In the competitive and fast changing spirits market, sustaining growth is almost as crucial as the quality of the product. Wild Common, one of the fastest-growing tequila brands, recognized this early on. Wild Common’s high quality, traditionally made, additive-free tequilas and small batch mezcals found immediate loyal fans not only in liquor stores, but on craft cocktail menus at top restaurants nationwide. To fuel this demand, they sought a banking partner that could understand their growth ambitions. Their search led them to the Bridge, a platform that connects growing businesses with suitable lenders.
Upon using the Bridge platform, Wild Common's fractional CFO, Paul Ferguson, (who later assumed the role full-time), initiated the process by submitting a single loan request, accessing Bridge’s network of 75+ lenders, significantly streamlining the process of finding the right financial partner. Paul commented, "The Bridge platform was a game-changer in our bank partner search. The ability to easily connect us to a vast network of lenders through a single loan request was so efficient, allowing us to focus more on making good tequila and less on searching for a bank” he said.
“The Bridge platform was a game-changer in our bank partner search. The ability to easily connect us to a vast network of lenders through a single loan request was so efficient, allowing us to focus more on making good tequila and less on searching for a bank”
- Paul Ferguson, CFO
Among various banking options, First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) resonated with Wild Common’s vision for a sustainable, long term growth partnership. Jeremy Ehardt from FNBO shared his perspective on finding Wild Common through Bridge, "Bridge helps us easily find and connect with businesses in our target market. In this case, we are thrilled that it led us to Wild Common. We are not merely providing a line of credit; we are fostering a relationship with an exciting brand that has a clear, sustainable growth plan."
Andy Bardon, the CEO of Wild Common, highlighted the ease of the process. "As a busy CEO I was reliant and trusting of Paul Ferguson, Wild Common CFO, to make an efficient decision with as much information as possible. The platform streamlined his search and provided him with the information he needed so our business could keep up with demand. This proved crucial to our business, so we didn’t run out of inventory.” he said.
Wild Common’s experience is a great illustration of the potential for Bridge to assist entrepreneurs like Andy, funding growth without wasting time and making their vision a reality. The challenges of securing financial support are notable, especially for early-stage companies in the spirits industry. One of the most significant hurdles that high growth companies face are the capital needs that come along with this growth. The Bridge platform significantly alleviates this hurdle, showcasing a promising avenue for emerging brands keen on securing the right commercial lending partner.
The connection between Wild Common and FNBO highlights how the Bridge platform functions—facilitating meaningful connections between business owners and lenders and increasing access to capital and choice of affordable funding sources... Cheers to that!
