If you managed to survive the entrepreneurial process from ideation to monetization and you were asked to boil it all down into core competencies, what would you say? How would you even begin? We faced this exact challenge. Our employees, business associates and clients all kept saying that we should break our journey down into […]

A big part of our “Barefoot Startup” movement is being, well, friendly! You may have the world’s greatest app, most awesome hardware, or must-have consumer product, but the colder your attitude, the higher your price of doing business! Instead of crying about how much money you need to get started, the Barefoot Startup asks, “How […]

Today, the business tabloids will tell you how glorious it is to disrupt your industry. Every week there’s a new story about another successful entrepreneur who has disrupted their industry and made a billion. But that’s not even half the story. The tabloids are quick to pander to your desire to see all things new […]

Is your email flooded with marketers pandering to your thirst for quick knowledge to “solve” the immediate problem at hand. Is your news feed is packed with ads promising six digits in six months, and all from your phone! “Just follow this process,” they say, “and you too will be a success!” With the overflow […]

We are waiting for the official word that the wine country firestorms were caused by global warming. The floods in Houston, and the hurricanes and tidal surges that hit Florida and Puerto Rico, have be officially attributed to a warmer ocean – which is linked to climate change. Something happened this summer in the wine […]

According to Forbes, 90 percent of all new businesses fail. Why is the rate so high with so many great ideas? Is something missing? Something basic? According to the Small Business Administration, businesses that survive more than five years tend to survive more than 10 years. Do they finally learn something that saved them? What […]

We want to thank many of you for your concern about our welfare during the Wine Country fire storms. Fortunately, we, are home, and our small west Sonoma County town were spared from the flames. The fires were just 8 miles east of us. We are blessed to be able to offer shelter for our […]

First published on Entrepreneur.com on 10/12/2017 Having built the wine brand Barefoot, we learned a few things about branding consumer products. Get your product in front of the folks who will benefit from it. Be clear about what you are selling. Distinguish your product from the competition. Understand and work the distribution system. Deliver a […]

FDR said at his 1932 inauguration, deep in the great depression, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It’s only natural to feel anxiety, uncertainty, and apprehension when you think of possible negative consequence of any business venture. It’s easy to worry about sales, be concerned over the latest initiative, or freak […]

“ It was an inspiration to hear Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey’s (founders of Barefoot Wines) story of how they broke all the rules to become the country’s #1 best selling wine! From the laundry room to the board room, theirs was an inspiring story of determination and perseverance. Their natural story-telling ability blended with […]