Meet Karl Ziegler | Founder and Managing Partner, Concurrent Wines & Roseade USA

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karl Ziegler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karl, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
About 6-7 years ago, I realized how much money I was making for the owner of a wine company that I was working for as a sales director. I thought that I could skip the middle man. so to speak, and make the money for a company of my own. I have always been a driven individual and have long had the entrepreneurial bug so I got incorporated, licensed and started my company while still working for the other organization , thus the name Concurrent Wines. Having been in the wine industry for over 25 years, I have an eye for branding and know an opportunity when I see it. When I first saw Roseade’s branding, I was immediately intrigued and saw the potential.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is constantly evolving and adjusting to the current trends in the wine industry. I feel that being able to identify trends and opportunities is one of my greatest strengths. With Roseade, as soon as I saw the branding and what the product was composed of, I knew we were on to something big. There are always challenges. Being an entrepreneur is like being on a roller coaster ride. At times thrilling and exciting, then the scary, dark tunnels and unforeseen twists and turns throw you for a loop! It took me years of trying to find the right model for my wine business. I think that the failures and missteps that I experienced along the way have made me much more resilient and able to plow forward even in harsh climates. Having faith in the brand is key. This doesn’t mean blind faith, it means reading your consumers and seeing how the product is being received. If we didn’t have such an outpouring of love for Roseade in social media, consumer events etc. we would have already packed it in! The faith in the brand is what gives us the strength to push through when hit with setbacks like production issues and lack of financing. Perseverance is a quality that is key for an entrepreneur. That said, if something isn’t working, fail fast. Don’t throw good money after bad.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being a born and raised Los Angeleno, I am proud of the city and county where I grew up and currently reside. Having grown up in the South Bay, I am partial to our beach communities but also enjoy DTLA, Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Let’s set this itinerary in September, my favorite month in LA. Definitely going to a Dodger game with a stop at Phillipe’s French Dip before the game. A Beach Day in Hermosa Beach or Manhattan Beach starts with riding our beach cruisers to brunch at Martha’s Hermosa Beach (& drinking a Roseade!), surfing and watching the dolphins play, and hanging in beach bars like Ercole’s, the Strand Bar, or Vista. For some culture, we will head downtown to the Broad Museum to check out the works of Basquiat and Haring among others. We will get some oysters and bubbles at the Water Grill and then walk over to the Wilshire Grand and have a drink at the top of the tallest building in LA at the Hotel Intercontinental. We would need to spend a day in Santa Monica checking out the the 3rd St Promenade, get dinner at Cassia and enjoy some amazing French-Vietnamese cuisine and some incredible rieslings. We would finish the night at Wally’s Santa Monica with their incredible selection of wine and cheese. And finally, no trip to Los Angeles is complete without a day spent in Beverly Hills, shopping and dining on delicious Italian food at Il Pastaio.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of the most beneficial skills that I have honed over the years is to listen to others. Listen to your peers, your senior management, successful people in your industry and people who are just successful in life. I have benefitted from listening to so many different people over the years, it is hard to narrow it down to just a few. One person who has been the most supportive yet is always unflinchingly honest and direct is my wife and business partner, Victoria Ash. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

Website: www.roseadeusa.com www.concurrentwines.com

Instagram: @roseadeusa @concurrentwines @lkarlziegler

Linkedin: L. Karl Ziegler. Roseade USA

Facebook: @Roseadeusa. @Concurrentwines

Image Credits
@seelikeshane Shane O’Donnell @michaela_photo_ @Smalls_creative Lee Smallman