It is amazing that such an iconic brand as Barefoot Wines began as a start-up in the laundry room of a rented farmhouse. Even more surprising is that it was started by a business couple with no money and no knowledge of the wine industry.
They regularly ran into difficulties that nearly killed the brand. It was their unshakable belief in Barefoot's potential that kept it going, along with the use of classic business principles, and a never-say-die outlook. Hardship, hustle, and heart are the essence of The Barefoot Spirit.
The book was written by award-winning journalist Rick Kushman after hundreds of hours of research and interviews with the Barefoot Wine founders and many others. The Barefoot Spirit is not a dry business text. The lessons are woven into a humorous twenty-year business adventure story. It's an uncommon peek behind the curtain of the wine business that's inspiring, amazing, and entertaining.
This book is a testament to the power of out-of-the-box thinking. It is a guidebook for anyone in business, and a great read for everyone who loves a rags-to-riches story. Filled with encouragement, inspiration, and empowerment, it includes:
* How Worthy Cause Marketing out performed paid advertising
* How boot-strapping was used instead of conventional financing
* The surprising advantages of being small and broke
* How creating a fun, yet hardworking company culture encouraged innovative leadership
If you like wine, the wine country, or a story about how a plucky couple disrupted an industry, if you want to know what it takes to really succeed in the face of adversity, if you want to know how to use your core beliefs to build a national brand, then The Barefoot Spirit is for you.
Industry Reviews
New York Times named "The Barefoot Spirit" a Top 10 Bestselling Business Book for June & July 2013
“This is a warm, wonderful, inspiring book that entertains and motivates at the same time.”
--Brian Tracy, Author of The Power of Self-Confidence
"Great read, great book. This story is beyond wine and the love of wine, it's about starting a business."
--Fran Tarkenton, Hall of Fame NFL Quarterback, Entrepreneur, & Sirius XM Radio Host of The Fran Tarkenton Show
"It's an inspiration to see how they broke all the rules and still succeeded against all odds. For anyone contemplating starting a business, there are lessons to be learned here and an entertaining story as a bonus."
--Alan Caruba, Book Reviewer, National Book Critics Circle, Author and Columnist
"I try to read all the books of the authors on my show and am just getting into The Barefoot Spirit. It’s one of the best books on entrepreneurship I’ve read.”
--Kip Marlow, Entrepreneur & Host of Entrepreneurs Club Radio
"I thoroughly enjoyed The Barefoot Spirit. I will make it required reading because it tells a lovely story and it embodies so much of the entrepreneurial mindset. I loved the 'voice' of the book and storytelling is such a wonderful way to communicate. I believe students will find it a fun addition to their library and in the process they will learn the most important lessons of entrepreneurship!"
--Rebecca J. White, Professor, Entrepreneurship and James W. Walter, Distinguished Chair of Entrepreneurship Director, Entrepreneurship Center, The University of Tampa, John H. Sykes College of Business Tampa, Florida Outgoing President, United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
“Fun beach reading for small business inspiration. The Barefoot Spirit is an entertaining rags-to-riches story of American entrepreneurship. It’s the first-hand tale of California rule breakers Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, the founders, of the country’s top-selling wine brand”
--Adrienne Burke, Yahoo! Small Business Writer
