Archive for the ‘Business Tips for Wine Shop Owners’ Category

As Amazon announces that Amazon Wine is being shuttered, I’m reminded that it pays to let other people make your mistakes. [level-members] You may not have the army of lawyers that the big boys do, and the ability to even attempt to change the legislative landscape as Amazon has done, but you should be hiring experts […]

Should you stock more or fewer wines with non-cork closures? And what kind of closures should they be? [level-members] In the US, consumers still prefer cork by a wide margin. (In marked contrast to the situation in the UK.) But while screw-caps are gaining favor, synthetic cork seems to be on the downswing. What does […]

Amazon has been nibbling around the edges of the wine market for quite some time. With that toe-dipping came concerns of impending cataclysm for main street wine shops. Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods was viewed as perhaps the final nail in local retail’s coffin but it may in fact provide a reprieve. [level-members] As this Wine […]

If you think you have to join them in order to beat them, you’re making a big mistake. [level-members] The Philadelphia Inquirer recently reported that the rules regarding who can shop DtC in PA aren’t necessarily being fully enforced. Obviously, this doesn’t directly affect anyone outside the state, but some version of it certainly is affecting […]

Last week, we posted about the worst behavior seen in wine shops. This week, we’ll pivot over to finding the balance between being taken advantage of and creating an adversarial relationship. [level-members] If you think of the liquor stores in bad neighborhoods you’ve seen in the movies, they’re not exactly warm and welcoming. Bulletproof glass, […]

Retail shop keepers have seen it all, and not just from dogs and children who don’t know better, but from adults who most certainly should. [level-members] What’s the worst behavior you’ve seen in your shop? And how do the examples in this WSJ article compare? (Subscription required to read the whole thing.) Most importantly, how […]

It sounds so basic as to be silly: focus on the customer. But too many businesses – entire industries, even. (Airlines, cell phone carriers, I’m talking to you!) – seem to view their customers as an afterthought. [level-members] Engage your customers on an on-going basis and you’ll be way ahead of whatever trends are being […]

Serious subject. The opiate epidemic may get more headlines at the moment, but alcohol abuse is a problem that has long existed and doesn’t seem to be going away. [level-members] And while it may not be the subject you’d most like to talk about, we’re better off addressing it head on – or others will […]

Although this recent article on making money in the wine business is focused on vineyard owners, its lessons apply to the retail side of the business, as well. [level-members] At its simplest, sorting out the profitability – and sustainability – of your retail wine shop comes down to knowing three things: Your Costs Your Margins […]