RBF, Your Authentic Champagne Bar. 

RBF is dedicated to connection, friendship, emotional and personal growth, and great wine. RBF will offer multiple varietals from local NC wineries, US, and international women owned/run wineries.

Yes, RBF as in Resting Bitch Face. RBF is a term that has been used as a microaggression towards women. It is a way to keep us small, performative, and continue putting parameters on how we should act and making the focus on how we look. Frown or smile, I’m all about taking the power back. Anyways, let’s carry on.

After extensive research into the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area, I am confident in the need and future success of a dedicated wine bar in the town of Cary or Morrisville, North Carolina. In an area that is heavily focused on breweries with new locations consistently entering the market and wine shops being the only spots for enthusiasts, the demographics clearly show that a wine bar would be more than welcomed. We will also have a wine locker aspect which will make ours the only non-storage unit option in a 25-mile radius. 

After 20 years in leadership roles and graduating from the #1 management Master’s degree program in the world, the Thunderbird School of Global Management, I have the knowledge to begin and grow a business successfully, but most importantly, have the emotional intelligence and experience to create a space of comfort, empowerment, and safety. 

Being that this will only be a wine bar in a 20-mile radius without retail or a restaurant concept, the overhead will remain extremely low with the traditional 70-80% mark-up on at-cost wine direct from women-owned and run wineries or their distributors. This business will also support local small batch food businesses as well as wineries in North Carolina, but it will also partner with Raleigh nonprofits focused on women’s safety and integration back into society from domestic violence as well as human trafficking.

RBF is a woman-owned wine bar, working exclusively with women-owned brands, labels, wineries, and local products to support the increase and sustainability of these small businesses. 

The entire Triangle area is saturated with breweries, and the wine presence is lacking. In my thorough competitive analysis, there are 31 wine-based businesses and 99% are retail focused with the added cost of carrying on average $75k in inventory. 

Zero of the wine shops or wine bars in RTP offer wine locker options. All storage facilities in the area allow guests to access their wine 24/7, but obviously they will be going home. Having the ability to access their wine, spend time with friends and enjoy the wine bar atmosphere will be a more attractive and logical solution for wine enthusiasts. 

There will be ongoing events including wine tastings, entrepreneur gatherings, support groups, book clubs, fundraising for local non-profits, interactive aspects of the location about uplifting women such as rotating chalkboard questions/inspiration for guests to contribute to, storyteller series, and other events to celebrate our individual and community successes and commonalities. A little Mamma Mia sing-a-long night wouldn't be so bad either. 

This is a place to connect, be with friends, swing by solo to have a meaningful conversation with our team, or to sit on the patio with your dog with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. Our guests will be surrounded by photos of great women that all have a story and have made an impact globally, historically, in my life or those in our community keeping things authentic and real. 

Nervous to go on a date? No problem! My establishment will be the perfect place as safety is key. There will be options to request assistance and the staff will escort your date out or call authorities if needed.

The overarching brand for RBF Champagne Bar as well as ventures to follow fall under the umbrella of the website https://showmeyourrbf.com/.

Show up for yourself and for others. Show me your RBF.

The brand is about authenticity, sharing the story of your journey, connecting with one another, and meeting people where they are emotionally. This will be aligned with all aspects of RBF from what is on the walls, the restrooms, the seating and table orientation, how every guest is welcomed and spoken to while on site as well as social media engagement. 

RBF Champagne Bar will promote the message that everyone is going through something. Let’s talk about it rather than put on a fake face. The customer always being right is an outdated theory. We will expect respect from employees but also the guests. We all have a story, an ache, a stressor, so we believe we should lift one another up rather than create a further divide. 

To also stay aligned with our message of community, connection, and taking care of one another, RBF will have a “no tipping model” or living wage model and roll tips into salary to adequately take care of team members. Tips can also be given additionally by guests, but menus will properly explain our mission and positioning. 

We will have ongoing partnership growth in assisting with non-profit women focused organizations such as No Woman No Girl, helping to supply girls with hygiene products, as well as addressing the overwhelming amount of poverty that exists in women 35-45 which is our target demographic. It is important to uplift the women in our community that are privileged to connect but also those that don’t have that ability. We will also work with organizations like Dress for Success and Interact to help women get back on their feet. 

When guests walk into RBF, they will take a deep breath and know they can be their most authentic selves. As they walk out the door to return home, they will be inspired, empowered, and feeling stronger and more at peace than when they entered.