Gusbourne is a fine English wine producer in Kent which sells to restaurants and handpicked vendors. The boutique winery is located in Kent and makes a range of award-winning sparkling wines. The brand is perceived to be exclusive, selling luxury English wines to a discerning audience. 

The pandemic gave businesses the chance to rethink some of their business strategies. Gusbourne used it as an opportunity to broaden the accessibility and appeal of their sparkling wines by looking for new sales avenues.

Gusbourne Exclusive Release – a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – would be sold exclusively to Waitrose, introducing it to new audiences who would appreciate a quality product at an affordable price point.

Wondersphere has been essential in transforming and building Gusbourne’s product portfolio since 2009. As a result of our partnership, our client trusted us to react and respond quickly to the changing needs of the business. We were instrumental in coming up with the strategy to introduce the brand to Waitrose.

The timescale was extremely tight. We had only five months to create an identity for a new product that would be built on the reputation of Gusbourne. It had to have instant appeal without compromising on the brand’s values.

We took a three-pronged approach:

To build a strong personality, build strong assets and create distinct packaging. We embraced the idea of “bright and beautiful” to capture the essence of the new sparkling wine – a celebration of England and summer sunshine. To differentiate it from other products on Waitrose’s shelves, we used bright, eye-catching blocks of colour on the label. 

As a branding agency, Wondersphere knows the value of having a unique identity that creates a connection with your target audience. With strong graphics, distinct photography and standout visuals, we leveraged the power of the brand to generate immediate sales. 

The sales far exceeded our client’s expectations. Moreover, the wine went on to win a gold medal and the Vintage English Sparkling Wine trophy at the International Wine Challenge. 

We believe that branding can elevate and define a product’s success. The power is in perception. 

“Wondersphere were able to transform the winemaker’s initial concept into a supermarket shelf-ready product in just five months. Underpinned by clear strategic thought, the result was eye-catching and elegant. Exclusive Release was responsible for driving key sales at a challenging time and is the basis of our successful partnership with Waitrose.” 

Jonathan White, Head of Marketing 

We are Wondersphere, a strategic brand and communications agency.

We work without borders across graphics and identity, exhibitions and interiors, products and packaging, websites and digital experiences, communications and much more.

Our work is about elegant design and craft; but its success and impact is based on our ability to align to the needs of our clients’ organisations in order to add measurable value to the bottom line.

To find out how Wondersphere would be able to add value to your organisation, please get in touch.

francis@wondersphere.com
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