Everything you need to manage your work, sex life, relationships, health and more.
Everything you need to manage your work, sex life, relationships, health and more.
In the sptlight...
SIMIN AMES FOUNDER OF PAPER LANTERN DISTILLING
Sinmin and husband rick turned their love for home- brewing into a business and started craft spirits company Paper Lantern Distilling. They launched the Asian - inspired Sichuan Pepper Gin via a hugely successfull crowdfunding campaign with Pozible, an online platfrom for project creators to present their ideas to a connected audience she shares her secrets to getting more than double their funding target of $15,000.
PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN = TIME + ENERGY
Only pursue a crowdfunding campaign if you can wholeheartedly commit to it. It needs to be meticulously planned, and can be very time-consuming. Simin left her full-time job to focus on it. “Between office work and taking care of three kids, there just wasn’t enough time to run a business,” she says.
CREATING A DETAILED TIMELINE
A realistic schedule includes pre-campaign work such as preparing the product prototype and sourcing for suppliers, as well as post-campaign obligations, like delivering the product to customers. “Plan each stage carefully, or you’ll end up in a last-minute panic,” Simin says. She and Rick started thinking about logistics, like where they’d buy ingredients and corks, four months before their launch.
MAKING A COMPELLING MARKETING VIDEO
It’s a crucial component to a successful campaign. “For starters, a good video needs a great script,” she says. Take your time to write out everything you need to say. Other than identifying all of the unique selling points, tell your back story – who you are and why you chose to develop the product.
The element of human interest engages people on a more emotional level, and compels them to support you. Simin’s research suggested that a video two to three minutes long was ideal to grab and hold attention. You’ll end up editing a lot, but this helps hone your message. And don’t stint on production costs. Hire a professional to get it done. The quality of your video tells potential pledgers how serious you are about your product.
STAYING CONNECTED WITH SUPPORTERS
“Post photos and status updates regularly to generate sustained interest,” says Simin. “And thank them. We hand-delivered our bottles, so we could personally thank each one for their support and trust.” Such a gesture creates a loyal network of supporters who’d happily spread the word and help you grow your business.
Paper Lantern Gin Smash
1 Combine 50ml Paper Lantern Gin, 20ml lemon juice, 20ml sugar syrup and 8-10 basil leaves in a glass tumbler or mason jar.
2 Add crushed ice and churn with a bar spoon or swizzle stick.
3 Add more ice until the liquid rises to the top of the glass. Garnish with Thai basil leaves and lime or lemon. Cheers!
