We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Debbi Anderson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Debbi below.
Debbi, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I believe I get my resilience from nature and nurture. I do believe I was born an independent spirit. Being the third child out of 4 I learned to fend for myself and get attention from outside our home. My parents were definitely supportive but in a hands off approach. This allowed me to learn on my own how to resolve conflict, make decisions and learn from my mistakes. I have been knocked down several times over the years but with my family being a shoulder to cry on and my tenacity to fix things I have persevered and will continue to do so.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
After 25 years as a CPA, I found myself seeking a new path—one that aligned with my passions for wine, travel, and building community. My long-standing connection to the wine industry, through one of my larger clients who is a beer and wine distributor, made the transition a natural one. Opening a wine bar felt like the perfect way to share my love for wine while creating a welcoming space where people can relax, connect, and enjoy great wine together. Even in the short time we’ve been open, I’ve already felt the connections forming, with regulars becoming a familiar and exciting part of the experience. Seeing the community come together is truly the most rewarding aspect of this journey.
Currently I have been adding wine education to our events. This has been an exciting new addition to the bar. We have a speaker come in and discuss wine, regions, appellations, etc. in a small setting. Each month we will have new education opportunities.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three things I believe were most impactful to opening my business were being fearless, having a clear vision, and building relationships.
Being fearless: Starting something new, especially after 25 years in a different field, required a lot of courage to embrace the unknown. But, I have always had the philosophy of “what’s the worst that could happen” and if I am okay with the worst thing then I go for it.
Having a clear vision: I knew from the beginning that I wanted my wine bar to be more than just a place to drink—it had to be a welcoming space for community and connection. That allowed me to stay focused when so many people try to give you advice. When someone other than my trusted friends/advisors say “You know what you should do….” I politely smile and nod and disregard it.
Building strong relationships: Whether with distributors, local partners, or customers, fostering connections has been key to growing the business and creating a sense of belonging. Relationships are key to any business. I leaned on others who have had similar experiences to learn from them. I reached out to people to develop new relationships which has helped foster loyalty in my customer base.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
My number one challenge right now is building the customer base. Looking for the correct marketing and strategy to be effective in building more awareness of our business and to drive customers to us. I am currently researching ideas and marketing professionals to determine what is the best thing for my business. As this is not my area of expertise I am leaning on professionals to help me grow my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vinestreetsocial.com
- Instagram: www.instagram/vinestreetsocial
Image Credits
Mountain Cat Media
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
