Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey

Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey went from starting a business in their laundry room, to creating Barefoot Wines, one of the largest wine companies in the country.

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey started in their laundry room with virtually no money and no wine industry experience. Facing bankruptcy the first years in business, they bootstrapped a novelty brand and revolutionized their industry by employing innovative ideas to overcome obstacles and create new markets. When their nationwide bestselling brand, Barefoot Wines,  became a top global brand, they wanted to share their business adventure story to help other entrepreneurs.

Fail Forward:

It was when we were turned down by one of the largest supermarkets in the state. We changed our product supply approach, instead of offering to one big guy, we preferred the harder model: we offered to hundreds of small clients.

Lightbulb Moment:

We expanded our business fast, without realizing what processes are involved until the bottle of wine reaches the shelves. The big moment was when we realized that we have to be familiar with the process from A to Z, and assure that every step of that process is controlled and adjusted accordingly.

Success Hack:

The earlier the better. Go out and start working on your dreams!

Randomness Round:

What is your favorite daily habit: I go out and take a walk, enjoy the birds, breathe some fresh air and try to clean my mind.

Business Book I Would Recommend: “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

Favorite Social Media Tool/Service: Skype