New Beginnings
Nearly three months on from first getting the keys to "Computers FIxed" we are excited to be in the final stages before opening very soon.
Let's begin by telling you our story...
I've been immersed in the world of wine for 11 years - selling, educating, drinking, travelling and enjoying the culture. Having thought about opening a wine shop for so many years, it was a holiday in Sicily in May when Tanya and I were inspired to make the final jump. More precisely, sipping on a couple of glasses of Etna Rosso on the packed streets of Palermo at 3am on a Saturday evening. We decided that great wine should be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of the time, place or budget. We wanted to recreate this in London, preferably in Highams Park if we found the right site.
Later in that trip we discovered some of Sicily's beautiful and colourful ceramics. Combining this with our passion for wine, the name Vino-Ramica was born. So too, was inspiration for the design of the shop.
We completed on the lease of the shop on August 10th, the day after our second son, James, was born. The shop wasn't in the best state, but we knew the space could work for what we wanted to do. The last few months have been busy, but we're on the verge of opening, family all in one piece!
There are a few things that we learnt on the way to opening up a shop, below are some of the most memorable:
Colours - be bold. This has been our approach anyway, perhaps to the bemusement of some of our neighbours! While my my mum's hair may still contain highlights of Dulux trade extra deep Liberty Blue 1 it will be well worth it when you see our bar stools.
Tiling - no DIY job is as rewarding. If an area can be tiled, this is almost certainly the optimum way to cover the area. Expect more tiling to appear in the shop over the coming years.
James the "shop baby" - you can do it with two young kids, although family's help (if you can get it) is indispensable.
Lighting - the more lumens the better, as long as it's all dimmable. Let's not get into the warmth of the light...
The tradesman's power tools will always be bigger and better than yours, so don't even try to compete.
And finally, you'll perfect most jobs eventually, but normally only after you've finished the job. Please don't ever let me screed a floor again.
There are so many people to thank for getting to where we are now, most of whom haven't charged us a cent. Payment-in-wine-credit will be arranged...
Phil (shop design), Katie (graphic design), Sean (general how-to-open-a-wine-shop advice), Rob, Glenn, Emilio, Zosia (4x lighting assistants), Harold (carpentry), Junior (electrics), Will (friend to the rescue) and our brilliant suppliers, particularly Jess, Emma and Alex who some of you may remember from our tasting.
We could not have done this without help from family - painting, writing, advising, supporting and babysitting. Above all, Tanya, who is the brains and organisation behind most of this.
We hope to see you for a glass or a chat very soon
Matt and the family
