. But I am trying to get into the ball park. After I am in the ballpark I think I will hire a consultant to nail down my numbers. I need some investment money. As a responsibility to my future investors I want to make sure my numbers are as accurate and truthful as possible. Thank you!

Hey everybody, So I luckily have several importer/distributors interested in my product in Europe. However, I know nothing about importing, distribution or sales in Europe. Many of these guys(by many there are 3 interested) and 2 of them are asking for exclusivity one for two countries he operates in and one for all of Europe. Yes all of Europe. I am a very small distillery only producing about 800 bottles maximum capacity per month. I don't know how hard that would be to sell in Europe, but I think if you have exclusivity you should be expected to hit certain numbers. Talking to these guys they believe my bottle will hit the shelf for about 35 Euros. And again I have no Idea what to ask these guys for. So a few questions, 1. If they have exclusivity should the contract say that they have to sell a certain amount of bottles or I can break the contract? 2. If yes to question 1 how hard is it to break a contract if they are not selling what they are supposed too? 3. Do they do all of the marketing or do I need to help them? I obviously am not going to be doing events and stuff in Europe. How does that work? 4. Should I just hire a consultant to hold my hand through this process? If, so any idea how much that would cost and do you have any recommendations for consultants around the European Union? Thank you guys so much any help would be appreciated, I just don't want to walk into a bad situation because I am in experienced,.

Hey guys, I am looking up state excise taxes and I have a question. They all say per gallon is this a proof gallon? I'm looking to make a cocktail drink at about 7% do i have to pay the same tax as a 40% spirit or is it a proof gallon and the tax is on the quantity of alcohol? This is a make or break whether this is profitable or not

Hey guys, would like some tips here. I would really like to try using some flowers in my botanical list for a gin. What type right now I don’t know. However, I have tried a dozen different types. I have tried maceration distilling in the pot. I have tried maceration and remove petals and distilling. I have tried gin basket. All of them are frankly terrible. Like dirt or like grass. Do you guys have any tips on how to improve my taste and aroma distilling flowers? The only info I have found on here is a few lines from Odin about using a gin basket with higher abv Lower temps but that didn’t work for me. And I know it’s possible there are elderflower and lavender gins and liquors out there. So please let me know. Thanks guys and gals!

I am interested in this. Is this still available? Do you have any Drawings? I would like to know the plate configuration(there are some poorly design bubble plates, caps and downcomers out there.) Also I would like to know the dimensions the different heights mainly. The Kettle is not included is that correct? Just the column, condenser and table stand.

Hey guys I'm coming out with hopefully a pink gin/vodka soon. However, I'm having trouble with the coloring. I tried hibiscus to be as natural as possible. It was a little to purple then got kinda brown. I tried Carmine, it also was a little to purple. But with less it was a nice pink. However, After 3 weeks it lost almost all of its coloring. Do you guys know what the pink gins are using for coloring. I am pretty sure they are adding color, but what? Thank you everybody.

Hey guys I'm coming out with hopefully a pink gin/vodka soon. However, I'm having trouble with the coloring. I tried hibiscus to be as natural as possible. It was a little to purple then got kinda brown. I tried Carmine, it also was a little to purple. But with less it was a nice pink. However, After 3 weeks it lost almost all of its coloring. Do you guys know what the pink gins are using for coloring. I am pretty sure they are adding color, but what? Thank you everybody.

haha its going to be pink but my label is seen through the bottle so it has to be clear Pink

Hey guys i'm making a Grapefruit Vodka. But I figured I'd post it under Gin since you guys would probably know best. \ Anyhow I have tried macerating and distilling in the Pot and I have tried In a Gin Basket. Gin Basket seems to be a bit stronger or at least it turns white with less grapefruit peel, i'm equating this to being stronger but it may not actually be stronger. I and everyone else loves the aroma and taste, but I have two problems. 1. It does not seem that the Grapefruit packs enough punch. Its just not quite strong enough and when I try to increase it, it louces(turns white however you spell that). Do you guys have any ideas how I can make the aroma stronger? Without it turning White? 2. It also seems to loose its aroma faster than my gin. I tried to distill it with Orris and Angelic root as a fixitive but it totally ruined the aroma for me. Do you guys know of any better ways to keep in the aroma? Thank you so much

You guys are awesome thank you so much. Anyone know about warning labels I see everyone has the pregnant lady drinking with an X through it and a recycle sign. I’’ve seen a few with a anti-drinking and driving symbol but more than most do not have that symbol? And I have not seen any regulations on what is required. Sorry for all the questions i’m Super nervous my pallets of bottles will get there and they say the label is not Correct and then they throw my bottles in the Ocean(Its a reacurring nightmare).

Love it! Can’t wait to find out what you discover. Keep us posted

Just curious. I see a lot of nice stills with eight plates and a dephlag prior to the gin basket. What abv% are you trying to achieve through the gin basket? Do you guys hold it at a steady abv% or do you allow it to change (probably lower) through the distillation? Also have you found any noticeable differences with different abv% going through the gin basket? Im super curious, my only thoughts are since alcohol is a solvent the higher abv% would be better at extracting oils. But I d love to know your guys expierences. I know Bombay has an awfully tall column before the gin basket I would imagine there is a lot of rectification before that basket.

Paul I have been looking at the regulations and everything. One question I see on maybe all the bottles I do not see in the regulations is for Volume I see 70 cl e. I know 70 cl is 700 ml , but we is the e and do I need that?

Thank you very much Paul. That was a big help!