Hey everyone, sorry I've been radio silent for quite some time. If you know me at all, you know silence means I'm busy making shit happen or otherwise hustling. So here's the lowdown on what has been going on since the last update.
First of all, the hand sanitizer market was good to us early on, but now it's sort of a burden. I've got a couple huge irons in the fire that could really help us finance further expansion and upgrades at the distillery, so I'm still working this angle. The one that's the closest to popping is going to be a 300-600k order. I only mention it because of the potential upside, but in business nothing is guaranteed so I'm not focused on it other than as a side project. At least, until it becomes real! If I get it I'll provide more details, but I literally just missed it by a hair due to unavailability of hand pumps, but it bought me time to find foaming hand pumps for sanitizer, and if I can find about 50-100 thousand of these in the next month or two (I'm already scouring China and have a couple great leads) then I can make it happen. So, if any of you has any experience there or a lead for me, please email me and let me know!
Aside from hand sanitizer, the really great news is that we've gotten back to the booze business, what I originally started this venture to do! We just recently produced vodka, bottled the remaining GinQuila and just distilled gin, bottling to commence Monday. It feels really good to be back making liquor again! As for the market situation, things are actually looking really good for the remainder of the year and into next year. In fact, I think 2021 will really be a year that Skeptic pops like crazy, we have so much going in our favor. So, what are those things?...
GINQUILA! What I originally thought would be a one off limited release has been received so exceptionally well, that it's actually opening new markets and opportunities for us and we'll be producing this product year round now. I'm pretty confident that it's going to be the first of many original branded spirits that really set us apart. It defies categorization, it's super versatile, smooth, delicious and, honestly, what more do you want in a spirit? Plus it's got a cool label and name (TRADEMARKED too, sorry Red Eye Louie!).
New Markets? Yeah, we've got some new ones to report to you. We are in talks (by that I mean we have to work out the distribution contracts first, they already want us there) to launch very soon in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. I just got off a Zoom with James (sales manager) with a distribution company in Bolivia that we will be launching Gin and GinQuila down there with. This is a long process to get in but we are all committed and I'm really excited about this being our first international foray. We view it as a vital learning experience. GinQuila could be a huge product in Latin American markets, at least that's what they're telling us anyway...
Some quick sales numbers... We've done about $195k in sales through the first half of this year, compared to $55k all of last year. So that's about 4x, on track for around 8x this year. Of course, if I land that sweet sanitizer biz, then that'll really pump the numbers up a lot, but that's not going to be long term business. I view it as a means to an end and an opportunity we must seize because it helps us get the liquor business bumping sooner.
I regret to inform you all that I have literally had to sideline the whiskey still project at the moment to focus on the other things. I am more convinced than ever though that once I get that together and we start producing the whiskeys we are going to skyrocket with unique whiskey-like brands, and it will also allow us to produce exceptional and unique side brand products.
Other things we're working on.... we are about to finally start producing craft cocktails under contract with an exciting new craft cocktail brand. I'm not sure if I can share the name of them yet or not (I have to go back and check that confidentiality agreement), but if they give me the go ahead I'll let you guys know so you can start looking for their products once they start getting out there. They are freakin' delicious! We're excited to start making them.
Ok, I've probably said enough for the moment. I could probably write a short novel if I try to talk about everything. Be on the lookout for Skeptic in your local markets and please, please shoot us an email or something if you have any ideas or leads for distribution that we can follow up on. Everything helps so we can get you guys paid back sooner and make this business the success you all believed it would be!! Oh yeah, and last thing, we just got in the shirts for the swag bags, so expect those to start going out next week and you guys should start getting your stuff from that first tier investment very soon! Please send us pics via Facebook or Instagram or email of yourselves with the shirts and stuff when you get them, we'd love to repost that stuff!
Have a great weekend!!