G: Tell us about your business: What do you do? What did inspire you to start?
I have just launched a company selling Skinny Champagne; Top quality, no added sugar. Most people don’t know that sugar is added to Champagne at all. Mine, by top Champagne maker, Alexandre Penet, is 100% Grand Cru so it’s made from the very best grapes and super dry. Arguably the best out there. I actually moved to France to study wine on a quest to find the perfect no sugar Champagne! I was inspired to start my company following a life-long dream to work with Champagne. My previous job as an arts broadcaster saw me taste many Champagnes and I became more and more discerning.
G: What is innovative about what you do?
My clients come from what I see as a really interesting base – often they’re young (or more importantly, young at heart) and perhaps work in fashion, film, the arts, tech… I realised that while street food has very much become democratised in the UK, wine hasn’t, and I love to have conversations about Champagne in a non-pretentious way. After all, it’s a drink first and foremost, albeit a beautiful one that puts you in the mood to have fun, while with Skinny Champagne you can stay smug and healthy at the same time. What’s not to like?
G: What were the biggest obstacles launching the start-up and how did you overcome them?
Money, money and more money. Or lack of it, to be blunt. Everyone said I was crazy to launch a Champagne business without financial backing but I have done it now and it’s time to look for the right investment so I can focus on the global market. People love Skinny Champagne and importantly, the story behind it which has made it possible for me to get e-commerce sales without spending a penny on marketing. All my PR has been word of mouth and luckily The Sunday Times, Elle and The New York Times, to name just three, all loved my story. Journalists have been surprised when I turn up at their door instead of a courier company.
G: What would you say has been your most memorable experience while developing your startup?
Three things. 1. Getting listed at Nobu London. A dream come true and perfect positioning for Skinny Champagne. 2. Becoming friends with Gerard Basset OBE, a God in the wine world. 3. Having some incredible support from brilliant people who simply love the story and Skinny Champagne itself like Laban Roomes CEO of Goldgenie who ‘gifted’ me his web developer after we got talking and he tasted Skinny Champagne at a pop-up event I held.
G: What does the future has in store for your company?
Skinny Champagne Rosé is launching this Summer in a limited edition number and I also have Skinny Champagne magnums arriving in the UK anytime. I am at Taste London this June and The Telegraph Food and Drink editor has just been in touch about a feature and shoot which is exciting. Longer term, Skinny Prosecco and Skinny Cava are in development. Lots going on!
Social links:
www.skinnychampagne.com
Twitter.com/@skinnychamp
Instagram.com/skinnychampagne
