Here Sarette van den Heever, founder of Wijn Bar shares a snapshot of her entrepreneurial journey.
H&G: Please talk us through your entrepreneurial journey?
Sarette: I spent the first 15 years of my career in the wealth management industry, mostly helping to run and build businesses or being part of a team that started new businesses.5 years ago, I made the move into the startup world of Fintech, joining 22seven's executive team.
I loved this fast-paced, innovative, startup environment but the business plan didn't work out as we intended and the business was absorbed into a bigger corporate, with the executive team and many in the business being retrenched. Here I was - jobless and pregnant! I used this time to reflect on what was really important to me and what I would like to do next (in between the periods of being really down, sad, and hopeless). I had many opportunities to join corporates but I knew that I was an entrepreneur at heart and that I wanted to build something of value. So, I started two businesses - one, doing consulting in the Fintech industry and two, Wijn a wine bar based in Paarl. The consulting business in essence funded the wine business. And that's how it all started. Fast forward 18 months and both of those businesses look very different, mostly due to the impact of Covid.
H&G: When did you discover your passion for wine?
Sarette: My husband really introduced me to the world of wine. He has been a passionate wino for many years and when we got together it became a shared passion. Wine is really amazing because it is actually a time capsule capturing a period in time and when you open a bottle and drink it you are drinking a representation of what happened the year of that specific vintage. Also, no bottle of wine is the same and it's fascinating to try and understand why.
H&G: The pandemic has had a negative impact on the alcohol industry specifically, how did you manage to stay afloat?
Sarette: It's been really tough and it still is. Managing cash flow in a time like this is almost impossible. We are still struggling with it, mainly due to the erratic nature of sales. One month is great, the next is not so great and the next we may have another alcohol ban and then we don't have any sales. We are a very young business (we opened 9 months before the first lockdown) and we fund the business ourselves. We have managed to stay afloat by innovating and adapting to new customer needs. We realised quickly that our bar will not generate enough business to keep us going so we launched an online shop and we also launched Wonderwijn, a new way to explore and drink boutique wines in the comfort of your own home. We realised that we need to adapt to customers' new behaviour of spending more time at home and being less mobile in terms of the bar. So, we had to make the tough decision to close the bar. We also started exploring locations that are close to and core to a local community where customers can easily walk to us, have a quick glass of wine, a bite to eat and walk home. Our first, new bar location will hopefully open this spring.
H&G: What's your approach to business?
Sarette: Anything is possible, if you have a good strategy and plan, and if you’re headstrong.
H&G: Your biggest takeaway from the pandemic?
Sarette: Focus on the things most important to you and your family - let go of the rest.
H&G: Which women are on your radar at the moment and why?
Sarette: I am inspired by normal, real women around me who are doing amazing things every day by managing to run a business, raise children, support their life partners and still find it possible to stay sane! Inspirational women are often seen as celebrities and people who have achieved the impossible. I think the real inspirational women are those around us and we need to celebrate their stories more - especially the stories of women. These are the women on my radar.
H&G: What's your message to women in business this women's month?
Sarette: The world needs more women to run businesses, especially in these uncertain and difficult times. We need leaders who are compassionate, smart, strategic, can get to the point quickly, and understand the reality of keeping a family together and strong. This is most women I know, so get out there and lead. The world needs us.
