I have realised of late that it is entirely possible to follow your dreams and succeed. It was no more than five years ago that I sat with a friend of mine in our local coffee shop talking about our new life as single parents and about our plans for the future. She was in the process of developing a new board game with her father who lived in the States. They had worked it all out, sourced the tiles from China, looked at the packaging, tested it on some of their friends and they were ready to roll.
Just a few years later and she now has the best selling board game in the UK according to The Financial Times. I texted her on Sunday – she’s in the US for the summer “buy the Weekend FT – amazing article and yr game got No.1 slot!!”. She hadn’t seen it. ” OMG PLEASE keep me a copy”. Just an amazing story and I’m so pleased she’s done so well.
I was having coffee with another friend this morning and it’s made me realise that she too may well find herself with a best seller on her hands in a moment or two. Having had 20 years experience in the drinks industry she has developed a new drink of her own. Her main focus was on a gap in the market for women. She has invented a new girly sparkly light alcoholic wine that is very fruity and tastes a little like an alcoholic Schloer – just so easy to drink and my daughter LOVED it, rather worryingly. Being one of four sisters her starting point was finding something lovely to drink whilst being around a table surrounded by other women: -
“I’m a passionate believer that women are women’s greatest allies; women need other women – in good times and in bad. A strong girlfriend or group of girlfriends can get you through things you’d never quite manage alone, and if you mess up along the way, they’ll still be there for you afterwards. What’s more – you’ll get to laugh about it, and those laughs help keep everything in perspective.”
They’ve just launched in both Britain and Ireland and I think it will do very well. There isn’t much for us women to drink at lunchtime or early evening that isn’t too heavy. We don’t want beer or cider but wine makes us too pissed to pick up the kids. So this is perfect. She said she’s got a few bottles to send to anybody who wants to try it. Why not send her a message via their website – or let me know and she’ll send you a sample bottle: http://www.carnabybrown.com/
July 20th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
My sister and I are bananagramaholics! We love it, it is tres addictive.
I think you started me off though Lulu, when I won a copy of the game on your blog.
July 20th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Yes, I remember sending you the winning banana!! That’s great. You’ll love the wine too – get a request in quickly! Lx
July 20th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
This sounds like a product with a good future, the ladies in this household would often like ‘just a little something’ light and refreshing but there doesn’t seem to be too much on the market.
Very good luck to your friend.
July 20th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Jon – make sure you request a sample bottle or two quickly!! Lx
July 20th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Thanks Lucy, for your encouraging words. I’ve always wanted to follow my dream….but it’s definitely a rollercoaster ride. Having embarked on the journey only recently, it was great to hear from you today about the success of Bananagrams – I remember buying a few of the games for Christmas presents when they launched at the School Fair several years ago! Just the inspiration I need right now!
July 20th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
No problem – I’m quite sure you have a huge success on your hands! Lx
July 21st, 2010 at 10:55 am
Totally agree. These days I just cannot drink more than a glass and a half without stopping functioning altogether. I have tried carnaby brown at the brew wharf on a hot summer’s evening and it was beyond yummy. I drank a whole bottle without a trace of “bad head” the morning after.
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:19 am
It’s so inspiring hearing of these different ventures. I think there is definitely a gap in the market for Carnaby Brown! Myself and my girlfirends love it… we call it CB, just what we want when we get in from a long day, but don’t want anything too heavy! My friend Alana calls it ‘sweet nectar!’
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:38 am
Brilliant – glad you love it too Lx