BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) – The founders of Barefoot Wine have a new book out talking about their unique journey of building one of the countries top selling wines. Although it may not have happened if not for the current owner of a Boise restaurant.
Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey started Barefoot Wine out of their laundry room in California back in 1985. The current owner of the Stagecoach Inn in Boise, Rick Fraser, was a distributor in California at the time.
Early in their business Michael had a different distributor who didn’t pay his bill, and put is wine out in the hot sun. That could have been a huge financial hit, but he called Fraser who went and picked up the wine and began selling it.
To view the complete article and watch the video interview, please click visit this link KBOI-TV2
Who We Are
Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.
Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.
They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.
Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.
To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.
