Fireside Chat with the Founders of Barefoot Wines, the World's Largest Wine Brand

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Speakers: Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, Co-Founders and Richard C Wilson from Family office club 

Summary: In this fireside chat with Barefoot Wines, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey discuss their approach to building brand equity, the role of storytelling through Business Audio Theater in preserving and communicating a company’s values, and the importance of forming strategic partnerships to accelerate growth. They emphasize the impact of sharing real stories in an engaging audio format to connect with employees, investors, and the broader community. 

Key points:

• Building Brands with the End in Mind: They emphasize the importance of creating a business with the goal of building brand equity for eventual acquisition. They highlight the need to understand industry benchmarks and use those to set goals rather than arbitrary revenue targets.
• The Value of Storytelling: Michael and Bonnie stressed that storytelling is a powerful tool for passing on values and engaging team members, investors, and customers. They believe that stories create a lasting impact because they connect emotionally with the audience.
• Business Audio Theater: They discussed how they've adapted storytelling into an audio format to help entrepreneurs share their journeys, values, and principles with a broader audience, including employees, family members, and potential business partners.
• Strategic Alliances: One of their key lessons was the importance of forming strategic alliances with partners who benefit from your success. They suggested identifying allies by considering who gains when your business thrives.
• Community Engagement: Bonnie Harvey highlighted the power of working with local communities as a strategy to grow the brand without traditional advertising. They built their market presence through community engagement and word-of-mouth.
• Passing on Values: The discussion also touched on the importance of passing on values rather than just wealth to the next generation. This approach helps ensure that family members not only preserve the wealth but also live fulfilling lives.
• Engagement with the Next Generation: To keep the legacy of a family business alive across generations, they suggested using modern platforms like podcasts and audiobooks to make the story accessible and engaging.

Their insights focus on innovative ways to grow businesses, engage teams, and leverage storytelling to create lasting impact and connections with audiences.