Archive for August, 2015

Legalized Marijuana’s Impact on Alcohol Sal

August 31st, 2015

Has legalized marijuana had an impact on alcohol sales? [level-members] Not according to a recent article by the Denver correspondent from The Guardian. In fact, one store owner in Colorado, where marijuana has been legal for about 18 months, reports that sales growth has been “phenomenal.” (He also quipped that “a high tide lifts all […]

Food & Wine Pairings: Wines to Grill

August 28th, 2015

As summer winds down and your wine shop customers are eager to grill as often as they can, here are a few grill-friendly wines you might suggest. [level-members] From Food & Wine, we find recommendations of a big Cabernet to accompany Mixed Grill with Fresh Tomato-and-Pepper Salsa. Or you could try a nice Pinot to […]

Wine Shop News You Can Use – 8/27/

August 27th, 2015

News you can use in your wine shop marketing: South African wines, and how wine can help you solve your knottiest problems. [level-members] First, from the Wall Street Journal we have this report about the tremendous value that South African wines represent for those who seek fine Bordeaux-style wines at something less than Bordeaux-style prices. […]

Wine Shop Marketing: Know Thine Ene

August 26th, 2015

Or keep your friends close and your enemies closer … [level-members] At first glance, an online service like Delectable would look like the last place a wine shop owner would want to be seen by his customers. But that’s a pretty shortsighted perspective. In fact, it can be a great place to market yourself and […]

Local Wine Retail Can Beat Onli

August 25th, 2015

Mobile and online sales are a threat, but there’s more to those channels than just the obvious bad news. [level-members] We recently came across this quote on The Hub. A study we conducted among 1,000 shoppers across channels revealed that the in-store and at-shelf experience are still the leading purchase triggers influencing 65 percent of […]

Wine Industry News 8/24/15: Breaking Records in Oregon, Sniffing Opportunity in Pennsylvania, and Cuban Ciga

August 24th, 2015

Oregon’s wine industry is coming off a record-breaking year and looking to improve on their recent results. Wineries in PA feel their very survival hinges on the privatization debate. And what might happen to the Cuban cigar market with the normalization of relations with between the US and Cuba? [level-members] First, to Cuba. Fortune’s article […]

The Science Behind Food & Wine Pairi

August 21st, 2015

It turns out that cavemen where smarter than we thought. OK, the concept of pairing food and wine isn’t quite that old, but it’s been around since long before scientists turned their analytical gaze on the idea. [level-members] No pairing recommendation this week. Just some pairing science. Apparentlly, it’s all about mouthfeel. The research we […]

Reading Material Worth Sharing with Your Wine Shop Custome

August 20th, 2015

British humor ain’t for everyone. Plus a wine-inspired summer reading choice. [level-members] First, a warning for the prim and proper. Premier Estates, based in the UK, does not share your delicate sensibilities. Read on at your own peril. It seems that the firm launched a new line of wines with an ad campaign built around […]

Why Interesting Wines Matt

August 19th, 2015

Yes, you’d love for your customers to buy more expensive wines, but if they really love the wines they do buy … [level-members] In other words, don’t obsess over price. Obsess over making great matches between wine and wine lover. You know that phenomenon where the wine you’re drinking (which really isn’t anything special) tastes […]

Appealing to the Younger Generation – and Othe

August 18th, 2015

Is there anything to be learned form one wine producer who is appealing to the younger generation of consumers in a rather unusual way. [level-members] One of the main truths of website design is captured in the title of Steve Krug’s great book: Don’t Make Me Think. And yet, that’s exactly what Australian Vintage Limited […]