Wine By Design
There is a saying about
doing what you love, "If you have fun at what you are doing,
then you will never work a day in your life." When Anne Stumpf
was laid off from her job as a health & safety manager for a
large corporation, she decided that she was ready to do
something she loved. For Anne, it was the dream of owning a
vineyard. She researched the idea and immediately became aware
that there was a prohibitive cost to acquiring a vineyard.
However, during her research, she discovered an
alternative-making and selling wine.
The most tedious component of starting a
wine-selling business was the massive amount of paperwork
required by federal and state government. Fortunately for Anne,
her previous jobs involved making certain businesses had the
government required paperwork, so she was able to complete the
necessary papers with ease. Ready to start her dream, Anne
recognized that she would not succeed doing it alone. She sought
out a business partner and found two: another health and safety
professional Sharon Gordon; and her husband Mitchell. With
Sharon's prior business experience and Mitchell's marketing and
construction skills, Anne's ideal partnership was formed and
Wine by Design was created.
Located in Villaggio Plaza, 855 East S.R.
434, Suite 1109, in Winter Springs, Florida, Wine by Design is a
wine lover's paradise found in a beautifully decorated facility
with the ambience of an actual winery. The facility features a
sophisticated reception area for hosting functions. Customers
can browse through a vast bottled wine selection with labels
reflecting the shop's "Masterpiece Vintage Gallery" theme, such
as "Raspberry Rhapsody-Beautiful blush Zinfandel softened
with notes of raspberry" and "Master's Dreams-Delicate
but rich in flavor Pinot Noir with night time hints of
blueberry, raspberry and spice."
Whether it's red, white or dessert wine,
there is something to satisfy any wine lover's pallet. Wine by
Design also features a wine-making room for clients to make,
bottle and label their own wine creation while observing barrels
of wine in various stages of production. When making their own
wine, clients are involved in the entire process, from choosing
the ingredients, to tasting, fermenting, bottling, corking and
labeling their special vintage. Customer can purchase one bottle
of wine to a canvas of wine (28 bottles), as well as wine
accessories. In addition to selling wine, Wine by Design also
offers free wine tasting and can accommodate parties and group
tasting. Since
opening its doors in July 2007, Wine by Design is off to a
tremendous start. They have hosted many tastings and have agreed
to label wines for various organizations, giving them an
exclusive advantage over their competitors. They have hosted
bridal showers allowing the wedding party to make and bottle
wine for their special occasion. Receiving positive reception,
Ann her partners are very excited about the business'
possibilities and are preparing to open a second location in the
near future and have also set the wheels in motion to become a
franchise.
SBDC at UCF's Pauline
Davis has been counseling Anne since August 2006 about what it
takes to run a successful business and how to avoid the many
pitfalls that small business owners encounter. The SBDC at UCF
was recommended to Anne by a past SBDC client. The owners are
grateful for the services of the SBDC and Pauline Davis. "She
(Pauline Davis) has encouraged and nurtured us through the
process of starting the business. Her practical business advice
has been priceless." |
“If you
have fun at what you are doing, then you will never work a day
in your life."
Anne Stumpf
Wine by Design
| 
SBDC