Once a Student - Always a Student

Starting a business with vodka means beginning work with a little hangover. Through a headache and a desire to eat pizza, we confronted an important question: What do we do now?

Being excellent students we did what we were trained to do – research, research, research. Here are some tricks we learned on how to efficiently research a start-up business:

Take Classes at the Nearest University on the Subject…Well Sort Of.
Internet research on shipping, customs, etc. quickly breeds information overload. We needed some direction. The University of Washington offers a certificate program on Global Supply Chain Management. I went to their website, and through a few searches and crafty phone calls, I got the recommended reading list for the classes. I took it to the public library…and bam! A few weeks reading textbooks got us up to date on the latest in supply chain management. Thanks, UW!

The Government Can Actually Be Your Friend.
It is nice to know that the king's ransom we spend in taxes, fees, and licensing can actually trickle down to the small guy. Small business development does get some support– at least for those who look for it. Thanks, Guys! My two favorite programs are:

• Community Capital Development: Provides finances and education to start-ups and small businesses.
• Washington State Small Business Development Centers: This organization hooked us up with Dave Young, a seasoned entrepreneur who is now our mentor. He gives us encouragement, knowledge and contacts. Dave is the man!

Shout Your Intentions Off the Roof Top and Experts Will Come.
Tell everyone about your business. Everyone. And you’ll suddenly realize that your fiancé’s, stepfather and your fiancé’s stepfather’s, brother-in-law worked for one of the largest wine and beer distributors in the country. And they are oh-so willing to introduce you to the current president of that company for an informational interview while spend hours teaching you the industry game. Wow.

Ask Your Friends for Help and They Will Be So Good to You.
Last night we hosted some wine loving friends (and one beer drinker) for a new product tasting party. With a little direction, they showered us with tasting notes, prices, and label ideas. All we had to do was ply them with wine and provide dinner. A great deal!