Anthony Ghattas has the life that many dream about; great wine, beautiful art, and friends in high places, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
In only six years, this serial entrepreneur has managed to build up a successful lifestyle brand United Lifestyle Group – including two galleries in Perth and Sydney and a burgeoning wine group — at a time when many galleries and wine outfits have crumbled under the financial pressure.
However, his business wasn’t without casualty. When the GFC hit, his horse breeding business bit the dust; fortunately, the wine business sailed forth with a 42 per cent growth in revenue in 2009, given that people were prepared to buy more wine, and eat out less.
“We still went through our ups and downs too; the uncertainty was hard,” Mr Ghattas said.
Back in growth mode, Ghattas has recently linked up with another young gun — Sam Kennard — of the Kennard Storage family, to launch a bespoke cellaring business in which the Kennards clients access wine advice and winemakers while Ghattas hopes his clients get a good deal on expanding or starting a cellar.
United Wines recently ran a wine treasure hunt with winemakers at one of the Sydney Kennard sites, and plans to unfold the event in 12 Kennard locations through the year.
“Sam and I are of the same spirit, and roughly the same age,” Mr Ghattas said.
“Kennards is a big business, still a family run business…and of course, I’m after a good deal on storage; he’s probably the same when it comes to wine and art.”
Photo by paulaloe