Happy Friday! This week I’m giving you another exclusive interview. This time it’s with an iconic small business owner in the New England area who is making waves in the mobile bar industry. Aspiring entrepreneurs take notice: she has major insights to share and a new way to utilize them for yourselves.

Our industry spotlight survey is now officially live! The link to the form will be included at the end of this newsletter and is available to fill out on our website as well. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for a future newsletter this survey is for you.

Self-Proclaimed “Cork Dork”, Julia Walderzak, Stands Out as Not Only Incredibly Business-Savvy but as a True Community Builder

I met Julia Walderzak, owner of Decanted Wine Truck & Mobile Bar, at an event she was working at recently. A friend of mine had asked me to tag along to a local business’ promotional event and seeing that it promised snacks and alcoholic refreshments, I was in. We walked in to see the most gorgeous indoor bar cart set up in the center of the space. The cart itself was beautiful and so were all the details and staging around it. Naturally, I asked the bartender about Decanted and told her about the newsletter I write for. To my good fortune she wasn’t just the bartender, she was also the owner.

As it turns out, Decanted isn’t Julia’s first mobile business venture. She actually had a successful business, H2K, before COVID hit (she describes herself as a serial entrepreneur) which was aimed at making fitness more approachable and accessible to children. This mobile fitness company was really hitting its stride by 2020, traveling to over 50 schools and franchising as of 2017, when the pandemic squashed it in an instant. Thankfully Julia is someone who also knows how to adapt. She gave herself a minute to grieve that loss then dove into researching for the rest of COVID’s duration. When she came out on the other side she had a vision - and a camper. Having experience in New York City’s nightlife and a passion for wine, she got to work on converting that camper into the dreamiest mobile bar.

When you meet Julia it’s really no surprise she is successful. She is sharp, confident, and at the same time so down to earth. Decanted hit the ground running and since its founding has gone from one camper to three campers, two bar carts, and one champagne wall. Did I mention that they name all of their vehicles? It’s one of the many charming elements that makes them such a standout and highly esteemed brand. The seasonality of the business - especially in New England - has been a challenge but being able to “pivot” as Julia says, is key to making it in not only the hospitality industry but in the world of small business in general. Decanted features exclusive wines that you won’t find in big box stores and makes a special effort to pour wines from women wine makers. All of their wines are additive-free and all of their cocktail ingredients are made fresh. Yes, they make cocktails too! The company’s dedication to bringing only the best wine, spirits, and ingredients to every event is part of why they have many repeat clients.

The other part? Their ability to see the big picture. Julia said her favorite part of the business is working with people and building a level of trust allows her clients to relax a little. Since they are often hired for events like bridal showers, weddings, and other big life moments their goal is to take some of the burden off of the planners and hosts. Decanted offers a full curated experience which includes not just the obvious bar elements but the decor, staging, and ambiance that the brand is known for. They offer catering for small bites and I’m told that the homemade hummus is phenomenal.

The Decanted crew (most of whom have been employees since the very beginning) travels all over New England and although they would love to cover all of the U.S. themselves it’s just not feasible. So here’s where you self-driven entrepreneurial spirits can benefit: Decanted is in the process of micro-franchising. That means anyone outside of the New England area (or even at the farther reaches of New England) with the drive and attention to detail can apply to get started with their own Decanted mobile bar. Qualified applicants would get not only the esteem that comes with the name, they also get invaluable expert advice and marketing. Even if you personally aren’t interested in opening up your own mobile bar, keep your eyes peeled, there may be a Decanted Wine and Cocktail Bar wheeling out in your area soon!

Wine Sales are Down but Opportunity is Ripe

We rarely talk about wine but maybe that’s because it’s a steadfast staple that we assume we can always come back to. As it turns out, U.S. wine sales are down and that’s left us with an overwhelming abundance of grapes. This has some people scratching their heads since imported wines now carry heavy tariffs. The argument I’ve heard in talking to other industry professionals is that American wine just isn’t being held to the kind of standards that foreign wines are. In a market where consumers are getting pickier it seems that domestic wines are falling flat.

Here are some interesting headlines I’ve included in place of our usual “Quick Hits” concerning wine:

This might be a little late for me to be sharing since I’m positive that Decanted is booked up for a while. I do love the vibe regardless, and it is a good way to show how branding and promos can be seasonal and catchy while highlighting the range of skills your company can provide.