This week on The EnTRUEpreneurship Podcast, Wes interviews Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey — co-founders at Barefoot Cellars. Over the course of its 34-year history, Barefoot has grown into one of the fastest-growing and award-winning brands in the global wine industry. Its offerings have expanded from two simple red and white blends to a large variety of wines, champagnes, spritzers, and, most recently, hard seltzers.
If you’ve walked into any corner store, liquor store, or supermarket, you’ve come in contact with Barefoot products, yet the brand had a slow rise to global prominence. Michael and Bonnie were two young, ambitious business consultants who stumbled into an opportunity, sought to fill a market gap, and were too far in to turn back when things got really hard. The Barefoot story is an inspiring tale for anyone — entrepreneur or not — and this week, it is told in full.
To listen to the interview, please visit The EnTRUEpreneurship Podcast
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.
