Scottish cocktail business celebrates shaking up the world
Events creator Boozy Events, which diversified following the onset of Covid-19, is celebrating having surpassed all predictions for its first year of business, bringing jobs and growth to its base in Aberdeen and securing business from across the globe.
Formerly a mobile bar business, Boozy Events has become a global virtual drinks experience company. From its launch in March 2020, with zero funding or investment, the team, which creates interactive online cocktail masterclasses, has hosted more than 27,000 guests in 47 countries. The classes are popular with a range of clients, from FTSE 100 corporations – including half of the world’s largest 50 companies – to independent film studios and research groups.
In just 18 months, the business has grown from two people to 21 in a mix of permanent staff and long-term, self-employed freelancers. The headquarters in Aberdeen has also been upsized three times to facilitate the growth, and the company proudly became a Living Wage Accredited Employer, while seeing turnover grow from zero to almost £1m.
Developed and run by directors, Gregor Sey and Cammy Esson, Boozy Events offers a bespoke service with a variety of cocktails that can be adapted to suit individual requirements. Targeted at the corporate market for teambuilding exercises and business celebrations, the events can be delivered virtually or as hybrid events.
Cammy & Gregor at Boozy Events
A dedicated, professional mixologist joins the meeting virtually, along with remote working colleagues, sharing instructions, techniques and tips on how to create the perfect cocktails. Hampers containing ingredients and equipment are sent worldwide via a dedicated delivery partner from the head office in Aberdeen.
Gregor Sey, director of Boozy Events, comments: “Back in March 2020, innovation was key to survival, but we never in a million years foresaw our cocktail business turning into the global success it has become. Thanks to a lightbulb moment and some clever SEO, within a matter of weeks, we were ranking in first place on search engines and featuring in publications across the UK, Europe and the US as a solution for socialising with friends and colleagues from home. Our classes are a great way to bring people together. The fact we’ve operated in over 40 countries is testament to this.”
“Despite an easing of lockdown restrictions, we are still growing, as so many businesses will continue to work remotely, and hybrid teambuilding is now the norm. We are securing regular bookings right through to mid-2022 and, as businesses look for ways to bring teams together while minimising their carbon footprint and reducing travel budgets, the only way for us is up.”
With innovation on the menu, Boozy Events is adapting to demand and recently launched its hybrid event format, with a small in-person class and concurrent virtual experiences for a remote team.
In another nod to the positive year for the business, in 2020 Boozy Events was recognised as the Drinks Business of The Year for North East of Scotland, and director Gregor Sey has been shortlisted for food and drink entrepreneur of the year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2021.
The team is committed to minimising the business impact on the environment. Boozy Events postal packaging is now totally plastic-free, and the company has recently partnered with Stroodles, the sustainable Eco Tableware collection provider. Boozy Events has pledged to use the 100% biodegradable, durable, edible, vegan Stroodle pasta straws in all drinks boxes.
To learn more about the Boozy Events drinks experiences, visit: boozyevents.com.
