With varying stints as a banker, real estate developer and investor, Mark Zappala has finally found a way to combine his interests in food, wine, travel and writing in a venture that allows for the tax deductibility of same. With two kids in college and one in boarding school, Mark is counting on the successful launch of WinePicks to help him avoid debtors prison and the embarrassment of having to get a real job.
We, at winepicks, are excited about working with Tongal in this video competition. From our perspective, it is a unique opportunity to crowdsource both a brand and a message in a creative medium in which to deliver it.
There are a fair number of players in our space that pretend to make you a wine expert, but that is not what we are about. Quite the opposite, in fact. We want to be your non-commercial, unbiased, personal sommelier. We’re all about matching you with a wine you will like where ever you determine “there” to be: in a restaurant, a local retailer, a winery or even the world wide web. By learning your tastes and creating a unique taste profile, we can compare any wine in the universe (of wines, of course) to your profile to determine if you are going to like it and, if so, how much. Nobody’s opinion will be forced upon you and you won’t necessarily be any smarter. You will, however, have a big grin on your face and hopefully a nice buzz to accompany it because you were able to find a wine, on your own terms, that you will enjoy with confidence.
We received some really great concepts and had a difficult time narrowing them down to just five. But, of the finalists, I think all of you videographers out there will find great fodder. Our offering is non-threatening meaning that we designed it to be (particularly female) friendly and easy to use. And, as such, we wanted it to be empowering: enabling the consumer to make, with ease, what can often times be a difficult decision.
Have some fun with it. Think animation would work? Go for it! Want to create a jingle? Why not? Prefer to keep it simple? I’m all about “less is more”. Keep it light but keep the message on point. I am anxious to see what you can do and will remain available throughout the process to answer questions and provide feedback.
Mark Zappala, CEO
