On the road in enjoyment: the successful concept of a mobile wine and secco bar

A mobile wine and secco bar was one of Lisa’s many ideas – and she has now realised it: the 29-year-old is always bubbling over with ideas and is described by her closest friends as “the born hostess”. In the meantime, Lisa has been on the road with her “Wilde Liese” for about two months around Kusel, in Rhineland-Palatinate. In this blog article, you will learn first-hand how Lisa has built up a second mainstay with her mobile wine and secco bar.

Best Practice: Wilde Liese – the mobile wine and secco bar

Lisa describes herself as a very active person. “I love to dance and attach great importance to enjoyment. Of course, good wine and secco can never be missing from my fridge here.”

How did you come up with your name?

The name “Wild Liese” is actually quite simple:

On the one hand, my dearest grandfather has various nicknames for me, one of which is Liese. On the other hand, I am involved in numerous fields of activity on a voluntary or professional basis. So I would say that my life and my curriculum vitae are pretty “wild”: I am involved in the carnival association, the local council and the staff council. But that’s exactly what I love. I love that I can do so many different things and not just monotonously follow the same path every day.

How did the idea of a mobile sales trailer come about? What moment inspired you to start your own wine and secco business?

I worked in the catering industry for seven years on the side and partly as a permanent employee. I simply loved this “positive stress” and the interaction with people that I experienced. I also work in a small but very special delicatessen, the “Kleinen Werkstattladen 64”. The diversity there always triggers new ideas in me and has sometimes also brought me to the concept of my Wild Liese. I simply burn to offer “special” drinks or food and to see the people around me happy. My closest friends have also expressed several times that I am a born hostess. So several components contributed to the idea of a mobile sales trailer.

With the help of my boss and close friend at the small workshop shop 64, as well as my boyfriend, I quickly came across BuddyStar while searching for a trailer. I read up on the website and finally made an info appointment in Emmendingen: On site, I was then impressed by the diversity of the company and their attention to detail.

The moment I stood in the first Buddy Stand, my decision was made: I will open my own mobile wine and secco bar, and only with a Buddy.

What advantages do you see in a mobile sales trailer?

How do you reconcile your main job and your mobile wine and secco bar?

The Wilde Liese is clearly just my side business. During the week, I focus completely on my main job and plan the individual bookings of the Wilde Liese in such a way that the two professions don’t get in each other’s way.

However, as soon as I switch to planning an event and am in the process of preparing, I only focus on the topic of mobile wine and secco bar. Since I have been active in many fields of activity for years anyway, it is also particularly easy for me to flip the switch.

Which features were particularly important to you? And what requirements did you have for your sales trailer?

Equipment that is practical for me personally and for my project was most important to me. After all, what’s the point of having the most beautiful trailer if it’s simply not suitable for work?

So it was clear to me that I needed as many refrigerators as possible and that they had to be extendable. Because that’s the only way I can make good use of the space in a compact area. The dishwasher is also an essential aid for my use, so I switched to the larger model. It was also important for me to be able to assemble and disassemble my trolley on my own, so that the “individual parts” could be handled by myself. The individual options offered by BuddyStar made it easy to meet these requirements and wishes.

How many bottles of wine/secco fit in your Buddy?

Due to the two double cabinets for stowing the individual wine glass crates, I can store an estimated 120 spray glasses. For larger events, I transport the remaining crates in the car. With my four pull-out drawers, I can get about 50 bottles into the cooler, but only in sizes up to about 1 litre. With more volume, the bottle can only be cooled lying down. I tend to transport non-refrigerated bottles with a cool box, as I use the remaining storage space for other equipment.

Why did you decide to buy a trailer from BuddyStar?

With BuddyStar, it wasn’t just the look that convinced me, but also the equipment. Honest craftsmanship is still practised in the trailers and perfection is intensively worked on. In particular, I appreciated the honest and open manner of my contact person from the sales department.

Everyone has been thrilled with my little “Hummel” so far and thinks it’s great that the look is simply special.

How did the start with your trailer go? Where and how were you first in action?

My first assignment was at a company party. Apart from the basic excitement of the day, the very first hour in the Wilde Liese was the best in a long time. To understand that it is finally real and that I can serve customers with my variations of spritzers and wine spritzers for the first time today made me very happy. After the first customers were very satisfied, the tension also fell away as if by itself.

What do you use the Buddy for and where can you be found everywhere with your Buddy?

I apply to various markets and gourmet events as well as Christmas markets around Kusel in Rhineland-Palatinate. Since the border to Saarland is not far away, I’m also open to requests here, or for events outside that are a bit further away. However, my main focus is on bookings by private clients. Be it for a wedding, a reception, a corporate event or a birthday.

How do you keep the offer of your mobile wine and secco bar unique?

The most important thing first: It was of utmost importance to me that my trailer radiates cosiness. So it was clear from the beginning that the decoration and the wrapping also play a very important role for me. I want people to feel comfortable and have the feeling that they can relax at the Wilde Liese and enjoy the drinks on offer. People should be able to switch off and simply enjoy themselves.

My Spritzes are unique because I mix them mainly with the homemade syrup from the Genussladen I mentioned earlier. Because I want to keep my range special and don’t want to mix a spritz drink that everyone already knows before tasting it. It’s also important to me that I mix them exclusively with vintner’s secco and wine that I can recommend myself. That’s why I’ve entered into a cooperation with my favourite vintner, Weingut Franger. In addition, I use fresh fruit, herbs and, of course, an appealing look. I buy other products from a delicatessen.

Basically, I create an individual offer for each booking, which fits the intention and idea of the host.

Do you adapt your offer to the different seasons?

I adapt the Spritz variations not only to the events, but of course also to the season. While I tend to offer a fresh, fruity spritz, such as mango-passion fruit, in the summer, at the Christmas market I tend to go in more wintry directions, such as baked apple or a cinnamon-y plum.

What has been your experience with your Buddy so far? What is the feedback from your customers?

So far, I can’t believe how many nice people I’ve met since I started with the Wilde Liese.

The response to the Buddy, together with my decoration and my offer, has been consistently positive so far. That’s why I’m all the more motivated to keep going.

What makes you particularly happy when you are working with your Buddy?

The most beautiful moments for me are when people automatically fix their gaze on my pendant as they walk by and when a glass comes back saying “… that it tasted super good”.

Did you also face challenges when starting your mobile business?

Not only the first own drive was a challenge for me, but also the topics such as high voltage current, water connection, waste water always present me with new challenges. Here I am infinitely grateful for my friend, who knows his way around perfectly and supports me with active support and good tips.

What are your goals with your trailer and what are your plans for the future?

So far, everything is going great, so I just want to continue as before. I have a positive outlook on the future and look forward to more great events that I can take part in with the Wilde Liese, as well as many great people that I get to meet.

Finally, 3 tips from you to other people in the wine sector who want to start with a mobile sales trailer:

• Good organisation is the be-all and end-all
• Set yourself apart from others and focus on your individual heart’s project.
• Always work with products that you are 100% convinced of, i.e. that you would use or buy yourself. This is the only way you can authentically pass on your enthusiasm to others.

Thank you very much for your time, Lisa. It was a great pleasure and we wish you continued success!