Erica Paolicelli and Three Brothers Winery's Story of Resilience and Adaptability

Julie's Big Gorgeous Goals: Official Workbook is here! Order your copy today.Imagine reinventing your business so it can survive the pandemic and then the next year, navigating the chaos of a total loss fire on your business property. In this week's episode of Figure Eight, Three Brothers Winery partner Erica Paolicelli discusses the critical importance of resilience, ambitious adaptability, and a solid disaster plan. Meet Erica Paolicelli, an accomplished enterprise architect, growth strategist, principled leader, brand ambassador, and financial manager. As a partner at Three Brothers Wineries/War Horse Brewing Company, the Finger Lakes region's premier destination, she has played an instrumental role in transforming the establishment into a multimillion-dollar revenue-generating enterprise since its inception. Erica's expertise spans cash flow forecasting, project management, and brand development, making her an indispensable asset to the company's success. With 17 years of experience, she excels in fostering high-performing teams and currently spearheads business development initiatives to identify new opportunities and optimize existing revenue streams.With a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the State University of Oneonta, Erica is excited to leverage her business acumen in her latest venture, Dominator Brave, where she merges her passion for health and wellness with her proven track record in business development. Her vision is to introduce world-class health and wellness programs to communities across western New York and beyond.Julie and Erica discuss:**Erica's journey to managing the winery**Erica's unexpected start in the wine industry to her partnership with the owners of Three Brothers Winery as they expanded into multiple locations, a brewery, and more.**Adapting to the pandemic reality (00:12:23)**Exploring the opportunities created by the pandemic, including shifting to e-commerce, curbside pickup, and drive-thru experiences, while keeping the focus on an exceptional customer experience.**Overcoming adversity (00:19:29)**Dealing with the total loss fire at the winery and the importance of disaster planning, solid relationships with insurance providers, and utilizing third-party representation. **Impact on Business Operations (00:27:23)**The impact of the fire on business operations, including the rebuilding process, lost business, and the challenges of reopening the tasting room.**Seasonality and future dreams (00:29:00)**Strategies to mitigate the decreased income during slower seasons and future plans to scale the winery.You can connect with Erica, Three Brothers Wineries, and War Horse Brewing Company on Instagram. Explore their websites:Dominator BraveThree Brothers WineriesWar Horse Brewing CompanyLove the show or want to request a topic? Leave us a message (All submissions are anonymous, so if you'd like a reply, please include your email address!).You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram. Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering her book Big Gorgeous Goals and the brand new official companion workbook! What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!