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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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In this Episode, Host Chris Maffeo talks to Luke Hemsley, founder of Wednesday's Domaine, who discusses how his alcohol-free wine brand addresses the twin challenges of awareness and appreciation in an emerging category.
Unlike beer and spirits, which have made significant inroads in the alcohol-free space, wine has lagged due to historical quality issues and consumer skepticism.
Rather than positioning against alcohol, Wednesday's Domaine focuses on creating a midweek wine alternative for food and drink lovers who might occasionally want the ritual of wine without its effects. Luke shares insights on their strategic focus on the off-trade (particularly independent retailers), creating a geographic concentration in specific neighborhoods, and making their product stand out on shelves without sacrificing sophistication.
The conversation explores how on-trade and off-trade create a circular relationship that builds category credibility, the pricing psychology of alcohol-free alternatives, and the founder's journey of knowing when to delegate versus when personal passion is irreplaceable.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and welcome
01:25 Initial connections and origin story
03:10 Awareness and appreciation challenges
07:40 Positioning as midweek alternative
11:05 Consumers' relationship with alcohol-free options
15:30 Psychology of non-alcoholic choices
20:45 On-trade vs. off-trade strategy
26:20 Pricing and value perception
30:10 Independent retail and geographic focus
35:05 Product visibility challenges
38:40 Founder's journey and scaling
42:30 Final thoughts and contact information
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