When public shops, offices, and venues closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people found themselves having to reassess their business strategies. YWA member Andrea Hernandez was one of them.
Andrea launched her side business as a Cause Entrepreneur for ONEHOPE wines last year to facilitate wine tastings with a twist: a percentage of the purchases are donated to a charity of the host’s choice.
Typically held in person, Andrea would provide wine to taste, talk to participants about ONEHOPE and the different types of wine, and maybe include some fun extras.
At a previous event at the Google office downtown, she said, “I took in six different wines for them to try and paired them with Girl Scout cookies.” After the event, 10% of the proceeds were donated to Safe Austin.
Currently, Andrea is moving her business online and finding new ways to connect with wine shoppers who want to give back.
Join Andrea for her next virtual tasting on Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. via this Zoom link or follow her on Instagram for updates.
“I have an online virtual event going on right now,” said Andrea. “As the host, I get to pick a charity of my choice that I can contribute to.”
When she hosts her own events, she also typically donates half of the commissions she earns as well. “I just want to give back as much as possible,” she said.
Andrea and her fellow Cause Entrepreneurs across the country have shared ideas and tactics to make sure they’re still able to support nonprofits through wine sales.
“We’d all been running events and promotions on social media anyway, but it’s been ramped up by a thousand,” she said, and in-person events have gone virtual.
While COVID-19 has caused a shift in how she approaches her business, Andrea’s not letting it slow her down.
“There are so many nonprofits here in Austin having a rough time right now, and it’s so important they’re able to stay open and running, so I’m trying to get as much money to them as possible.”
Andrea will be hosting her next virtual wine event on Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. Learn more or check out the wine online on her personal shop.
“I have chosen CORE as the nonprofit to receive the donation from this online event, and I plan on donating 50% of my commissions from the entire month of May to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.”
