Nothing says bliss like unwinding after a long day, with a glass of wine and your favorite book. In fact, it was the inspiration behind Kansas City-based wine and book club company, Bliss Books and Wine.
Sisters La’Nae Robinson and La’Nesha Frazier have considered themselves bookworms for some time now. Although, La’Nesha admits the bug didn’t hit her until much later than her big sis, La’Nae.
“As I moved into adulthood, I would find myself reading books on my lunch break at work,” La’Nesha Frazier, co-owner of Bliss Books and Wine told Travel Noire. “I would hate having to stop when it was time to go back to work, because I knew that was my only time to enjoy my book. Once home, mommy and wife duties would kick in and I could never get a moment to myself to really finish.”
La’Nesha realized that she needed a space to simply unwind, enjoy a glass of wine, and get lost in her favorite book. The fact that her husband could go enjoy a cigar at a nice lounge, or watch his favorite team at a sports bar, inspired her to brainstorm a concept for the wine and book enthusiasts.
“I called up La’Nae and after some brainstorming, we came up with Bliss Books and Wine. Because we needed a place to simply find our bliss.”
The company officially launched in 2019 with pop-ups around the Kansas City area. Guests were able to purchase used books, wine, and hear talks from local authors who’s books were also on display. Once COVID-19 hit, the pop-ups came to a screeching halt.
Instead, the sisters pivoted to an online and virtual format.
“We had to find a way to shift and bring it all together,” La’Nae Robinson said. “We moved to a monthly online book club that still featured authors speaking about their latest work.”
The women also reached out to local wineries to create special blends that went along with the club’s featured book. Attendees had the option to pickup the wine, or have it delivered if the winery offered national shipping.
The company has garnered so much attention, that it was also recognized by Oprah’s O Magazine.
“The response has been amazing. It’s honestly just been the right moment and timing. We’re now shipping books all over the country, and hosting more and more people on our Zoom calls. It’s truly a great community feel.”
Anyone can join the Bliss Books and Wine club. All information is shared via the brand’s social media pages. You can also subscribe to their newsletter to receive additional perks and discounts.
To learn more or to join the next bookclub meeting, visit the website: blissbooksandwine.com. You can also follow on Instagram at: @bliss_books_wine_kc.
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