Savage Vines Profile

“Specialist online retailer of certified organic and biodynamic wines.”

“To be the largest online retailer of certified organic and biodynamic wines in the UK. We promote environmental sustainability through partnering with certified organic and biodynamic vineyards. A percentage of our sales goes into revegetation by planting trees all over the country. By 2025, we plan to have planted 25,000 trees across the UK.”

“Angel investor.”

“We have a team of three permanent staff and then use freelancers and agencies to provide further support.”

“Yes, I always knew I wanted to run my own business. I am very independent and unconventional in the sense that I never enjoyed a standard 9-5 job where you specialise in one function or area. I like to get my hands dirty, learn about new things, help others, and have the freedom to make the decisions I want.”

“The retail wine industry in the UK is inefficient, and the wines which are typically sold are overpriced for the quality. There was a lack of focus on the environment, and being able to buy decent quality organic wine as a consumer in the UK was impossible. We see more and more people searching for organic wine and eco-friendly products, so we know we are in the right niche.”

“We wanted it to be unconventional, not have the word wine in it, and break away from the traditionalist mould and branding that the majority of wine companies seem to follow.”

“Gaining traction online and building a brand. This takes a lot of resources, time, and money. A lot more than I initially anticipated. It took just under two years to be cash flow positive and a further 12 months to turn a profit.”

“Environmentally conscious wine drinkers.”

“Digital first — A large focus is on content and ensuring we are found online through key search terms, both organically and paid.”

“Cost-per-click advertising and organic wine tasting events.”

“Average orders per year per customer, average lifetime customer value, subscriber growth, web impressions, click-through rates and conversions rates of the website.”

“‘The 4-Hour Workweek.’”

“I listen to a lot of Tony Robbins content.”

“How hard it is to generate your first million pounds in sales.”

“Ensure you put time aside for exercise or just getting fresh air. This is key and needs to be a non-negotiable part of your week. It needs to happen before anything else.”

“Setting goals and targets on a regular basis.”

“Be organised, run a tight ship, and make use of platforms like Monday.com to run your teams and workstreams.”

“Having a go. Lots of people have ideas and say, 'I wish I did XYZ,' but never give it a try. It may not work out, but this should not be deemed a failure, more so a learning exercise for next time.”

Recommended:

• Keep up with more startup companies by visiting our list of the top startups to watch.
• Hear startup stories from real founders on the Startup Savants podcast.
• Form your own startup by reading our review of the best online incorporation services.