Wine: A new license and old freight costs

Good day all,

After consulting a few folks, I decided to launch a fundraiser for my wine business.  Currently, I am sitting on 13 pallets of wine, but the pandemic hit and scuttled any movement since the month of March.  I was actually meeting with an associate at a NY investment firm on March 3, but the market was tanking and we weren't able to see this key person, and then the lockdown came.

We are Black-owned and focused on delivering great wines to the groups that the wine industry has by and large either ignored or under-served; you can check us out here.

The funds will be used for paying off our last freight fees for bringing in a small container consisting of 8 pallets of 8 wines in total (4k) and also applying for a wholesalers license in Washington, DC (2.6K) which would allow for us to sell directly to consumers via our location [in DC] or via the internet (only for DC consumers).  We already can distribute in DC, have a relationship with a small Black-owned distributor in Maryland and have a distributor in Pennsylvania as well.  The groundwork has already been laid for NJ and NY, but of course, coronavirus.

Would we love to raise more, hell yeah (if you want to invest, just email us at [email redacted]).  Now what we can't do, is sell you wine directly, most people don't understand the three-tier system.  We have import and distribution licenses, which means that for any state we want to move wine into, we need to either set up a distributorship, or deal with only one distributor.  The distributor then sells wines to on-premise (bars, restaurants, caterers, hotels) or off-premise (retail stores) establishments.  But on the flip side, I have three pallets of wine that I am not going to sell, which means that I can give you a sample bottle.  Two are best used for either sangria or making some great wine vinegar, but the third is for you folks who love something sweet (they don't have the brand labels that I want).

Or, you could also buy a shirt ! 

So let me tell you -- plead with you -- on why supporting us is a great cause.  Well, we don't have any sugar mommas, rich uncles or father's who can "loan us one million dollars."  Phonte -- a great rapper-- once rapped, "do you really want to win or look good losing?"  The squeaky wheel gets the oil and a closed mouth doesn't get fed.  There are very few Black people in the wine game; boil that down to African Americans and the list is even smaller.  Don't think that I haven't reached out to Black celebs in certain fields as I would love to have my wines in episodes of "Insecure" as well as "A Black Lady Sketch Show."  But with anything, the attention comes after you have gone through the hard times.

What's special about us is that we also have giving back as part of our core philosophy, why means trying to help out charitable efforts -- we were going to donate at least twenty cases to a nonprofit in Chicago for their dinner this year, but Corona-- and that we want to also endow scholarships at HBCUs.  Me personally, I will give my assistance to help out small businesses with what I know (IT - database, web, etc.; connections; knowledge) to help them get off the ground or succeed.

Some of you know me and haven't been able to invest because of the minimum amount.  Some of you have been to "the porch" and know my friendship and spirit in food, wine and music (I actually tried to invite Idris Elba when he was in town filming).  If you can, give, as every little bit helps.  I've got at least twenty other wines on deck that I want to bring in and will move you away from not only the same stuff that you have been drinking for years, but the folks who really don't know you, or care for your scenario.

Regardless, God bless and stay safe and sane.

And if you donate, please message me as well so I can get your address and t-shirt sizes for the future.