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Funded
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We are Indiana’s own Wilks & Wilson, purveyors of fine elixirs, bitters, and mixes that allow anyone to create a superior craft-cocktail with the spirit of their choice.
After three years of slow, but steady growth, we feel we have built the foundation for serious growth and expansion. We have stabilized and developed our manufacturing and distribution network and have become a brand player in the national craft-cocktail movement. We have built private label relationships with Coopers Hawk Winery, Cafe Patachou, and a number of others such as The Copper Still and Ice Miller LLP.
In December of 2014 we launched a premium Bloody Mary Mix. We set out to own the Premium tier of Bloody Mary Mix. Soon we were picked up by Marsh, Kroger, Big Red Liquors, Payless and others. Bloody Mary became the product that introduced customers to the name and quality of our brand.
With the help of or Indiana distributor, Southern Wine and Spirits (SWS), we began reaching out to big spirit brands to do “Co-Pak" opportunities. Our overarching goal was to take the old “BASF” approach: “We don’t make the LIQUOR. We make it better.” Since that time we have done Co-Pak initiatives with Absolute Vodka and Tanquerey Gin. We are currently launching an initiative with Cuervo 1800 and after that, Van Gough Vodka. The great thing is that they are now coming to us for innovative ideas to connect their spirit to the craft-cocktail movement.
In February of 2015 we launched a line of Bitters. Referred to as the “bartenders spice cabinet”, bitters are a hot product in the cocktail scene. We chose to jump in because we produce ours in house and they have a very large margin (70+%). (It was our Orange bitters that Tanquerey wanted packaged with their Gin in Indiana.)
Last March we participated in the NRA Food and Beverage Show in Chicago. The reception couldn’t have been better. Time after time we heard that our products were head and shoulders above the rest. We left with 240 strong leads and tremendous interest in our products in other states (enough from Illinois to cause a planning meeting at SWS). But perhaps the biggest development involved a gentlemen known as the father of the modern craft-cocktail movement: Tony Abou-Ganim. He came to a demo we conducted. He introduced himself and said that we was a huge fan of our products. Later he stopped by our booth and asked why we weren’t available in his home location of Las Vegas. We told him that we hadn’t been connected with SWS Nevada yet. He said that he would take care of that. He wanted us there. (One of his key accounts, The Bellagio, pours 25,000 cocktails a day). In less than a week later SWS Nevada reached out to SWS Indiana to get all of our product information.
In November we released, to great interest an RTD (Ready-to-drink) Bloody Mary.
We are currently in the sales and planning stage with both the Illinois and Nevada SWS markets. Las Vegas already has a number of specialty
In the beginning of November we released an RTD (ready-to-drink) Bloody Mary. Kroger wants to use it as a tail-gate/Cookout display fixture in the grand-reopening of their superstores. They want it in Illinois as well. They also want to feature the Bloody Mary mix and the Orange Bitters in these stores, with more stores and products to follow if they do well. The interest in the RTD is amazing. Retail outlets and sellers understand that it has big potential with golf-courses, country clubs, and the tail-gate/cook-out scene. At the NRA show representatives from The MGM Grand thought it would be a no-brainer for its inclusion within the refrigerated min-bar in casino hotel rooms. SWS Indiana order 3 pallets of product before it even went into production. Within days after launch, Payless liquors ordered a full pallet themselves, with Marsh and others requesting product ASAP.
So we find ourselves at the point where we have established stability and traction in all verticals: Elixir, Bloody Mary Mix, Bitters, Private Label, and now craft- RTD. We have relationships with the key influencers in Las Vegas, Chicago, and Indiana, including SWS mixology consultants and the local chapters of USBG (United States Bartending Guild) We are getting known as the company that “makes the Spirits better” by the big brand portfolio owners like Diageo and Proximo.Company operations, including manufacturing, sales, marketing, distribution, and education are strong and ready for scale.
This money would be used to fuel growth through continued marketing and education, and to develop and equip a strong team of local brand ambassadors in these three target cites (Indy, Chicago, and Las Vegas).
Financial Summary
Previous Fundraise Summary
| Security Type | Revenue Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Investor Eligibility | All Investors |
Offering Materials
You may download these documents for your own use.
Investment Perks
Expired 02/29/2016 | $50,000.00
Your own specialty bitters!
On top of all of the previous perks, W&W will name a speciality bitters after you AND produce the recipe with you in our test kitchen.
Expired 02/29/2016 | $25,000.00
Private cocktail class
You will receive all of the previous perks + W&W will host a private cocktail class in your home for you and 10 guests
Expired 02/29/2016 | $10,000.00
T-Shirt, glass, elixirs, bitters + case of Bloody Mary Mix
You will receive a T-Shirt, a Mix the Kicks Bloody Mary glass, a full set of Elixirs, bitters, and a case of Bloody Mary Mix.
Expired 02/29/2016 | $5,000.00
T-Shirt, glass + case of Bloody Mary Mix
You will receive a T-Shirt, a Mix the Kicks Bloody Mary glass, and a case of Bloody Mary Mix.
Expired 02/29/2016 | $2,500.00
T-Shirt, Glass, Bloody Mary Mix, + Bitters
You will receive a T-Shirt, a Mix the Kicks Bloody Mary glass, a full set of bitters, and a bottle of Bloody Mary Mix.
Expired 02/29/2016 | $1,000.00
T-Shirt, Glass + Bloody Mary Mix
You will receive a T-Shirt, a Mix the Kicks Bloody Mary glass, and a bottle of Bloody Mary Mix.
Expired 02/29/2016 | $500.00
Wilks & Wilson T-Shirt
Receive a Wilks & Wilson T-Shirt
Financials
This is an overview of the previous and planned financings of the business, including the capital needs the business is looking to cover in the current financing.
Funding Uses for Target Raise ($60 k)
Other
$15,000
| Description | An existing member loaned the business $15,000 to complete the initial Bloody Mary RTD product rollout. |
|---|---|
| Timing | A one-time payment when investments close. |
Remaining funding uses include cash buffer and Localstake Marketplace fees. See offering materials for full details.
Pitch Deck
Q&A
Team
Gregory S Wilson
Co-Founder
Greg grew up in Indianapolis and attended Park Tudor for both junior high and high school. He continued his education at Purdue, Butler and IUPUI, graduating with a degree in marketing and distribution management from the Kelley School of Business. Initially employed in the trade show and marketing division for a software company, Greg then signed on with Sonar Studios and served as a solution specialist for just under eight years.
A homebrewer of uniquely-flavored beers for several years, Greg expanded his expertise by taking up the practice of hand-crafting syrups and mixers for use in the bar and cocktail industry.
Vincent Freeman
CEO
Vince is the founder, president, vision-caster, and the day-to-day "keeper-of-the-faith" for Sonar Studios, Inc, a rich media and application developer located in downtown Indianapolis. Since studying Industrial Design and Visual Communications, he has spent over twenty years in this industry instructing, speaking, writing and consulting regarding the use of technology and communications in the visual arts.
He enjoys creative problem solving and empowering and encouraging others to become everything they can to obtain their goals and dreams. As an entrepreneur, Vince has become with a number of interesting and exciting start-ups. For the past year, he has taken on the roll of CEO for Wilks & Wilson. He handles the day-to-day business negotiations and forecasting, as well as overseeing the marketing and brands within the Wilks & Wilson product lines.
Zach Wilks
Co-Founder
Zach moved to Indianapolis at the age of five and grew up on the east side of the city. He attended Warren Central High School and began his college career at Indiana University–Bloomington. However, he moved back to Indianapolis to finish his schooling, eventually graduating with a degree in sales and marketing.
Upon returning to Indianapolis, Wilks caught–and couldn?t shake–what he called the “bartending bug.” Accruing plenty of bartending experience, he went on to open and serve as co-owner of the Ball & Biscuit, Indianapolis' “First Cocktail Bar,” located downtown on Mass Ave.
Peter Ritz
Board Member
Pete is a Partner with B2B CFO, LLC, the nation’s largest CFO services firm. He serves a works with a variety of small and mid-sized businesses to help them grow to new levels of success. After beginning his career at Arthur Andersen in Chicago he went on to serve in a variety of management roles for companies in Atlanta and Indianapolis. His experience includes being CFO, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Division Controller, Corporate Accounting Manger, and Audit Officer. These roles were in private and public companies that ranged in size from start-up to Fortune 500. His industry experience includes technology, personnel staffing, government, distribution, long term care, engineering, banking and public accounting.
Pete received his undergraduate degree in economics from DePauw University. He went on to earn his MBA from Indiana University with an emphasis in accounting. He holds a CPA certificate (inactive) from the State of Illinois and is a Certified Cash Manager.
He and his wife Verlyn live in Westfield, Indiana. He has three grown stepchildren and six step-grandchildren. In his spare time Pete is involved in many activities at his church. He currently serves on the Board of Elders, Business Affairs Committee and the Nominating Committee of which he is currently Chairman. He is also the Board Chair of the CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions Foundation. Pete enjoys playing bass guitar as well as running and exercise.
James R Miller
Investor, Board Director, Financial and Business Advisor
Jim has had a long and esteemed career as a Certified Financial Counselor. After receiving his B.A. from Butler University in Psychology, he went on to obtain a M.S. from Northern Illinois, and an M.B.A. from Western Michigan University. Additionally, he received C.F.C from the Western Center for Advanced Professional Education, and is a Certified Conation Consultant for Kolbe Concepts.
Jim has had membership in various professional organization, including the American Mensa Society, and has served on numerous boards. His vast experience and wisdom is a valued resource to the Wilks & Wilson Management Team. He mentors and interfaces with the management team weekly.
James Miller
Board Member
Primary investor. Has strong background in sales, leadership, and financial planning.
Kent Burrow
Board Member
Is a CPA and an attorney. Has experience in cashflow, start-ups, and acquisitions.
Peter Ritz
Board Member
Pete is a CPA with experience in cashflow management.
Vince Freeman
Board Member
Vince has experience in cashflow management, start-ups, leadership, brand development, marketing and sales.
Donald Wilson
Board Member
Zach Wilks
Board Member
Greg Wilson
Board Member
Gregory & Appel Insurance
Service Provider
Insurance Agency
Southern Wine and Spirits of Indiana
Partner
Distributor of Wilks & Wilson LLC products
Flavorcraft LLC
Partner
Contract Manufacturer
Reichel & Stohry LLP
Service Provider
IP Attorneys
Sonar Studios, Inc.
Service Provider
Sonar is our marketing form. They are the ones that have made us look like a national brand from day one.
Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada
Partner
SWS Nevada is our distribution partner for the Las Vegas market
About Wilks & Wilson LLC
Company Updates
Quick Update
August 7, 2015
Happy Friday All:
I just wanted to thank everyone again for their interest and to give you just a quick update.
Last night we participated in Southern Wine and Spirits Indiana's SWIRL event. There we showcased all of our products and served samples of our soon-to-be-released ready to drink bloody mary. We also poured what we called our "15 second Mojito." (Mojitos are a popular drink that typically take 3-5 minutes to prepare.) It really showcased the quality and efficiency of our elixirs.
The response was fantastic. Additionally, SWS assigned a sales rep to our booth all night, where they got to witness firsthand how we interacted with our prospects and see just how interested they were in our products. They also gathered everyone's info that visited our booth and documented the products that they were interested in for follow-up by their sales team. This should really help to expand our footprint within Indiana in the months to come.
The interest in the RTD was outstanding. One liquor store chain said that they would take a full palette themselves ASAP. All that stands in our way with that is the approval of the federal government :-( We are now in day 65 of what they said would be a 30 day process. However, we do expect approval anytime, and we have everything ready to go once we receive it. It is our hope to have product in stores in September- right at the "kick-off" of tailgate season.
We also received our first order from SWS Las Vegas this week. It is just the first spark of what we fully expect to grow into a bushfire of demand in the high-volume cocktail center of the USA.
You may have noticed all of the great new fields for info that the Localstake guys have added. I will be spending the next week adding more information to help you make a better informed decision. We will also be planning an event soon so we can meet each of you personally and you can experience all of our great products.
Thank you again for your interest. And have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Vince
Discussion
| Topic | Last activity |
|---|---|
| Is this company still functioning? 1 comment | 6 days ago |
Fundraise status: No current fundraise
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Expressing Interest FAQ
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When you express interest in a business, they will receive a notification that you are interested. On their investor management interface, they will see your name, state of residence, occupation, and amount of investment.
Company Updates
Quick Update
August 7, 2015
Happy Friday All:
I just wanted to thank everyone again for their interest and to give you just a quick update.
Last night we participated in Southern Wine and Spirits Indiana's SWIRL event. There we showcased all of our products and served samples of our soon-to-be-released ready to drink bloody mary. We also poured what we called our "15 second Mojito." (Mojitos are a popular drink that typically take 3-5 minutes to prepare.) It really showcased the quality and efficiency of our elixirs.
The response was fantastic. Additionally, SWS assigned a sales rep to our booth all night, where they got to witness firsthand how we interacted with our prospects and see just how interested they were in our products. They also gathered everyone's info that visited our booth and documented the products that they were interested in for follow-up by their sales team. This should really help to expand our footprint within Indiana in the months to come.
The interest in the RTD was outstanding. One liquor store chain said that they would take a full palette themselves ASAP. All that stands in our way with that is the approval of the federal government :-( We are now in day 65 of what they said would be a 30 day process. However, we do expect approval anytime, and we have everything ready to go once we receive it. It is our hope to have product in stores in September- right at the "kick-off" of tailgate season.
We also received our first order from SWS Las Vegas this week. It is just the first spark of what we fully expect to grow into a bushfire of demand in the high-volume cocktail center of the USA.
You may have noticed all of the great new fields for info that the Localstake guys have added. I will be spending the next week adding more information to help you make a better informed decision. We will also be planning an event soon so we can meet each of you personally and you can experience all of our great products.
Thank you again for your interest. And have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Vince
Discussion
| Topic | Last activity |
|---|---|
| Is this company still functioning? 1 comment | 6 days ago |