GET A PIECE OF CUENTACUENTOS
Growth Potential: The mezcal market is expected to exceed $1B by 2025. It is already the fastest growing sector in alcohol five years running.
Experienced Team: We are a team of experienced entrepreneurs and industry veterans with multiple successes under our belts. Our marketing team famously developed Hangar One Vodka and sold it to Proximo (makers of 1800 Tequila).
Support the Little Guy: Our brand offers exceptional agave spirits while empowering the people who create them.
Overview
We believe Cuentacuentos is considered by industry insiders to be a definitive, authentic brand and the families we work with have all prospered under our label. Cuentacuentos sells at the top of the market, ensuring outstanding quality and fair margins all the way up the supply chain without cutting corners and yes, without celebrities.
We pride ourselves in producing authentic agave spirits with the help of the people who have been making them for the last 400 years. (Source)
Cuentacuentos was born from our founder Read Spear's desire to help small businesses in rural Latin America. Read then spent three years traveling through the Oaxaca countryside, learning about mezcal, its production, the economic abilities and limitations of the families who make it, and what they needed to build their businesses. He then settled on about half a dozen families that saw the vision of a brand under which they could sell their products, build their small family companies, and prosper. Our business ethic is our sales pitch: we expand by adding more small family producers. We will add three new families in 2022. Save mezcal by buying ethically.
Today, Read regularly gets requests from families having heard about Cuentacuentos and wanting to be part of the Cuentacuentos family of producers. From these people, Cuentacuentos brings to you the quality mezcals, from the most motivated families.
The Problem
Mezcal has been made in small batches by family producers for over 400 years. The new excitement and demand for mezcal is distorting production methods and threatening the economic wellbeing of small producers, who are being replaced by wealthier investment groups.
Image of what a typical Tequila production factory looks like, and why Tequila brands don't show off their methods.
The large production facilities that these investment groups create are diminishing the quality of mezcal on a massive scale, which contributes to the tasteless, nameless, and environmentally destructive product that Tequila has become. (Source)
The Solution
Our company has spent years doing the work necessary to develop a platform that allows us to meet market demands without distorting production methods, or promoting watered-down, compromised products. How are we able to meet the demand for excellent quality products? By helping small producers grow their family businesses, and by adding new family producers – people who have been making mezcal for generations.
Cuentacuentos does not set prices for our products, our producers do. We put these numbers into our price calculator and charge the consumer accordingly. Typically, our products land between $70 and $120 MSRP per bottle. ( Source, Source, Source, Source, Source, Source, Source)
Cuentacuentos builds up the local communities we work with by lending to the producers who want to expand, and then getting paid back in mezcal which we believe to be a unique aspect about our business model. Our goal is to empower the families we work with by letting them make their own growth and development decisions. We believe that this is the best way to preserve the traditional methods, quality, and variety of agave distillates that aficionados want.
In short, we curate for quality, but we do our best to stay out of the way of tradition. Our marketplace wager is that people who love agave distillates will pay for quality and authenticity. So far, we have been proven correct in our assumption.
Our products:
El Barro - a 46% ABV, clay-finished agave spirit that is available to bars in batches of 30 liters (5 x 6-ltr case) with their name and logo on the back label.
El Barro is fundamentally different from the other expressions. The concept with this product was to offer a low-cost “house mezcal” that disrupts brands whose business model is to chase costs to the bottom (38 ABV watery mezcal). We wanted a product that forced cheaply made brands to change business practices back to authentic methods or at least higher ABV.
Tso'ok Rum - Recently launched, a cane juice aguardiente from the Sierra Mixe region of Oaxaca
Our Agave spirits check every box a conscientious consumer requires:
Our traction
Agave tastemakers and aficionados are already aware of and love Cuentacuentos. We've earned $256,000 in 2021 sales despite the damage done by the pandemic to the food and beverage industry, while establishing a marketing partnership with the people who created the famous Mezcalero brand, and have already developed the well-known mezcal brands, Alipus, and Los Danzantes, as well as Las Perlas raicilla. These people were fundamental to the success of Hangar One vodka and Germain-Robin brandy.
The market
According to Jake Emen of the SevenFifty Daily, within the past five years, “...every major spirits industry player has waded into mezcal’s smoky waters.”
He continues as follows:
“The way the industry’s top producers are laying the foundation for sustainable growth today—or not—will go a long way towards determining the fate of the product and its producers, along with the relative quality and authenticity of what consumers are purchasing in the next decade and beyond.”
–“Overcoming the Risks of Mezcal’s Huge Growth”
Analyst predictions vary, but two things they all agree on is that the market is big, and is expected to grow. Here are a few predictions from our trusted industry sources: The global premium spirit market size was valued at USD $107.74B in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% 2020 to 2027. ( Source, Source)
More specifically, the mezcal market, estimated to be $387.10M as of 2020, is poised to grow to $1.06B by 2025, progressing at a CAGR of about 22% ( Source)
U.S. Mezcal sales by volume grew 24.8 percent in 2019 and 14.5 percent in 2020, and is forecasted to sustain a 10.5 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2021 and 2025. (Source) Mezcal’s 2016-20 CAGR of close to +30% is 2.5 times that of Tequila. (Source)
Anyone can establish a brand of mezcal or tequila, but not every brand succeeds. The agave spirits consumer wants transparency, information, ethical business practices, and to know that the producers have a stake. They want the business owner to be involved with the producers – we provide all of this.
Agave spirits offer a connection to tradition in a marketplace that is increasingly anonymizing and commoditizing; simply put, it is the anti-Tequila. Hand-crafted agave spirits offer the hope that globalization is not all bad.
Why invest
We are getting quality mezcal to the shelves, and in powerful placements, by empowering rural families in Latin America to produce their products with tradition, heritage, and passion. In the same spirit, we want to stimulate the development for the everyday investor in the United States.
And regarding storytellers, our label art, by up-and-coming Oaxacan artist, Cesar Ruiz Conseco, tells the story of how old man tlacuache (opossom), of all the human-animal allies, was able to outsmart the demons to steal the tools of the fiesta: mezcal, fire, and tobacco. The tlacuache is revered as a figure who represents the cunning and generosity of the native Mexican people and is featured as Cuentacuentos' logo.
If you feel like you connect to our mission and believe that agave spirits have a future rooted in quality and ethical production, we want you with us.
We are all, in the end, the narrators of our own lives—storytellers. Cuentacuentos.
Mezcal brings people together, stories make us friends.
We promote and distribute small-batch traditional mezcal by creating a platform to bring numerous small, family producers together under one brand. Since launching in the US in late 2018, Cuentacuentos, which has a portfolio of over two dozen revolving expressions, has placements in some of the nation’s finest retailers, restaurants, and bars.
From 2008 to 2020, Mr. Spear worked in various enterprises within the burgeoning medical and adult use cannabis arenas. Following the sale of his dispensary and cultivation operation in Lyons, CO in 2013, as RS Consulting, Inc, Mr. Spear began doing business consulting work with private investment groups seeking licensure in states around the US as those states added legal cannabis programs. Mr. Spear worked with groups entering nearly every state in the US that has announced a cannabis program, helping them comprehend and accommodate the extreme level of regulatory scrutiny in this arena. Mr. Spear used the proceeds from his business consulting activity to fund Origen Imports, LLC (now Origen Imports, Inc) in May of 2015.
Mr. Spear earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree (cum laude) in Philosophy at The Pennsylvania State University in 1992, and his Master of Arts in Philosophy (cum laude) at Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost in 1994. Early success in business has led Mr. Spear to want to help people who otherwise would have no access to US markets.
Christopher Stevens
Advisor
In 2008, Mr. Stevens began work at Craft Distillers as a Regional Sales Manager. At Craft he moved from a six-state territory to a twelve-state territory, and is now the Director of Sales for all of the US. At Craft, Chris has developed working relationships with nearly all of the main US distributors including Republic National Distribution Company, Breakthru Beverage, Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, Johnson Brothers, Major Brands, Tenzing, Favorite Brands, Standard Beverage, Quench, Vin Sauvage, A. Bommarito, and Pinnacle.
Mr. Stevens is responsible for beverage programming (brand positioning, pricing, placement, and logistics) of approximately 75 SKUs through their distribution chain of 14 national distributors. Mr. Stevens’ relationships, developed over decades, are the key to his success in this industry.
Mr. Stevens earned his Bachelor of Science (cum laude) in Psychology at the University of Houston. Chris works on a contract basis for Cuentacuentos approximately 16 hours per week.
Alan Lara
Gerente de Operaciónes
Carlos Mendez
Director de Operaciónes
In 2011, following the untilmely death of his father, he took direction of the family mezcal business, later launching his mezcal packaging plant, offering production and packaging services to his clients, as well as establishing agave plantations in many different regions of Oaxaca.
In 2018, he built his second distillery and in 2019, he built one more distillery. He has recently ventured into the rum industry, working again with small producers and selling under the TSO'OK brand.
He is currently the director of the company Productores del Buen Agave SA de CV and of MFM Productores SAPI de CV mezcal company, focused on the production of maguey (agave), mezcal production, packaging, and export.
Carlos works on a contract basis for Cuentacuentos approximately 4 hours per week.
Steven Adelkoff, Esquire
Director, Consultant, and Legal Counsel
After spending the first 20 years of his career (first as an associate and then equity partner) for the global law firm K&L Gates, Mr. Adelkoff helped run diverse businesses from Shariah compliant hedge funds to an international developer of power projects. Today, he acts as the Chief Compliance and Legal Officer for Fairwinds International Bank, LLC (located in Puerto Rico), manages all investment activities for a family office and is an active private equity investor.
Mr. Adelkoff earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (where he graduated Magna Cum Laude), his Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University – The Johnson School of Management, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University. A Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Mr. Adelkoff also holds the Series 7, Series 63 and Series 24 broker dealer licenses. He is also a certified anti-money laundering specialist. His favorite activity is teaching graduate students at Rutgers University and Point Park University, where his academic interests lie in international business ethics, behavioral economics, social entrepreneurship, and decision analysis.
Steven works on a contract basis for Cuentacuentos approximately 4 hours per week.
Sandra Luquin
México Counsel
Sandra has more than 20 years’ experience in business operations across a number of countries. She founded and ran two businesses from the Netherlands: Mexican Cooking and Taco Gallery. These companies brought authentic Mexican cuisine and beverage events to the Dutch, French, Belgium, UK and Irish markets. Events included tequila tasting, food pairing, cooking workshops and vibrant Mexican parties.
Sandra studied law in Mexico, where she practices today. Sandra works on a contract basis for Cuentacuentos approximately 4 hours per week.
Blanca Esther Salvador Martínez
México Counsel
Professionally, she is expert in international comerce law, specificaly with respect to TLCAN (NAFTA), antidumping and subsides, and she has worked under the Ministery of Economy. Other areas of specialty include exportations and domestic comerce (Oaxaca State Goverment); foreign investment, mezcal exportation, international contracts, intellectual property; and academic development and research.
Dra. Salvador is the founder of Institute of Institute of International Research and Studies, Civil Asociation (https://iinvei.org/) which studies human rights, women's rights, gender equity, and publishes on research and cultural activities.
She has been a Professor of university of international commerce, law and marketing at UNAM, Anáhuac University, ITAM, and anothers universities in México.
Dra. Salvador is the author of several articles and books, including, "El ABC del Negocio de Mezcal" (The ABCs of the Mezcal Business). Blanca works on a contract basis for Cuentacuentos approximately 8 hours per week.
Ansley Coale
Director
In 2002, working with Jorg Rupf of St. George Spirits, Ansley helped create the vodka brand Hangar One, and, a year later, founded the marketing company Craft Distillers. At Craft, Mr. Coale developed an innovative model of marketing that stressed the details of production and the people making the product, using the story of production to replace the traditional “push” method of sales, focusing on the trade itself as the route to the consumer.
In 2004, working with Destileria Los Danzantes of Oaxaca, Ansley brought mezcal to the USA at a time when the category was scarcely known. In 2009, he created the brand Mezcalero, the first mezcal to focus on single-batch production and on wild agaves, and in 2010 took on Mezcal Alipus, which now has twice placed No. 2 on lists of brands preferred by bartenders.
In 2010, Mr. Coale used the proceeds from his sale of Hangar One in 2010 to establish the niche brands Low Gap Whiskey, Henry Russell Gin, and Vodka DSP CA-162.
Mr. Coale earned his Bachelor of Arts in Classics and History at the College of Wooster in 1966, his Master of Arts in Ancient Greek and Roman History at the University of Michigan in 1968, and his PhD in the same field of study 1971, also at the University of Michigan. From 1971-1975, Mr. Coale lectured in Classics as an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley. Mr. Coale has vast experience and good industry relationships in Oaxaca, having walked five times from Oaxaca to Juquila. He is working now on a project to stabilize a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in Toledo, OH.
Ansley works on a contract basis for Cuentacuentos approximately 8 hours per week.
Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares
*Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares. See Bonus info below.
Investment Incentives and Bonuses*
Time-Based:
Friends and Family Early Birds
Invest within the first week and receive 15% bonus shares
Super Early Bird Bonus
Invest within the first two weeks and receive 10% bonus shares
Early Bird Bonus
Invest within the first three weeks and receive an 5% bonus shares
Amount-Based:
$500+
Mezcal Newbie
Set of 2 copitas (investors edition)
$1,000+
Mezcal Aficionado
One bottle of Special Investor’s Batch Mezcal and set of two copitas (investors’ “agaves of mezcal” edition)
$5,000+
Mezcal Mageuyero.
5% Bonus Shares + two Bottles of Special Investor’s Batch Mezcal and set of four copitas (investors’ “agaves of mezcal” edition)
$25,000+
Mezcal Mezcalero.
5% Bonus Shares + $500 travel credit and two nights stay at a hotel with a tour of the distillery + Annual Strategy call with Board of Directors + one six-bottle case of your choice of any of our mezcal expressions and one set of four copitas (investors’ “agaves of mezcal” edition)
$50,000+
Mezcal Palenquero.
5% Bonus Shares + $1000 travel credit and 2 nights stay at a hotel with a tour of the distillery + Quarterly Strategy call with Board of Directors + Two six-bottle Casesof your choices of any of our mezcal expressions and two sets of four copitas (investors’ “agaves of mezcal” edition)
*All perks occur when the offering is completed.
The 10% StartEngine Owners' Bonus
Origen Imports, Inc. will offer 10% additional bonus shares for all investments that are committed by investors that are eligible for the StartEngine Crowdfunding Inc. OWNer's bonus.
This means eligible StartEngine shareholders will receive a 10% bonus for any shares they purchase in this offering. For example, if you buy 100 shares of Common Stock at $1.25 / share, you will receive 110 shares of Common Stock, meaning you'll own 110 shares for $125. Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
This 10% Bonus is only valid during the investors' eligibility period. Investors eligible for this bonus will also have priority if they are on a waitlist to invest and the company surpasses its maximum funding goal. They will have the first opportunity to invest should room in the offering become available if prior investments are canceled or fail.
Investors will receive the highest single bonus they are eligible for among the bonuses based on the amount invested and time of offering elapsed (if any). Eligible investors will also receive the Owner’s Bonus in addition to the aforementioned bonus.
Irregular Use of Proceeds
The Company might incur Irregular Use of Proceeds that may include but are not limited to the following over $10,000: Vendor payments. Salary payments made to one’s self, a friend or relative. Any expense labeled “Travel and Entertainment”. Inter company debt or back payments.
Members get an extra 10% shares in addition to rewards below!
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