Member Article

Humble Grape plots two more London sites on the back of £1m crowdfunding campaign

Independent wine brand Humble Grape is launching a new crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs to coincide with two new venues opening in the capital this year.

The firm, which operates as both an independent wine merchant and wine bar operator, has said it is looking to raise between £750k and £1m as part of its second crowdfunding drive, after its initial £535k fundraise in 2014.

Launching on 19 March, the fundraise places a pre-valuation of £10m on the burgeoning brand and will be used to fuel the next stage of the company’s growth where it plans to open its fifth and sixth sites and grow its Wine Club, Wine Bank and online operations.

It comes off the back of a big year for the wine business, which saw its Battersea venue receive recognition from Time Out Magazine and the Financial Times, while adding its second site on Fleet Street last year.

Humble Wine has also signed on for two further venues this year, reflecting the impressive growth the company has enjoyed in the last three years, where it has grown from an independent wine importer to firm employing 35 staff that imports over 400 wines.

Commenting on his decision to return to the crowd for its latest raise, Founder James Dawson, said he wanted to offer customers the chance to become ‘further invested’ in the brand, despite interest from private investors.

He said: “We’ve let customer feedback and input shape our brand so far and no matter how big we grow, I want this to continue.

“I believe in crowdfunding because it gives customers who believe in a brand the opportunity to become a part of its growth and share in its success.

“We’re all about bringing our customers closer to the source, connecting them with the winemakers and giving them access to wines that would otherwise be unavailable. I want Humble Grape to belong to the people who believe in what we are doing”.”