Just a Glass Australia provides a range of premium Australian made and owned vegan wines,
packaged in beautifully designed bottles featuring artwork by renowned Australian artist Kasey
Rainbow and providing ‘wine lovers’ the very best of what’s available in Australian winemaking in a
single serve bottle.
We spoke with Founder, Amber Duggan to find out more about the business.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt this year?
Trust your instinct.
This year has been a huge learning. Firstly, a career pivot and then to launch a business in the midst of a pandemic. What was I thinking?! I have worked alongside some of Australia’s biggest brands in a successful career prior to launching my own business, however when it is your own business there is a layer of emotion to every decision that needs to be made. I think I learnt very quickly that I needed to allow myself to process something emotionally and then process it more logically and ultimately trust my gut instinct.
What’s your proudest moment?
The proudest moment to date would be the day I held a bottle Just a Glass Australia Prosecco in my hands. I looked at the bottle with a few tears in my eyes as all the hard work, the hours spent researching, developing and testing had finally come down to this…a 200ml bottle of my very own just a glass. It was everything I could have hoped for and exactly how I had pictured it.
What or who has the most grounding influence on you?
My family has long history in Australian farming near the Victorian Otway’s.
I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to grow up in an environment that teaches you the meaning of caring for and working with the land. I always enjoyed seeing the labour of love that went into producing something, seeing the journey from paddock to plate.
My Dad would be my grounding influence. In terms of life advice and business advice he is always calming and logical in his decision making process. I admire his work ethic, as a farmer he puts his heart and soul into his business but is also very strategic about what decision he makes. Both my parents have influenced my love of the land and understanding the importance of Australian industry.
What’s the biggest challenge you face at work?
I think the shift of working in the corporate world whilst juggling a family and now working for myself juggling a family has similar pressure, however the biggest challenge I find is knowing when to switch off. I think I’m still learning the boundaries to set and I’m sure most small businesses owners will say that finding that balance is an ongoing struggle.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?
Take it one step at a time
As a startup I’ve had to learn that I can’t do everything at once. It’s a test and learn and it’s a slow build. I have my roadmap of where I see the brand going in the future and I have to remind myself that it’s important I don’t rush to get to step XYZ before I’ve completed ABC.
Be brave and invest in people who will invest in you
I realised very early on that I would need to find a team of people to surround myself with who I could fully put my trust into and who would become some of my biggest supporters. It can be overwhelming on your own and I underestimated how much I would miss working in a team environment after leaving the corporate world. So I made my own team by carefully choosing who I would surround myself with. This was other women in small business who I could ask for advice and also the businesses I choose to work with including my winemaker, packaging team and artist.
I’m really proud of the people and businesses I worked with as their advice, support and encouragement was everything.
What is the one regret you do not want to have in this lifetime?
My grandmother told me to “enjoy every moment, as every time you blink that moment becomes a memory” I think I try to focus on this personally and professionally. It doesn’t mean that moments in life won’t be hard, but I don’t want to get to the end of my life regretting the fact I wished any moments away.
What do you love most about running your own business?
I love that I have created something I am really proud of. I’m proud that every inch of the product and brand is Australian made and I love that I was able to invest in other local small business to bring the brand to life.
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