Interesting article on the wine media

[Johan_Beglund]

@Ryan_Mills

Genuine question here (I’m just a consumer, not ITB): if you had to design a wine critic business model such that reviews were 100% independent, with zero real or perceived conflicts of interest (esp. the pay-to-play issues discussed above), what would that look like? Of the course the catch is that it also needs to be profitable enough to compensate for the time, effort, and business expenses of the critics (being a hobbyist wine critic and doing it for free isn’t realistic).

Perhaps I should create a separate post on this but I’d be keen to hear everyone’s thoughts. I personally think a lot of you raise some great points on both sides of the argument - but it’d be much more interesting to put our swords and pitchforks up and discuss how the status quo could be improved (at least hypothetically )

Well, for us, the below has been a very successful formula, albeit some in here think we are still not independent enough for their tastes. So you have to weigh that of course when reading my words. There was about a million back and forths earlier in the year…

So with that said, not just hypothetical then on my part as that is pretty much what I set out to do with The Wine Independent. For me it is rather simple. The choice is in settling for how much profit is enough.

First, find investors who are happy to have a minority share and no control and thereby alleviate pressure from forces wanting you to do things which benefit them and you personally are uncomfortable with, in whatever form that may be.

Second, see that you have minimal overheads, no offices and a super low break even point in needed subscription base.

Third, work hard and create massive amounts of content.

We, and a couple of others, will never make money on the level which our two large competitors are chasing but we are growing steadily, healthily and organically. And… we’re happy.

Cheers