By: Amy Morgan
“There is no safe way to be brave,” says writer Brené Brown. I listened to her famous TED talk two years ago, and it changed the way I live and love. It is fitting, then, that her teachings would be a cornerstone to the foundation of my new company.
These words of wisdom have informed the creation of Bay Area Wine Company. I have always had reasons why I shouldn’t start my own company. My husband Ryan and I have two incredible daughters, and I worried about being able to be a good mom and wife AND have a successful business.
My previous place of employment gave me the flexibility to be at ballet lessons, volunteer at the preschool, and study for the WSET Diploma, all while continuing to work. It was quite the balancing act! I enjoyed working there, but I started noticing ways I would do things differently if I was at the helm. I really wanted to create a company where the personalized needs of the clients came first.
I knew I could do this but I was scared of failing. I was mostly afraid that people would view me as a mom first — who happened to know a lot about wine — instead of taking me seriously as a Wine Director.
“You should start your own company,” my husband said to me.
He proceeded to listen quietly as I rattled off every single fear that I had about starting my own business. Then he said, “Amy, I believe in you and so do a lot of other people. I can’t guarantee it won’t fail, but I can guarantee that you have more passion for this than most people.”
Passion. What was my passion? I have always been passionate about introducing people to wine, but what I REALLY love is introducing people to wine in a way that makes it approachable. I love talking about wine and learning what kind of wine other people like to drink and helping them define the characteristics they like and exploring other wines that are similar. I love finding a bottle of wine and thinking, “this would be perfect for a particular client,” and hardly being able to control my excitement for when I get to give it to them! I love when, after someone has tasted a wine I selected for an event, they come back and tell me how much they liked the wine, and ask where can they buy more of it! I dream about wine. I study wine. I collect wine. I talk about wine. To say that I love wine feels like a massive understatement.
Yes, Ryan was right. I did have a lot of passion.
I decided right then and there that I was going to have to get comfortable with the discomfort of starting a new company. I was going to have to be OK with being the David against the Goliath of other wine shops and companies. I was going to give it my all, stand with my passion, and give the best experience possible to my clients — and still make it to my daughters’ ballet lessons.
And that is how Bay Area Wine Company got started.
Along the way, I have been learning some things about being the boss. The first thing I learned is to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, and that is exactly what I have done. In the upcoming weeks, you will see posts written by our editor, Nikki Scott. Her wine knowledge is nothing short of inspiring.
What does Bay Area Wine Company do? Bay Area Wine Company is a brand new personalized wine club focused on a thoughtfully curated selection of wines whose quality exceeds their price. We hand-select wines for each client based on their palate and budget. We focus on personalized wine club shipments and wine for office happy hours and events. We also allow all of our club members to request additional bottles on-demand! Need a case of cheap sparkling wine for an upcoming party? Or perhaps you are seeking a high-end bottle for a gift? We can tailor custom orders for your needs and budget.
Learn more about us here, Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.
Believe in the passion? Sign up for one (or more) of our clubs here.
I tell my daughters everyday to be brave, be kind, and be curious. It is a good rule of thumb for exploring wine as well!
In Bravery,
Amy and the Bay Area Wine Company Team