Shelf Talks

Aisle of Disruption: Molly Fedick on Changing the Beverage Game with her Brand Buzzkill

Roberta Townes Season 1 Episode 14

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In this conversation, Roberta speaks with Molly Fedick, founder of Buzzkill Wines, about her journey from a fast-paced life in New York City as a creative director at Hinge to creating a brand of non-alcoholic wines. They discuss the inspiration behind Buzzkill Wines, the challenges of entering the non-alcoholic beverage market, and the growing Sober Curious movement. Molly shares insights on consumer education, marketing strategies, and the importance of brand identity in a competitive industry. 

Molly Fedick discusses the journey of Buzzkill wines, a non-alcoholic beverage brand, focusing on community building, sales strategies, and the challenges of retail. She emphasizes the importance of personal connections in sales, the need for creative solutions in business, and the future growth of the non-alcoholic beverage market. Molly shares insights on inventory management, consumer education, and the significance of engaging with customers on a human level.

Key Takeaways:

  • Molly transitioned from a fast-paced life in NYC to creating Buzzkill Wines.
  • COVID prompted Molly to reassess her relationship with alcohol.
  • The name 'Buzzkill' was inspired by being called a buzzkill for not drinking.
  • Research and networking were crucial in the early stages of Buzzkill.
  • Molly utilized social media to build a community before launching the product.
  • Non-alcoholic wine is gaining popularity as consumers prioritize wellness.
  • You have to do demos, you have to budget a lot for samples.
  • You need to be ready to roll up your sleeves and do a lot of that work.


Breakouts:

00:00 From Hinge to Buzzkill: A Life Transformation
03:06 The Birth of Buzzkill Wines: Inspiration and Research
06:04 Navigating the Non-Alcoholic Wine Industry
09:05 Building a Brand: Marketing and Launch Strategies
11:58 The Sober Curious Movement: Trends and Insights
14:50 Consumer Education: Understanding Non-Alcoholic Options
17:58 Customer Reactions and Brand Identity
20:52 Scaling Up: Retail Strategies and Partnerships
27:30 Building Community and Demand
30:01 Sales Strategy and Distribution
33:01 Retail Challenges and Consumer Education
36:02 Inventory Management and Production
38:55 Creative Solutions in Business
41:55 Future of Non-Alcoholic Beverages
45:59 Buzzkill's Vision and Community Engagement

Links mentioned in this episode:

Buzzkill Wines Instagram

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