14. Craft Clubs

Founders: Jon Hulme and John Burke
Founded: January 2015
Website: www.craft-clubs.co.uk

With the number of craft breweries and distillers growing around the UK and abroad, Jon Hulme and John Burke saw an opportunity to help home drinkers discover all the exciting artisanal beverages they could otherwise miss.

And so they launched Startups 100 2016-featured Craft Gin Club; a subscription service that sends its customers a surprise box containing a variety of gins, mixers, cocktail ingredients and food items to compliment their drinks selection each month.

In May last year, the drinks entrepreneurs branched out into sparkling wine with the launch of Bubble Club – bringing both arms of the business under the Craft Clubs brand.

The pair decided to use their experience of content marketing, storytelling and social media interaction to build a base of loyal customers and generate that all-important recurring revenue.

Craft Clubs also allows its members to make one off purchases of gift memberships and exclusive seasonal products and sells marketing packages partner companies so they can access its audience.

In just over two years, the business has secured 17,000 active club members and a staggering 300,000 Facebook fans.

Dragons’ Den star and Plusnet Pioneer Sarah Willingham is also a fan. In July last year, Craft Clubs had a successful appearance on Dragons’ Den and secured £75,000 from Willingham in exchange for a 15% equity share.

Next up, Hulme and Burke plan to focus on growing Bubble Club throughout 2017, as well as the development of its marketing platform for brand partners.

Craft Clubs is looking at a £7.5m turnover for 2017 – bottom’s up to them!