Spier has been a client at Refresh Agency
since May 2013, and this is a match made in heaven with a rather unique beginning. I (Sandja) received an
email from Spier’s International Communication Director, Jo Hoets in February. Jo found me & Refresh Agency through a Google Search - an American
article on my work & values, Refresh Agency, and our commitment to sustainability &
social-good global business. There was no prior connection between Refresh Agency and Spier. Google, thank you!
We have all received those too good to be true type of emails, so a kind reply was sent to Jo that our prerequisite for considering clients is a synergistic match, where we share the common
dedication to sustainability, social-good and conscious business. (I have to
admit, I did not know about Spier at that time).
Well, sure enough, so does Spier!
Jo flew to Copenhagen to meet with me, and a handful of other Copenhagen-based firms. And, I am thrilled that Jo and the Spier team chose Refresh Agency as their European strategic business and communication partner.
“Refresh Agency share the same core values as
Spier, and are therefore ideal
partners for us. We believe that their expertise
and experience in the Danish and
American markets adds great value to our
communication strategy, helping us to
profile our wine range underpinned by our
sustainable and socially conscious
business practices.” Says Andrew Milne, CEO
at Spier.
ABOUT
Spier is an award-winning winery and one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa in the well-known Stellenbosch region, with a recorded history back to 1692. Spier was named South African Wine Producer of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2011. It is renowned as a pioneer of initiatives that benefit the environment and society, and has been recognized by various external organizations including Fair Trade in Tourism (FTTSA) and the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA). In 2011, Conde Nast traveler World Saver Award recognized the estate as the top international destination 'Doing it All'. Spier is a Champion member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), and the cellar is Fair Trade accredited, organically certified and follows the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) criteria.
RESULTS
- Strategic business analysis on the Danish market
- Global social media strategy with specific focus on Spier primary markets: South Africa, Denmark & The United States
- Strategic communication planning
- Media PR strategy with a three-pronged approach
- Global & Danish market Key Messaging
- Strategic & creative plan for local in-market sales and marketing partnership
- KPIs established on all efforts
- Creative Strategic partnerships & events
- Creative & strategic positioning & engagement
The execution phase is newly under
way, media & blogosphere results to follow:
- Blogosphere PR
- Media relations execution
- Strategic sales partnership relationship building
- Strategic and creative co-marketing partnership efforts
WORK & FUN TRIP TO SPIER WINE FARM, SOUTH AFRICA
I visited Spier Wine Farm in the winelands in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a half hour drive from Cape Town in November 2013 & brought my 14 year
old daughter, Amilija, for some sun and exploration after the first week of work with the Spier team.
Well, let's just say, this was an experience I will never forget. Not only is Spier Wine Farm, and the Western Cape on my top travel destination list, I also experienced the Spier lifestyle & business through working with the unique & fascinating people at Spier, and I am smitten. I noticed that all the people I met at Spier are passionate about what they do - Viticulturist Johann (thanks for incredible insights into the farming & natural elements of growing grapes), globally acknowledged Cellar Master Frans K Smit, visionary CEO Andrew Milne, insightful Marketing Director Annebelle, talented Sherieen (who loves Denmark yay!), Jo Hoets (my daily co-creative partner in crime), Marina (who rocks the social media content and so much more at Spier), Global Sales Director Bryan, and all the other amazing people at Spier (sorry I don't have space to mention you all - but you made a heartfelt impression on me)!
The itinerary was packed with exciting experiences - and this is work! (passion, fun, work = lifework synergy) - from wine cellar & vineyard tours, earth-sensitive farming practices, visits and hands-on with biodynamic farmlands (Angus, those free range chickens were just a little too comfortable with me for my taste), I visited townships with the Treepreneur social-good initiative, met dedicated students at The Spier Arts Academy in Cape Town, Bernie's Laundry (a Spier micro loan enterprise), the Sustainability Institute, and of course, I learned about and enjoyed a lot of Spier's incredible wines, biodynamic foods from one of the hotel restaurants Eight (I love that it's an infinity symbol on it's side), and enjoyed the tranquil presence and beauty that met me at the Spier hotel.
Some of my personal Instagram snaps from Spier Wine Farm & Hotel below.
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