2015 has been a significant year for the little company that is Bottle Shop Concepts. We ran 16 events in 6 cities and 2 countries, hosted over 8,500 people and looked after 225 wineries from 51 different wine regions. And that’s just the tipping point.
From our inception in mid 2013, it’s been a wild rollercoaster ride, yet we’ve doubled the amount of events we’ve run each year. 2016 will be no exception (but more on that later).
Today we release our end of year report to share with you some of the facts and stats we found throughout the year. We do this in the spirit of collaboration, as the insights (however nerdy at times) are fascinating and useful. Interest in wine, it seems, is in a very healthy place and this is a good thing.
2015 was challenging in some ways, yet incredibly positive in others. What was most reassuring is how engaged our attendees were.
Despite what some wine commentators say, people ARE interested in wine but they want to learn about it the same way in which they consume it; socially. And then, they want to share their experience.
This is highlighted by our media reach and backed up by our demographic stats. 60% of all our attendees were women, with 55% under the age of 35. Ask ANY marketer who they want to talk to and that’s the demographic they want, and here they are at our wine events. This is incredibly exciting.
Additionally, we found the percentage of women tended to increase from event to event particularly in the under 35 demographic. For example: Gauchito Gil’s Malbec World Day we saw an increase in women to total of 65%. For Game of Rhones in Brisbane, it increased to 75%.
Never before have people been more engaged with what they imbibe. Whether it be at our events, or the others in the market place, there is a ground swell of interest in not just wine, but the people and places in which it is made in and by.
People care about people; it’s how we connect. People want an engaging story not stainless-steel tanks and seeing they ways in which so many of our wineries embraced ‘their’ story this year was amazing.
What’s on for 2016? Well, it’s going to be an even bigger ride it seems.
What is most exciting is that Pinot Palooza turns 5 and we’ll be bringing you some cool side projects to celebrate. Game of Rhones rolls into 7 cities adding Perth and Wellington to the mix. Plus, we have a few new concepts we’re working on which we think you’re going to like. Stay tuned.
All in all, 2016 is going to be a big one and we can’t wait to make it happen.
Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who joined us, exhibited with us, supported us or simply smiled at us randomly on the street, we thank you. Deeply.
I’d also like to thank my incredible team. My small merry band of misfits went above and beyond this year with not just the events themselves but managing a mobile and remote workplace with aplomb. We’re a small team determined to make our events not necessarily bigger, but better and more meaningful.
So come at us 2016. Bring. It. On.