Launched during the Covid-19 pandemic, Bar-Enthusiast Founder Urvashi Deshpande decided to follow her passion in search for the perfect beverage and created a website dedicated to, not only arranging the ideal home bar, but much more than that.
Tell us more about why you have decided to launch Bar-Enthusiast.
Having worked in different industries over the past decade in Dubai, I realised and learnt from many of the leaders that you should get into a business that you are passionate about, which led me to the idea of launching a boutique brand which offered unique pieces of glassware, accessories and games that add a lot of fun to house parties.
You couldn’t find good quality unique pieces in bar accessories and glassware in UAE, which seemed odd, and yet it was an opportunity for a brand like Bar-Enthusiast. I strongly feel like there are many people out there who are enthusiasts and love having a bar at home that they can be proud of.
What are some of the most exciting, unique aspects of your business?
The most unique aspect, and the one that I enjoy the most, is certainly my buying responsibilities. I spend few hours everyday exploring different kinds of unique products from all over the world to see what would make a good fit in this market.
Understanding competition for those products, pricing and uniqueness, along with other logistic details, is something which has been the highlight of this venture. I have learnt so much and, each day, I work with partners from all parts of the globe who help me learn more and understand the intricacies of manufacturing, art and essentially this business.
Another unique experience is interacting with suppliers and customers here, who are constantly amazed that I’m a woman and yet I’m in this type of business.
How has the pandemic helped demand?
We have seen our social lives evolve with this pandemic and that certainly has been a factor which influenced demand for Bar-Enthusiast. I started the business last year, in October, which was just about after lockdown restrictions were being relaxed.
I believe it was the perfect time for friends and families to come together for house get-togethers in smaller groups, after months of only virtual meetups. This certainly had an impact on categories like glassware and games, with more of us opting for house parties than going out to a restaurant/club.
Since celebrations came back into everyone’s lives, I saw a lot of gifting purchases. Wine accessories, malt-nosing glasses, mixology tools, etc. These make for a perfect gift from Bar-Enthusiast because I ship every single product in custom-made, unique packaging with a proper gift box with ribbons and personal notes.
What’s in the pipeline?
I have some very exciting projects going on. We’re looking at partnering with some of the biggest brand names in the market for bubbly drinks and are exploring avenues of creating a unique collection of products.
I’m also exploring a collection that focuses on upcycling glass bottles to create unique accessories and pieces of art. I also want to broaden my geographic reach and cater to markets across the GCC.
