If you are set on being the one rebel producing durable glass bottles in an industry that’s used to doing it “fast and cheap”, then a time span of six months from funding to distribution sounds just about right. For the founders of soulbottles however, half a year seems much too slow.
soulbottles is a Vienna/Berlin startup with a clear goal: to confer a sexy and cool image on tap water by producing and promoting the use of sustainable glass water bottles. The startup co-founded by Georg Tarne and Paul Kupfer is about to reach yet another milestone at the beginning of September. After being established back in 2012, and successfully running a crowdfounding campaign in March (read our article here), soulbottles is now ready to offer their product in stores across Germany and Austria.
The 0,6-litre bottles feature 20 vivid colours and have a 3-centimetre-wide opening to ensure “the best drinking experience”. (A scientifically proven fact, the team say). Most of all, though, the product is 100% composed of natural materials and can be used for many years.
As of September, customers can pick up the bottles from shop shelves as opposed to only being able to purchase those online. Wasserkontor in Berlin, Kaffeearomabar in Munich and Blueorange in Vienna are just a few of the vendors who signed up to distribute the eco-friendly bottles. “In the first week of September we are shipping roughly 2.000 bottles and they are mainly going to Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg. The rest is all over Germany and Austria,” Kupfer told inventures.eu.
As for the future, Kupfer continues, “we want to find more retailers, especially ‘offline’… [and] we are in talks with organic grocery stores. Also Chrismas is coming and we want to promote soulbottles as a sustainable Chrismas present.”
Looking back at the past six months, the co-founders both agree that getting to the point of distribution has come much too slow, yet it’s part of the way business is done. Also, this time has brought a few lessons learned. “I learned a lot about glass, and printing on glass, but [in general] also about how this whole industry works,” said Kupfer.
Keep it up!
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