The Capital Collective

Success story · Richmond cohort

Shoe Crazy Wines & Spirits

Wine & specialty beverage

An award-winning beverage brand that closed a transformative acquisition to vertically integrate and scale.

Gwen Hurt · Founder

Gwen Hurt, founder of Shoe Crazy Wines & Spirits, smiling beside bottles of her wine.

Where they started

An award-winning beverage brand with major retail and military distribution, weighing a Letter of Intent to acquire a production facility — and seeking $13M to vertically integrate.

What changed

The outcomes after twelve weeks.

Acquired

Production facility — deal closed

3

National honors — Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, Inc.

The story.

We reviewed Shoe Crazy's growth trajectory and distribution strength, evaluated the strategic and financial case for vertical integration, and refined the investment story and capital structure for the acquisition.

Shoe Crazy closed the acquisition of the beverage production facility — positioning the brand for vertical integration, expanded product lines, and accelerated growth through its existing retail distribution channels.

The takeaway

Strategic guidance and capital readiness helped an established, award-winning brand move from acquisition opportunity to closed deal — positioning it for transformative, vertically integrated growth.

Your business could be next.