Winery Lane founders looking at “hockey stick” sales growth as the specialty wine marketplace closes an $800,000 raise

In the midst of closing an $800,000 funding round Stephen Mobbs, co-founder of online wine marketplace Winery Lane, says the startup is currently seeing a “hockey stick” of sales growth.

“A lot of that has been driven by word-of-mouth. We don’t drive sales through promotions, and we’re not in a race to the bottom on price,” Mobbs told StartupSmart.

“We’re just trying to bring customers new and interesting wines.”

Founded two years ago and operating since June 2016, Winery Lane was born from Mobbs and his co-founder Cameron Harris’ deep love for wine, and deeper experience in the liquor industry. The two met whilst working for Schweppes in 2013, and have held positions working with companies such as Asahi and Fosters.

“We probably have about three decades of liquor industry experience between us,” Mobbs says.

The startup operates an online “double-sided” marketplace aimed at bringing together consumers and suppliers in a highly vetted offering the founders liken to services such as Airbnb and realestate.com.au.

But while anyone can list a house on either of those platforms, Winery Lane differs in the level of exclusivity and selection done by the founders when it comes to considering wineries looking to sell their wares, with Mobbs saying the company has limited the supply side. Read more

Dominic Powell - Smart Company -  8 Dec 2017