May 10Getting my first 1,000 subscribers in 6 monthsWhen I launched WineSpark in July 2021, I knew I wanted to make premium wines accessible and affordable to Irish wine drinkers. I also knew I wanted to put every spare cent I had into the quality of the product and service. That way, the wines would (should?) do the talking for me. It meant I had to find alternative channels to paid marketing (online ads) to grow the business. And it…Startup4 min read
Feb 24Making the leap… 12 months onIt’s been 12 months since I left a comfortable job to start my own business, WineSpark. If you’re thinking of doing the same, here are 5 things I learned from that time! Commit I’d been thinking about making the leap for a while — but was far too scared to do…Entrepreneurship3 min read
Jan 20The legend starts here…If you told me 12 months ago that I’d be launching a former Antinori winemaker to Irish wine drinkers in my slippers, I’d have thought you were mad. On several fronts. But here we are. Federico Cerelli, who made Tignanello and Solaia — two of Italy’s most famous wines —…Wine3 min read
Sep 15, 2021What the wine industry doesn’t want you to know…The biggest myth in the wine business is that you get what you pay for. The truth is that the more you spend on wine, the more you get ripped off. Think about the places you buy wine… Restaurants — you definitely don’t get what you pay for Wine shops — you pay hefty markups here too In supermarkets — you get what you pay…Wine3 min read
Sep 2, 2021How one simple change can transform your customer service“A satisfied person has no story to tell. Everything went just as expected. It is the unexpected event that makes a stay memorable. For every loyal customer, there is usually a special story.” I was a young MD, in my first year in charge of Naked Wines in 2013. I…Startup3 min read
Sep 1, 2021The one luxury that money can’t buy…Take some of the most exciting (and expensive) wine regions new to the scene in the last 20 years — Ribera del Duero, Bierzo, Mendoza… they all have one thing in common. Altitude. And there’s one priceless ingredient that turns the best of these wines from sharp to sublime. Step…Wine3 min read
Aug 6, 2021Making progess…When I launched WineSpark two weeks ago, I had no idea what to expect. The one thing I did know was that I’d pulled together a set of sensational wines, from 10 years of contacts in the wine industry, that I knew people would love. However I was worried about three big things: The wine list was looking a bit small Next-day delivery would…Startup3 min read
Jul 21, 2021Time to live the dream…I’m excited to tell you WineSpark is finally here. It’s been a long time coming. …Entrepreneurship2 min read
Jun 4, 2021Civilised knees-up sparks a wine revolutionHave you ever wondered why artisanal wines in those nice wine shops are so expensive? Let me explain how a south Dublin street tasting in a pandemic might have helped solve this problem for you. Life as a small independent winemaker is rewarding. But it’s also tough You see, the…Startup3 min read
May 27, 2021This is personal.I’m Eamon, and I’m on a mission to share the world’s greatest wines with Irish wine drinkers. This is why. But first — you might be wondering who I am, and what on earth qualifies me to say such a thing. For 10 years… I had the best job in…Wine3 min read
