Brand Building | The Barefoot Spirit

Americans are Getting a Crash Course in Distribution Management

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 15:07:27 +0000

As consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) brand building advisors with real-world experience on how to build a successful brand, we are taking a special interest in the formidable challenges governments and private companies face in trying to manage the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine. There are important lessons to be learned here.

Popularly held misconception

We tell our clients that “It doesn’t matter how great your product is, what a great value it is, or even if there is a huge demand for it, you cannot succeed if you don’t focus on distribution.” Alternatively, “You can’t get it if it isn’t there.” It’s that simple.

To read the complete article, please visit The Business Journals

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.

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Force Brands – Brand Building Secrets Interview

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Mon, 21 May 2018 16:57:30 +0000

Founders Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey didn’t set out with the intention of creating the world’s largest wine brand. At the time of Barefoot Wine’s founding in 1985, they both lacked the money and the industry knowledge necessary to launch a brand of any kind. Instead, they relied on innovative, entrepreneurial tactics that would later prove to be more than successful.

Their unconventional approach to brand building led them to disrupt the wine category with a unique perspective on retail; leverage an alternative to commercial advertising; and forge partnerships with 25,000 retail stores across 50 states and 28 countries.

Read on to discover the story of Barefoot from its founders — the things they wish they knew then; how they approached hiring; and why they believe that a brand’s reputation is the key to its success.

To read the interview, please visit Force Brands

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ICSB Guest Blog Post

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 14:33:45 +0000

We are not professors of entrepreneurship, but we are real-life successful entrepreneurs. Rather than retiring with our proceeds from the sale Barefoot Wines, we are devoting our lives to sharing what we have learned, often times the hard way, from our experience starting and growing the world’s largest bottled wine brand. We are without children ourselves, but have an almost parental concern for all young people, especially those aspiring to become entrepreneurs. We sincerely want to see them succeed and spared some of the pain we suffered.

For the past year we have spoken, lectured and made guest appearances at more than 25 schools of entrepreneurship in the U.S. During that time we have also written over 100 blog posts on entrepreneurship and brand building. Our articles appear in national and professional journals and we are frequent media guests on the subject of entrepreneurship.

TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, PLEASE VISIT ICSB GUEST BLOG

Who We Are

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

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Strategy for Good Summit

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:14:17 +0000

Title: Strategy for Good Summit
Location: Your phone – it’s a Telesummit
Description: Hear from 30 Thought Leaders on Business in Society, including Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey – All in One Place Via Telesummit – Sharing Their Unique Perspectives, Tips, and Strategies on Social Good, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Involvement. This Telesummit is from February 27 – March 2 with speakers scheduled at different times throughout these days.
Michael and Bonnie are starting a movement to encourage businesses to get the word out about their brands while improving the planet by using Worthy-Cause Marketing instead of relying on advertising alone. Learn from the Barefoot Wine Founders as they share real world experiences and tips on how to build a successful brand the smart way. Mark your calendar for Feb 29 from 3:00pm EST to 4:00pm EST. (If you’re on the West Coast, that’s 12:00 noon to 1:00pm Pacific Time). Click here for the schedule and scroll to the bottom to register online.

Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Start Time: 3:00pm EST (12:00pm Pacific)
End Time: 4:00pm EST (1:00pm Pacific)

Who We Are

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

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Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:15:08 +0000

Title: Exit Strategy, Brand Building, and Value
Location: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
Description: Brand equity trumps real estate in most acquisitions. Understanding how value is created in the affordable luxury wine industry is the first step in developing a growth platform or exit strategy. Since value is measured by the investor or buyer, business owners must target the drivers of value in their day-to-day operating plans. Even if wineries are not for sale, they can benefit from Houlihan and Jones’ real world experience. This course is designed for owners, investors, M&A agents and institutional lenders. Register online here.

Date: Friday, March 23, 2012
Start Time: 08:00am PST
End Time: 12:00pm PST

Who We Are

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

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