TAKE YOUR BRAND TO NEW HEIGHTS
Golden Ratio Marketing Solutions is a strategic Marketing Agency based in Somerset West, South Africa that provides customisable solutions to suit your business requirements
MY STORY
A journey of discovery
My Journey started as a waitron in Knysna where the love for wine bit.
In 2001, I started as a vineyard worker at L'Avenir Estate, working and learning from the brilliant Francois Naude. It was the owner, the late Marc Wiehe's idea, that I rather focus on the marketing and sales as opposed to winemaking.
From there I was privileged to work at Vinimark thanks to Jenny Ratcliffe who appointed me and then resigned. I will never forget the moment when the late and incredible Tim Rands, walked into my office and said "Sink or Swim!"
I then got to learn from one of the most astute marketeers in the industry, Geoff Harvey. During this time I had completed my Cape Wine Masters graduating at the age of 25 and I was looking to broaden my education with my goal set on completing an MBA.
I was offered a position at Distell by Carina Gous, another great mind in wine marketing, to work on the massive Two Oceans brand in Carlen Wahl's team. This was where the love for brand building really was cemented and Distell was the perfect school.
After Completing my MBA, Jacques Roux, a legend in wine marketing and often considered one of the greatest, offered me a position at DGB to work under his guidance on the iconic brand: Boschendal.
I was later promoted to International Marketing Manager working with the savvy, Greg Guy. DGB is an incredible company and often referred to as the speedboat amongst the battleships by the CEO, Tim Hutchinson.
Being a new father and the demand for international travel, I sought to change course and joined the Oak Valley team. I learnt a great deal from the MD, Christopher Rawbone-Viljoen, specifically on the financial side of running a wine business. A skill in which I think Chris is an industry leader. I was also exposed to an incredibly high standard of wine cost management by the talented Quentin Gobregts.
Andrew Gunn from Iona put an offer on the table and a General Manager opportunity that I could not afford to turn down. Working at Iona was challenging and exciting and provided one of the steepest learning curves I have ever experienced and one in which I will always be thankful for.
And then came Covid-19 and the wine industry was on the brink of disaster where a General Manager was simply a luxury the business could not afford.
That was the birth of Golden Ratio Marketing Solutions.
