Owner To Owner Podcast Marnie Roberts from WineGrapes on how cooperatives help growers and their local communities.
@MarnieRoberts from www.winegrapes.com.au is a #winemaker and champion of the #cooperativeownership and operating model. As a #businessmodel #coops have been around for a long time but she believes they are in a resurgence.
She grew up in #Mildura surrounded by #coops and was really attracted to the ethos of it working for a collective. #winegrapes now has about 120 #growers and is based in #regional #SouthAustralia.
In our discussion we talk about;
- how a #cooperative can benefit and supporting local people, local growers and their #localcommunity
- not being #bigcorporate
- #mclarenvale
- the advantages for growers;
- the reach and opportunities they may not get if they went out by themselves
- tapping into a vast array of skill sets which creates this network of growers communicating with each other
- getting more 'pull'
- being able to lean on each other
- what #winegrapes offers
- selling as a stronger unit (and avoiding leaving fruit on the vine or dropping to the ground)
- making wine for the grower if they can't sell that
- how the cooperative model combines #infrastructure
- how one of the original founders, @Paxtonwines has developed the Paxton brand while still being part of the group
- current challenges with #exporting #wine
- #globalization
- how we are reimagining the old idea of making a product in the hope that it will sell on the market (way too risky now) and are instead pre-selling or setting up strong relationships with export markets where they've got more security in what they're selling
- why the days of just crushing a few 1000 tonnes to make wine in the hopes that it'll sell in #China and just going to trade shows, is over
- the importance of #buildingrelationships
- #winetech
- the critical importance of the #story around where wine is grown
- the benefits of the cooperative model to other local communities;
- giving the community more power
- creating belief and positive reinforcement
- avoiding feeling like you're just trudging on
- all leading to an improvement in #mentalhealth
- the day to day opportunities, challenges and difficulties around, setting up a cooperative, and then managing a cooperative on an ongoing basis
- driving a lot and getting face to face
- #LanghorneCreek
- probably just the logistics of distance.
- how #coops work - general meetings and reporting on corporate obligations
- how communication is vital
- needing a strong ethos and a driving force that's laid out to make it fair for everyone
- where the #wineindustry is headed
- the loss of Chinese exports
- #smallproducers
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Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.
michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.au
www.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au