A Lincolnwood startup aiming to be the one-stop shop for ordering craft spirits is changing its name as it tries to better convey its offerings.
BigFish Spirits, which launched last year, now goes by Spirit Hub.
The startup specializes in offering craft spirits from about 200 distilleries around the globe, selling hundreds of options of whiskey, gin, bourbon, rum, tequila and vodka.
“The goal of BigFish was always to deliver craft spirits from independent distilleries to consumers around the state of Illinois,” said founder and CEO Michael Weiss.
The decision to rebrand came after doing some research that showed BigFish Spirits didn’t quite convey a clear message to would-be customers.
“It was difficult for our customers to understand what it is that we did,” Weiss said.
The rebrand also included a website redesign that provides cocktail recipes so shoppers can learn to how to create cocktails with their new spirits. Additionally, Spirit Hub has rolled out new options that allow customers to identify certified organic, kosher, non-GMO and gluten-free spirits.
Spirit Hub, which now employs 22 people, is currently only delivering in Illinois but plans to expand to five new markets later this year and add 200 to 300 distilleries to the platform. Weiss said imminent markets include Florida, Michigan and Massachusetts.
Consumers can order items on Spirit Hub's website or its mobile app, pay an $8 delivery fee and can expect to receive their order within two days.
Unlike other liquor-delivery startups, like Drizly or MiniBar, BigFish buys wholesale inventory directly from distilleries as opposed to sourcing alcohol for its deliveries from nearby liquor stores.
The number of Spirit Hub shoppers has increased 20 percent month of over month since launching, Weiss said. The startup continues to onboard more distilleries and spirit brands, and the average order size is about $100.
"As people say, liquor is recession-proof," Weiss said. "People will aways drink."
