Month: December 2024

Categories
Creator success Creators

Hats off to an AMAZE-ing year! 

What an AMAZE-ing year!

2024 was filled with a lot of very cool developments here at Amaze. We had our heads down for much of the year, building out new partnerships, products, and strategies to help you turn your passion into profits. 

Here are some of the big wins this year — and how a few of our Creators used these new features to increase their revenue. 

Going Global With New Fulfillment Centers And Product Lines

There’s nothing worse than going to check out and realizing the cool product you want comes with a $100 international shipping cost. That’s why over the past few years we’ve been working hard to expand our global footprint for fulfillment. In 2024 we opened new fulfillment centers in India and Mexico, which means you can get products to your fans in these regions faster, and at more competitive prices. Local fulfillment also means products don’t have to go all over the world for different parts of the production, which slashes their environmental impact. 

We also expanded the types of products that you can add to your catalog, and added dozens of new options. Now you can choose from 180+ different products, add your design, and launch it in minutes. 🚀 Plus, we partnered with Pietra to make it easy for Creators to turn their ideas into real-world custom products. 

We also recognize that not everybody wants to order a physical product, which is why we introduced 20+ new digital product categories this month (just in time for the holidays ✨). The new digital products mean you can earn more sales, without worrying about shipping products around the world. 

New Integrations And Partnerships For Easier Product Creation

We had two big wins inside of the Spring by Amaze platform this year. 

The first is Store Drop, which is a powerful tool that allows you to integrate your Spring store into your existing website. Just add a little piece of code added to your website’s HTML (you don’t need a software engineering degree to do it!), and you can create a totally seamless shopping experience for your fans.

Another major development is our new integration with Adobe Express. This is a game-changer because it means you can design products right inside of Spring using the powerful Adobe Express platform, then list the product as soon as you’re happy with it. The best part is you can get started with any of the thousands of professionally-designed templates, and preview what your design will look like as a product, all without the help of a graphic designer. Talk about total confidence to create something your fans will love. 💪

Developing inside the platform is just the start though. It takes a village to build out great e-commerce experiences. We’ve built several strong partnerships, all designed to help Creators take their businesses to the next level. From AI powered tools to enhance your creativity, to technology to train your mind and boost your output, our partners are finding new ways to make your life easier. Plus, our  partnership with Pietra means you can bring any idea you have to life. If you want to build a custom product that’s not in our existing catalog, Pietra will help figure out a way to source it. 

We’re also closing out the year with a merger with Fresh Vine Wine, which opens up a whole new world of product possibilities. The future is looking pretty bright!

Creator Wins

None of the work we do matters if it doesn’t actually help Creators see success. We’re so proud of all of our Creators — and a few had major wins this year that are worth highlighting: 

  • Beach Reads & Bubbly launched her first custom collection in May. Her promotion strategy was a masterclass in generating buzz on Instagram, and she sold $250k worth of products during a two-week presale period. 
  • Don Marshall launched his annual calendar to huge demand. In just 14 days he sold 1871 units ($75k)!
  • After the success of a previous plushie, Terminal Montage launched a custom plushie of his character Nabiu. He sold $67,000 worth of them in a 30-day presale – over 2500 units! 

This is just a small sample of what’s possible. We’re looking for ways to help even more Creators get big wins in 2025!

Looking Forward to 2025

2024 was a big year, and we’re feeling so inspired by all of the Creators on our platform. It’s amazing to see the products you dream up, and even more amazing to see them out in the real world. 

We built a lot of momentum this year, and in 2025 we plan to keep riding that wave. Our internal motto is to get 1% better every day, and we can’t wait to roll out the cool initiatives we have planned. Our goals are crystal clear: we want to help you develop deeper connections with your fans, and turn your passion into profits.

We can’t wait to see what you dream up next, and we’re here to support you on every step of the journey. 🎉 Here’s to a great year, and onto an even brighter one!

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified using words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “project,” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements address various matters including statements regarding the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Among these risks and uncertainties are those set forth in Fresh Vine Wine’s (“Fresh Vine”) annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequently filed documents with the SEC. In addition to such risks and uncertainties, risks and uncertainties related to forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements relating to Fresh Vine’s business and the pursuit of Fresh Vine’s strategic options, including the proposed business combination with Amaze (the “Business Combination”). Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including without limitation: (i) the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Fresh Vine’s securities; (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Business Combination, including the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement by the stockholders of Fresh Vine; (iii) the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination or abandonment of the Business Combination Agreement; (v) the potential effect of the announcement or pendency of the Business Combination on Amaze’s or Fresh Vine’s business relationships, performance and business generally, including potential difficulties in employee retention; (vi) risks that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of Fresh Vine or Amaze; (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Fresh Vine related to the Business Combination Agreement or the Business Combination; (viii) the risk that Fresh Vine will be unable to maintain the listing of Fresh Vine’s securities on NYSE American; (ix) the risk that the price of Fresh Vine’s securities, or the price of Pubco Common Stock following the closing, may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive industries in which Fresh Vine or Amaze operates, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Fresh Vine’s or Amaze’s business and changes in the capital structure; (x) the inability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the Business Combination and identify and realize additional opportunities; (xi) the risk of changes in applicable law, rules, regulations, regulatory guidance, or social conditions in the countries in which Amaze’s customers and suppliers operate in that could adversely impact Amaze’s operations; (xii) the risk that Fresh Vine and/or Amaze may not achieve or sustain profitability; (xiii) the risk that Fresh Vine and/or Amaze will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; and (xiv) the risk that Fresh Vine and/or Amaze experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations. A further description of the risks and uncertainties relating to the business of Fresh Vine is contained in Fresh Vine’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC. Fresh Vine cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read Fresh Vine’s filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and Fresh Vine undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction between Fresh Vine and Adifex Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Company”), pursuant to which the Company and its future subsidiary Amaze will become subsidiaries of Fresh Vine, or its successor entity. In connection with the proposed transaction, Fresh Vine, or its successor entity, will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include the Joint Proxy Statement of Fresh Vine and Company and a Prospectus of Fresh Vine, as well as other relevant documents regarding the proposed transaction. A definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will also be sent to Fresh Vine stockholders and Company members. 

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE TRANSACTION WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND FRESH VINE, THE COMPANY AND AMAZE.

A free copy of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when it becomes available), as well as other filings containing information about Fresh Vine, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from Fresh Vine by accessing Fresh Vine’s website at www.ir.freshvinewine.com, by directing a request to Fresh Vine Stockholder Relations Manager, Mike Pruitt, at Fresh Vine via PO Box 78984 Charlotte, NC 28271, by calling 707.578.2238 or by sending an e-mail to mp@freshvinewine.com. 

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. 

Participants in the Solicitation

Fresh Vine, Company, and Amaze and certain of their respective directors, executive officers or other members of management may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Fresh Vine’s stockholders and Company members in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding Fresh Vine’s directors and executive officers is contained in Fresh Vine’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, dated November 6, 2023 and in certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available. Investors should read the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions.  Free copies of these documents may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

Categories
Creator success Creators Digital Grow your following

Turn Your Holiday Traffic into Lifelong Customers

Want to know the real secret behind five-figure creator launches? 

Most people assume it’s all about having the perfect product or a massive Instagram following. But here’s what we’ve learned from working with millions of creators: the game-changer isn’t your first viral post or even your killer designs.

The secret is this: landing that first sale is your biggest challenge – but it’s also your biggest opportunity. Nail that first impression, deliver an experience that makes them smile, and stay on their radar in a way that adds value? That’s how you turn a curious browser into a superfan who can’t wait to see what you create next. 💫

Ready to learn the strategies our most successful creators use to turn first-time buyers into lifelong fans? Here are three tips.

Tip #1: Make sure you stay in touch with your customers

Do you have an email list? Do you know if your customers follow you on social media? Make sure you give people the opportunity to stay connected!

Some creators worry about coming off as “annoying” if they ask for email addresses. That couldn’t be further from the truth! In reality, when somebody buys something from you, they’re inviting you into their life. If they love you enough to buy your product, they’ll want  to hear about future updates. ✨

Reminder: Email newsletters are a great way to send occasional messages to past customers. Just make sure you don’t get too salesy in every single letter. Instead, focus on giving more value and perspective. Their inbox is busy, so work hard to earn a place in it. 💪

Tip #2: Create a sense of community around your products

People love buying products that make them feel like they belong to a certain group. That’s why aesthetics are so popular online! 

If you can create a sense of identity around your products and foster a community around that identity, you’re not just selling items – you’re creating a movement. Share behind-the-scenes content of your creative process. Start conversations in your comments section. Create hashtags that your customers can use to show off their purchases. When someone buys from you, they’re not just getting a product – they’re joining your creative universe. 

Pro tip: Give your past customers first dibs on new products! Show your gratitude for their support with an early release or a discount code. You’ll earn more sales (and look good doing it!). 

Tip #3: Build a reputation for great products

You can do all the marketing you want, but if your product doesn’t meet your customer’s expectations, they probably won’t buy a second version of it. When you’re creating products you want to make sure they are top-quality and look great. 

Tools like Adobe Express can be really helpful during the design process if you’re not a graphic designer. They come with thousands of professionally-made templates that you can use as a starting point for your creative ideas. 

Your creative vision matters. A great shop can help you share it with the world.

Your creativity has so much to offer to the world. It’s time that you find a way to share it, and get rewarded for your efforts. 💖

If you’ve got an idea for a product, but want help sourcing it and shipping it, we’re here to help. Click the button below to get started. 

Categories
Creator success Creators Holiday Season Promoting merch

Optimize Your Store for the Holidays: 4 Simple Steps to Attract Shoppers

We know it’s past Halloween, but here is a scary stat: 82% of consumers are less likely to make a purchase if a store looks “dated.” 

Since shoppers are 5 times more likely to come to your storefront during the holiday season, it’s time to do some Holiday Housekeeping! Luckily, refreshing your storefront can be done in four easy-to-follow steps! 

Step 1: (Super) Hero Banner

It’s called a “Hero” banner for a reason. It’s the first thing that a visitor sees and it’s the most visual aspect of an online store. If you think about it, the hero banner alone can grab a chunk of sales! And first impressions are no joke. Did you know that it only takes 60 milliseconds to make an impression on the human brain? In fact, 75% of consumers form an opinion on a store based on its design. That’s everything! 

To update your banner:

  • Click on the hero banner in your store editor to drop in a new image.
  • Add a holiday touch with festive photos of yourself or your fans. 
  • If you don’t have the time, tools like PlaceIt make it easy to create eye-catching lifestyle mockups. Just upload your design file, and you’re good to go.

Step 2: Refresh Your Content

As you evolve as a person, so does your brand and style. Re-evaluate your designs and products; how they represent you, your brand, and your voice in the world. 

As you scrutinize your store, pretend you’re a fan on your first visit. Here’s a checklist to help: 

  • Get rid of old messaging and add any new catchphrases. 
  • Make sure your products are up to date! If something isn’t selling well, deprioritize it. Does that T-shirt need a new color? Change it up!
  • Consider refreshing your logo.
    • To add a logo to your store, clock on Stores – Edit Store. 
    • Click on the Navigation bar. 
    • Read some great tips on refreshing logos here! 
  • Revamp your navigation bar and footer to make sure the aesthetic is consistent with your brand. Tip: coordinate the background and text color. 
  • Re-order your products to highlight your newest products and best sellers. Featured products will appear at the top of your store, and there’s no limit to how many you can feature. Here’s how:
    • Go to your Store Editor
    • Click on Products
    • Click on the Star Icon to feature products
    • Another method to reorder your products: Remove them from your store (clicking on the circled x) and then re-add them based on the order you want them to appear. 
    • P.S. New products get added to the bottom of your store, so add the ones you want at the top of your store first!

Step 3: Add Festive Holiday Flare

You’re already refreshing your store, so why not give it a holiday face-lift? Rinse and repeat for the navigation bar and footer. Your fans appreciate a creator who’s got lots of spirit.

Step 4: Integrate Your Socials! 

Your social channels are the lifeblood of your business and how you drive fans to your store.  50% of consumers are disappointed when a brand has no social media presence, so get with it this holiday season and integrate your channels. 

Here’s how to connect: 

  • Go to Stores.
  • Scroll down to Social Profiles.
  • Connect your social media accounts. 
  • Enable “Display Links” in your store editor under the navigation bar and footer.
  • If both are enabled, your social icons will then appear on the right-hand side of your navigation bar, as well as in the center of your footer. 

And that’s it! These four steps will get you merrily on your way. Have fun connecting with your audience, fans, and customers. Happy Holidays and Happy Selling!

Categories
Creator success Creators Design contest

12 Days of Digital Products: Exciting New Products to Sell Through the Holidays!

Switching from physical to digital products is effortless—especially if you utilize existing designs! Plus, digital products offer instant downloads, no shipping required.

From 12/12 to 12/23, join our 12 Days of Digital Products Contest! Each day you sell, you’re entered to win fun prizes like gift cards and samples. Sell daily, and you’ll be entered 12 times!

With 20 new digital product categories launching, now’s the time to give your fans even more holiday shopping options!

So you ready? First, here are a few digital products you can launch *today* by using an existing design:

  • Custom Digital Wallpapers: Just add your design and go live.
  • Printable Coloring Book: Let fans add their own creative spin to your designs.
  • Custom Digital Art Prints: Your designs are art, so treat them as such!
  • Gaming Emotes & Overlays: Got some cool characters? Get them downloadable!
  • Editable Template: Add your brand to all sorts of templates that fans can easily customize.

Want to offer more? Here are some exciting new products in our expanded digital categories:

Pet

  • Exclusive Pet Video Series: Turn your furry friend into a star with a fun video series that’s equal parts adorable and entertaining! 
  • Pet Health Tracker: Help pet parents stay on top of their furry family’s well-being with this easy-to-use health tracker. 
  • Pet Care Guide: Perfect for new pet owners, this guide is a thoughtful holiday helper for keeping pets happy and healthy. 

Business & Finance

  • Business Strategy Workbook: Set your fans up for success with this all-in-one guide to mapping out a winning strategy! 
  • Budgeting Spreadsheet Template: Every dollar counts! So create a practical tool for fans to master their finances.
  • Business E-Book: Your brand is a business that’s booming, so share the wealth with your expert tips and tricks for building a thriving business. 

Entertainment

  • Special Commentary Track: Got some opinions? Share your POV with fans by creating a commentary track. The topics are endless!
  • Exclusive Video Series: Create exclusive VIP videos just for fans! 
  • Downloadable Music Tracks: Let the gift of music strike a chord this holiday season. 

Health & Wellness

  • Guided Meditation Video Series: Help your fans find their zen this season with a soothing video series.
  • Meal Prep Plan & Recipe Guide: Got some skill in the kitchen? Share delicious, healthy recipes for your fans to make!
  • Fitness Routine PDF: The new year is when everyone is looking to kickstart their fitness goals. So give them your best routines!

Political/Social/Religion

  • Documentary Video: Shine a light on the stories that matter most with an impactful doc.
  • Meditation or Prayer Guide (Audio): Offer personal and heartfelt affirmations for fans to get into a positive mindset each day.
  • Faith or Social Justice Digital Journal: Choose your most soothing designs to create a meaningful space for fans to document their journey and progress. 

NOTE: For digital products, you can upload a file up to 600MB. If you have multiple videos, you can compress them down to under 600 MB. 

Launch digital products now and sell through Christmas and on into the New Year. Keep an eye out on our socials for contest info and inspiration. Happy Holidays and Happy Selling!

Categories
Creator success Creators Holiday Season Selling Tips

Last-Minute Holiday Sales: 5 Quick Ways to Drive Purchases Before Year-End

The holiday shopping season is booming! Are you cashing in? It’s not too late to get your piece of the holiday pie!

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to give your online merch store a final boost. With shoppers on the hunt for gifts and end-of-year deals, here are five easy strategies to drive purchases and end the year on a high note. Ready? Let’s go. 

1. Create a Sense of Urgency

It’s hard to believe, but there are only THREE WEEKS left until 2025! That’s it! Use this to create urgency. You want to encourage your fans to shop now vs. later. This is where limited time discounts come into play, because they have a deadline. So a simple post like, “Order by [date] to get XX% OFF my merch!” can create the urgency shoppers need to act quickly. 

Pro Tip: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) comes in all forms. In this case, use the “ticking clock” method to speed up their action. Add a countdown timer to your website or share daily reminders on social media to keep the deadline at the top of their mind.

2. Leverage Video through Stories and Reels

It’s easy to scroll past another “buy my merch” text post. So go for the “pattern interrupt” with creative videos. It’ll be a scroll-stopper to see you having a blast showing off your merch. Use Instagram Stories, TikToks, and Reels to showcase you and your merch in action with engaging content like “Top 3 Reasons This Hoodie Is a Winter Must-Have” or “Me Unboxing My Newest Merch.” 

Pro Tip: Highlight fan photos and testimonials in your content to build hype around your products and create FOMO. 

Reminder: Be both authentic and engaging in your videos. That energy is contagious and leads to more fans and sales. 

3. Offer Exclusive End-of-Year Promo Codes

FOMO works in every category, but one of the best ones is through the use of promo codes. Everyone loves a deal, especially during the holidays. Grab last-minute shoppers by sharing a promo code (like “YEAREND10” for 10% off) to drive traffic to your store. Make these offers for a “limited time only” so fans have to act fast. You can even tease them ahead of time so that fans have to keep an eye on your content for when the deal will launch.

Pro Tip: Add this deal to your bio on your social channels and pin your promo post so fans won’t miss it.

4. Launch & Promote Digital Products

Physical shipping deadlines don’t mean the sales have to stop. Digital products like e-books, art prints, music tracks, recipes and downloadable wallpapers are perfect for those shoppers who waited until the absolute last second to buy gifts. And guess what: 91% of people admit that they have made holiday purchases at the last minute. Lucky for them that these products are instantly delivered—no shipping required! Spring has a wide array of digital products, even for pets! Check out the selection on your dashboard. 

Pro Tip: Create an eye-catching design that can flow across different digital products and bundle them together in your content to entice fans to buy them all!

5. Collaborate and Cross-Promote

The great thing about selling merch is…you can piggy back OTHER people who sell merch! It can be a symbiotic relationship. Since the new year is coming, send off 2024 by teaming up with another creator to double your fan reach and your sales. Some ideas include shouting each other out on social media and recommending each other’s merch, or hosting a giveaway to generate buzz and attract more shoppers. 

Pro Tip: Use your merch as a prize in a holiday-themed contest, encouraging followers to engage and share. 

Make the Most of the Year-End Shopping Season

So, there it is. These quick strategies can help you capture last-minute shoppers and boost your year-end sales. Remember, consistency is key—keep your promotions active and engaging, and don’t forget to thank your fans for their support throughout the year.

Here’s to finishing strong and setting the stage for an even more successful new year! Happy Selling!🎉