Archive for the 'Best Practices Spotlight' Category
Excellent Teams bring Success. WTN Services Team Spotlight on Kristina Palko Direct Marketing Manager, The Winetasting Network
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009Kristina Palko
Direct Marketing Manager, The Winetasting Network
Kristina Palko was born in 1979 and raised in the beautiful Napa Valley. Through her academic studies at the JC and an 8 year rapport beginning at Ambrosia in early 2000, Kristina has achieved an indispensable amount of knowledge and experience in wine industry sales, operations and marketing.
In 2008 Kristina sought expansive opportunities with LoopNet, the largest and most heavily trafficked commercial real estate listing service located in San Francisco, California. As E-Commerce Manager, Kristina implemented a comprehensive online marketing program, which further strengthened and refined her marketing background, a background which would transition her once again back into the wine industry, a profession and lifestyle where her passion remains firmly planted.
In 2009 Kristina returned to the 1-800-Flowers family of brands as Direct Marketing Manager of WTN Services. Kristina is now heading the WTN marketing team, focused on implementing a multi-channel marketing strategy across the entire WTN portfolio of retail wine brands including www.Ambrosiawine.com, www.geerwade.com, www.winetasting.com and soon to be others.
Kristina is a valuable team member providing a bright smile and challenging thought daily on how to build our brands to excellence!
WTN Services and Wine 2.0 November 18 2009 New York City
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009WTN Services has partnered with Wine 2.0 as a lead participant in New York city on November 18th for the second year in a row. WTN Services will be highlighting wines from several of our winery partners including Porter Family Wines, Heritage Link Brands and our brand of Geerwade.com where we will be introducing our newest wine addition Clarim Vineyards Cabernet.
We hope to see our friends in New York drop by our tables and witness the great offerings that our partner wineries bring to New York. Additional WTN partners that will be featured include Hahn Wine Estates, Tom Eddy and others. We hope to see you there and for more information on Wine 2.0 visit http://www.winetwo.com/
WTN Services Wine Club Learnings from Krakow…10 lessons learnt
Thursday, April 30th, 2009A few weeks ago a member of the WTN Team participated in the International Wine Club Associations conference in Krakow Poland. One of the presentations came from Direct Wines one of the largest direct to consumer sellers of wines in the world. Wine direct to homes in the UK and the US is the business of Direct Wines’ enterprises. The firm now ships more than 30 million bottles of wine a year through three business units, Laithwaites (formerly Bordeaux Direct) and the Sunday Times and the Wall Street Journal wine club.
Both operations sell wine online. Founder Tony Laithwaite first entered the wine business by importing French wines and selling them from a rented railway arch in 1969. When the Sunday Times in 1973 published an exposé on some of the dirty tricks of the British wine trade, Laithwaite wrote to distance himself from the bad press. The letter drew 2,000 reader responses and prompted the newspaper to establish a wine club with Laithwaite’s help.
They did a very basic presentation but the simple presentation speaks volumes to how they are driving success…
- Don’t try to do everything yourself - (Often there are much better people out there skilled at doing things)
- When you find someone good, don’t forget that they are good. Don’t start to think that you could do it better yourself. (Fulfillment Services were referenced here and as to why they outsource this function.)
- Don’t think that an ERP system will solve everything (Spoke heavily to process and not thinking systems solve the world)
- Don’t cut the quality of wine (Speaks for itself)
- Don’t get distracted by business development opportunities off-strategy (Focus on what you do well no matter what)
- Don’t waste time and money buying competitors -You can acquire the expertise without acquiring the company
- Don’t forget to hire new blood (New employees bring new ideas and fresh energy even more so in downturns)
- Don’t allow your costs to grow in line with your sales ( Manage costs and not just sales)
- Don’t lose track of the developing external marketplace-Just because you got big a different way shouldn’t mean you can’t adapt or change as the business environment evolves those big retailers of yesterday are not so big today when they did not evolve.
- Don’t forget the first nine
Though basics these are good reminders to be applied to our wine businesses today.
Chris
Chris Edwards
Vice President & General Manager
WTN Services™
a division of 1800Flowers
2545 Napa Valley Corporate Drive Ste F
Napa Ca 94558
707.265.2934
www.winetasting.com
www.ambrosia.com
Fundamentals 101- a quality partner provides- Stability
Monday, April 27th, 2009In times of economic uncertainity it is common to shop and to seek the best deal possible. We do that to our vendors on behalf of our clients to ensure our clients are getting value for their dollar along with products that are of quallity and consistency. We vet our vendors to ensure they will be around for the long term.
WTN Services® is a long term player with 19 years experience with strong economics and is firm in its commitment to our customers for the long run. While most of our competitors recently had large cut backs in their customer services, compliance and other customer facing departments- WTN Services® has not lost anyone in customer service nor account management. We have some of the longest tenured winery support and account managers in the industry. We recently expanded our compliance services team and offering and have enhanced our three tier services offerings.
We are investing in growing our business for the long term.
We view the economic downturn as an opportunity to expand our offering, grow market share and as an opportunity to invest for the long term. This is proven by a recent acquistion which has allowed us the scale to expand and enhance our three tier and compliance offering.
Additionally we are reviewing options for an additional distribution center location, to service our expanded business needs with even more competitive offerings in services and pricing for our clients in more key US wine consumption markets.
A major competitor, in the last 30 days has lost their Vice President of Compliance, Vice President of Warehouse Operations and is searching for or naming a new CEO, all the while, we at WTN are investing in new business opportunities that our clients will benefit from in the long run.
WTN Services® is a lean operation with multiple facilites and a stable staff. During times of uncertainity -Stability in patrnerships -of a fulfillment partner with strong economics is one of the -101 business basics -wineries should be seeking to ensure continuity of quality and services.
WTN Services® hears that call and is that stable partner investing for the future.
WTN Services/Winetasting Network(R) a division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R) announced today they would participate in ReCORK America’s recycling program to reclaim natural cork wine stoppers sold into the world market….
Friday, January 23rd, 2009We wanted to share a news story on WTN Services concerning another step furthering our green initiatives. We are leaders in our market segment further demonstrated by the fact no other winery fulfillment company measures nor tracks their initiatives toward green or sustainable practices nor publishes an annual green report card. If you want to collect corks in your tasting rooms and forward them to WTN as a further component of this inititative we are happy to help support you.
We appreciate our winery partnerships and our mutual efforts toward a more sustainable greener future.
Chris
Winetasting Network(R) a division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM(R) announced today they would participate in ReCORK America’s recycling program to reclaim natural cork wine stoppers sold into the world market.
There are approximately 13 billion natural cork wine stoppers sold into the world market annually, with the majority of them ending up in landfill instead of in reuse applications. Cork is ideal for recycling - it is biodegradable, renewable, energy efficient, sustainable and 100% natural.
This initiative provides a consumer drop off at the WTN Services(R) Napa warehouse and will include encouraging wine club consumers and winery partners to save their corks and return them to WTN Services(R) for consolidation. WTN staff will then forward the corks to ReCORK America for recycling. WTN Services(R) has a convenient collection receptacle situated in the main office in their Napa, California, warehouse for any consumers or partner winery wanting to return their corks for recycling.
Chris Edwards, Vice President and General Manager of WTN Services(R) said, “Customers and clients are encouraged to add wine corks to their list of recyclable packaging to further the benefits of green fulfillment services within the wine industry. We are thrilled to partner with ReCORK America as part of our ongoing green sustainability initiatives.”
Roger Archey, program manager for ReCORK, couldn’t be more pleased with expanding the program to include WTN Services’(R) premium winery fulfillment and services center into the recycling partnership.
“It’s great that WTN Services is taking the initiative to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices within the fulfillment industry,” says Archey. “WTN enables us to extend our reach by helping more people understand the benefits of recycling natural cork, thus extending the useful life of corks for years to come.”
Unlike plastic or metal screw-cap closures, recycled cork can be turned into flooring tile, building insulation, shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards, and even soil conditioner, among other uses. Natural cork is biodegradable, sustainable and a valuable source for carbon retention.
“It takes approximately 100,000 sparkling wine corks or nearly 300,000 wine corks to yield a ton of cork,” explained Edwards. “Because of natural cork’s ability to retain carbon dioxide from its inception as a wine cork through its reuse as a recycled cork product, it is a perfect example of sustainable packaging and is consistent with WTN Services(R) mission of setting a green example for the fulfillment industry,” Edwards concluded
WTN Services and the 2008 Wine Bloggers Conference
Sunday, October 26th, 2008October 25th, I was not sure what to expect when I was asked to be a “panel expert” at the 2008 wine bloggers conference. I have to admit I blog but not as an expet by any means. To my delight the dialog was great. Participation in our conference was huge as the discussion evolved around Social Media and the many forms of evolving technologies. Luckily I was on a panel with brilliant bloggers so my insight was more of a layman and how we are expermenting with new media rather than a true pioneer. Luckly in the wine blogging world there is room for everyone.
What impressed me most about the event was the number of participants the quality of questions and the excitment in learning and growing new media.
While I am an old schooler just learning the nuances of the new technologies of blogging, twitter etc, I was thrilled to be able to participate and am thrilled to learn more in the future.
To learn more visit www.winebloggersconference.org
WTN Services - Open House - July 11th as part of Wine Technology Week July 10th thru 15th
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008Join us Friday, July 11th from 3-5pm
Join WTN Services™ for our WTN-East Meets West Open House. Come explore cost effective, margin sensitive wine shipping through bi-coastal fulfillment services. In addition, see how WTN Services™ is fulfilling our commitment to ‘greening’ the industry. Finally, learn about opportunities with our sister companies — from 1-800-flowers.com™, Harry London Chocolates™, Plow & Hearth™, Cheryl & Company Cookies™, The Popcorn Factory™, Wine Marketing Initiatives, Direct to Trade and more.
All this plus great appetizers; wine hosted by Ambrosia, samples, giveaways and raffles from our 1-800-Flowers™ sister brands.
Please RSVP: 707-265-1514 or events@winetasting.com See you in July 11th at 3 p.m.
This open house is a part of Wine Technology Week, a series of events ending with for the 4th annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium® at the Marriot Napa Valley July 14 & 15, 2008.
Other WTN partners events include…
Inertia’s Annual Direct Symposium titled Innovations Friday, July 11th 9am – 3pm COPIA Theater
NOTE: Inertia Direct Symposium Attendees: Look for our shuttle service at Copia — we’ll pick you up and deliver back to Copia in time for dinner!
ShipCompliant 3rd Annual Users Conference and Direct Shipping Seminar July 11th at the Marriott in Napa, CA.
See you next week!
Chris Edwards
Vice President & General Manager
WTN Services™
a division of 1800Flowers
2545 Napa Valley Corporate Drive Ste F
Napa Ca 94558
707.265.2934
cedwards@winetasting.com
www.wtnservices.com
www.winetasting.com
www.1800flowers.com
WTN Services- Further Fuel Surcharge increase Advisory for June 08 and mitigation factors 5_21_08
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008As further follow-up to the competitive long term outlook and pricing pressure with wine shipping and fulfillment. FedEx and UPS has announced that the Express Fuel surcharge will change from 25% in May 08 to 28% for June 08, which is a 9.5% Increase since March 08.
More than ever the need for a bi-coastal solution comes to play, due to the cost of fuel causing a significantly negative impact on the cost of doing business. These cost pressures will have negative impact on margins for clients that do not act further eroding wine club retention rates, if wineries do not take mitigation factors. As a partner concerned about our client margins, we’d strongly encourage you to help us get wine club products into WTN Services sooner and take advantage of mitigation efforts of our bi-coastal fulfillment solution. Let’s work on a co-ordinated proactive plan, so that we can fulfill most clubs UPS ground via the bi-coastal method saving you from margin erosion. The benefit is 75% of the consumer base can flip to UPS ground for delivery within two days to the consumer and the difference in fuel surcharge is 17.55% verses the 2 Day air rates. However, the responsibility you our valued client or prospect has, is coordination and pre-planning to get products to us, so we can cross country the wine economically via refrigerated trucks or refrigerated rail to our east coast distribution center for timely fulfillment.
On Monday May 19th, Goldman Sachs predicted that Oil would average $141 or higher a barrel for the second half of 2008.”Goldman analyst Arjun N. Murti wrote in a report earlier this month that “the possibility of $150-$200 per barrel seems increasingly likely over the next six-24 months.'’ Our internal 1- 1800Flowers supply chain leaders have suggested that “The fastest way to mitigate this is to transition packages from Air to Ground– Based on industry standards, conversion from Express to Ground, can decrease packages cost by a minimum of 26% per package.”WTN Services is concerned about the long term implications on the wine industry due to these pricing pressures. We believe that our clients that can best manage their supply chain and take advantage of the opportunity for bi-coastal mitigation sooner, will be the clients that survive the storm of these increased pricing pressures with margin neutrality and less club member erosion.Please let’s meet and review how we can fast track opportunities for bi-coastal logistics services to mitigate the risks. On a side note, not sure if you saw our press today, but WTN Services is working hard in partnering with sustainable product suppliers…
Let’s catch up soon,
Chris
Chris Edwards
Vice President & General Manager
WTN Services™
a division of 1800Flowers
2545 Napa Valley Corporate Drive Ste F
Napa Ca 94558
707.265.2934
cedwards@winetasting.com
www.wtnservices.com
www.winetasting.com
www.1800flowers.com
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WTN Services- In Search of Excellence DesignPac
Thursday, May 15th, 2008WTN Services as a member of the 1800Flowers family is fortunate to be a part of a family of brands committed to excellence in consumer direct sells related to the food and wine catagory. This week I’ve been fortunate to spend a few days in Chicago, with the President Jeff Burkard and his team members of the newly acquired sister brand DesignPac.
DesignPac manufacturers and creates about 7 Million gift baskets, gift sets and related products annually for their client base. DesignPac was founded in 1991 and operates over 500,000 square feet of assembly distribution centers in the US with a keen eye for quality and detail.
What is the relevance to the wine industry, you may ask?
DesignPac manufactures gift baskets and related products for many major retail companies such as Wal Mart, Costco, Target and others. Wine and gourment gift baskets are a fast growing segment, so there are opportunities for the WTN Services clients to tap into the knowledge base of design excellence, manufacturing best practices and packaging design through our relationship with this new sister brand.
The gifting catagory is a fast growing yet untapped catagory for the wine industry. WTN Services in partnering with DesignPac over the next serval years, will be best positioned, to learn and apply their best practices learnings toward the needs of our winery clients. The opportunities in design excellence, marketing knowlege and margin sensitivity will only make us each better to market wine gifts to your and our mutual consumers.
Excellenc in quality and an eye on detail is what WTN Services is about and the partnership with DesignPac in helping tech us best practices to apply to the wine industry is a win for us all. To learn more contact your WTN Servcices Account manager and to learn more about DesignPac visit http://www.designpac.com/