Calling all wine connoisseurs. Now you can travel and bring a bottle home without worrying about breaking it during the flight. FlyWithWine has created VinGardeValise, the first and only luggage designed specifically to protect wine bottles. Founders Ronald Scharman and Ryan Neergaard appeared on “Shark Tank,” but no deal was made. FlyWithWine filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2024 and has since ceased operations.
Meet the founders
Director of Business Development Ryan Neergaard is a long-time fan of Shark Tank. He is also a certified sommelier and spent his early career working in restaurants in Napa, California. For 13 years, he has mastered the art of blending wine science with business strategy.
Former CEO Ron Scharman had a similar background but had a longer track record. Scharman has been a wine mogul for more than 20 years. Eight of those years were spent at Sonoma State University, teaching wine business and developing relationships with industry leaders.
The birth of FlyWithWine
The idea for the company began with a question familiar to many wine collectors. Ron discovered a great winery in Burgundy. He wanted to take a bottle home, but his options were to either ship it or package it himself in a cheap container.
After returning home, he thought of a better solution. That's when he teamed up with Ryan and several product designers to create a suitcase with specialized compartments for storing wine bottles and other beverages.
Launched in 2016, FlyWithWine has sold more than 50,000 units in 500 locations. In 2022, they released the VinXplorer, a backpack version of their flagship product. A year later, they showcased their product on Shark Tank Season 15.
After Shark Tank
For Ron and Ryan, getting on the show was a “lifetime achievement award,” but entering with a $6.25 million valuation made things challenging.
Although FlyWithWine has total sales of $19 million and a presence in high-end retailers such as Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Williams Sonoma, FlyWithWine still faces significant financial challenges. Despite a boost from Shark Tank and operations complicated by the control of major investors, profitability remains elusive.
By mid-2024, FlyWithWine filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations. In December 2023, Amazon stopped lending, and they had to turn to more expensive financing to stay afloat.
After six years, Amazon stopped lending in December, Sharman said. FlyWithWine was then forced to replace that money with very expensive financing, he said. Since FlyWithWine is an official reseller of VinGardeValise, products are still available for purchase at vingardevalise.com. Erin Forster of Forster VGV has taken over the order and will honor the warranty.
Suitcases range in price from $289.95 to $379.95, while VinXplorer backpacks range in price from $159.95 to $199.95. This $379.95 suitcase is their best-selling item on Amazon.
Categories: Shark Tank
Source: svlsf.edu.vn