Cheap is not an attribute

“We are the cheapest in town!” But at what cost? Being cheapest does not mean you are not delivering value (they are different things), and you are inviting comparisons to others. Being cheapest means your only measuring stick to determine if you’re doing the right thing is controlled by your competition. The moment somebody is cheaper Read More…

The hidden weight of email

Here’s something to think about: Email is a system built to pass the burden of response onto others. I send you an email. I expect a response. No response might mean (to me, the sender) that you don’t care about me, you’re lazy, you’re overworked and not doing anything to change that, that I’m a Read More…

Tiny, fast, nimble, and original

The rise of the number of wine distributors in major markets in the past five years has been stunning. Even in heavy handed and “old boy’s network” markets like Chicago, more and more micro-distributors are opening shop and succeeding. Not only succeeding, but making amazing inroads that are pissing off those that feel they “deserve Read More…

Monday Challenge: Your best customers

Welcome to the Monday Challenge! This week: Your best customers. Who are they, and why are they the best customers? This has nothing (or at least little) to do with money and sales. That’s the easy way out of the challenge. Rather, take ten minutes today to figure out who your best customers are. Base Read More…

I can’t do that

I don’t have the time. I don’t have the skill set. It’s out of my pay grade. I’m busy enough already. I don’t see how that would benefit me. I can’t do that. When you get in the habit of saying no, are you doing it for the right reasons, or are you making excuses? Read More…

Once it’s gone, it’s gone

There is only one thing you can’t replace in your life. Only one thing that gets spent continuously and no app, innovation, planning, savings, or checkbook can bring it back. And that’s yesterday. Time spent. Once time is gone, it’s gone. What happened yesterday can’t be changed. The only things that can change are today Read More…

Habits are for breaking

As a wine retailer, you lead people to the same wines, tell the same stories, and bring to work every day the same attitude. Time to break the habits. As a restauranteur, you carry forward the same energy to your team, you suggest the same wines on a regular basis, you train your staff the Read More…

Minimum needed knowledge

Is it better to know a lot about a few things, or a little about a lot of things? It depends on who you are and what you do. A server or bartender at a restaurant better know a little bit about all the wines by the glass. It’s an easy quiz to give them. Read More…

How to be a Wine Leader

There are very few Wine Leaders out there. There are a ton of wine managers, and in the scope of this idea a wine manager is defined as somebody who controls, regulates, checks on, and makes happen the flow of wine through the commercial transactions of our business. Most wholesale reps, retail buyers, restaurant buyers, Read More…

What is you real goal?

What is your real goal in life? If you had to pick one goal, what would it be? To me, it’s simple: be happy. Happiness involves lots of factors, but since that is my core goal, I always work toward it. Some ways I move closer to my goal everyday: 1) I choose to not deal Read More…