"MY SALES NUMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF"!

No, this isn't a headline leftover from the heyday of the late ‘90's. This is what we're hearing today from our salespeople.

Last month we took to the streets for a multi-market sales tour to uncover the best tips and techniques to generate impressive sales numbers in a down economy. Here is what we found.

Top Tips To Tempt the Trade in These Trying Times

• Sell the category, not just a wine
People who think selling Argentine wine is all about adding a couple Malbecs to the shelf are missing a big sales opportunity. Now is the time to take a step back and educate or re-educate your customer about Argentina, the place.

“Understanding more about the different growing regions in Argentina and even within Mendoza helped me realize the range of Malbecs that are possible there. I now have Malbecs from the Uco Valley, Lujan du Cuyo, and Maipu and will soon start experimenting with some from Salta,” one Florida retailer recently told us.

• Offer the complete Argentine wine experience
Don't just stop at Malbec. Imports of Malbec blends, Torrontes and Cabernet are also on fire (see here). “I now have people asking me if I have Torrontes by the glass. Just three months ago no one knew that grape, especially here in Texas,” adds a Texas sommelier.

• Share the data and show them the money
Yes, Argentina is hot. Yes, Malbec moves. Just think how much more money you'd make if you found some more room for these hot bottlings. Use the category growth among regions data we shared with you last month and help your accounts tailor their space in the store or on the list to match more closely what is selling. For example, no need for 3 feet of shelf space devoted to Australian wine when that category was -13% last year.

A Chicago retailer shares,
“We pulled many New Zealand and Chilean wines off the shelf to make room for more Argentine bottles. I already have to place another order!”

• Get your hands dirty
Why stop at convincing them to move a bottle here and there. Seal the deal by offering to help them reset the entire section to maximize THEIR profits. Whether they take you up on it or not, the offer goes a long way.

“My team and I have spent several hours with many of our retail accounts helping to reset their sections. That extra level of service helps keep you top of mind,” adds Melanie Malosky, VC National Sales Manager.

• Don't forget the smaller guys
In general, smaller communities are several months behind market trends. These communities also don't see as much distributor traffic as do the larger, metropolitan markets. Paying a visit to these accounts early on can establish you as their go-to person. As their clientele becomes more regionally experienced and educated, you are all set. The price!? Just a little time and gas money.

Accounts come in all different shapes and sizes and all with different needs. So feel free to pick and choose from this list and tailor them to your customers. And don't forget, we have a lot of valuable category information, educational tools, and sales tools available on our website www.vineconnections.com that can be helpful as you plot your new sales strategy. Good luck!

saké2me WILL SOCK IT TO YA

Fun to say, beautifully packaged, and tasty on the tongue, saké2me is the latest addition to the VC portfolio. Unlike our traditional artisan sake bottlings, this lightly sparkling, Japanese  junmai sake is infused with all-natural Asian flavors and are available in convenient single-serve bottles.


“We decided it was time to spread the joy of sake to people who wanted a sake experience, but with the interesting flavors of fun cocktails,” said Ed. “Take good quality Japanese sake, infuse it with interesting and exotic Asian flavors (from real extracts, and not too sweet), add a light sparkle to make it refreshing, and put it in a single-serve bottle to make trial easier.”

Four fun flavors to try…

•  Asian Pear: Ripe, sweet fruit with subtle spicy aromatics.

•  Ginger Mango: Sensual fruit with a clean finish.

•  Yuzu Citrus: Lemony citrus with a hint of Mandarin orange peel and mint.

•  Green Tea: Asian green teas with notes of lemongrass and wildflower honey.

…and many ways to enjoy.

•  Serve chilled in a Champagne flute or white wine glass.

•  Enjoy on the rocks or cold straight from the bottle.

•  Sip by itself as a cocktail or aperitif

•  Pair with a wide variety of hors d'oeuvres or spicy Asian foods.

"saké2me is on fire! In just the past two months, we've opened up 7 new markets which brings our total coverage to 25 major markets and closer to our goal of nationwide distribution by the end of the year,” according to Melanie Malosky, VC National Sales Manager.

Look for it in premium grocery chains such as Whole Foods or on the list at modern pan-Asian restaurants. Visit http://www.saké2me.com/find_us.html for a full list of markets and locations or check with your VC sales person.

We'll keep you posted on saké2me through our Twitterings @ Japanesesake and the always entertaining Ed-authored VC Blog. In the meantime, try some and tell us what you think!

ARE YOU PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK?

Our creative marketing team has been busy developing quite the selection of fun and useful promotional tools to support your sales efforts. The recent addition?! Customized Vine Connections playing cards!

Functional for blackjack but best used as a quick reference for our entire portfolio, these colorful cards feature:

•  Brand information on our wine and sake

•  Profiles on our winemakers, bodega owners, sake brewers, and our two Jokers – Ed y Nick

•  Maps of Mendoza and Japan

•  Educational information on Malbec, the Argentine wine regions, the sake brewing process, and more.

You can bet that dealing out these decks of cards to salespeople, customers and consumers is a creative way to provide an incentive or reward at the office, in a store, or during an event. You can also use this handy tool as a fun way to keep up-to-date on the VC portfolio. Or better yet, just bring them to your next poker night.

Click here to stake your claim or just ask your VC rep for a stash!

Follow us on Twitter: Argentineanwine , Japanesesake

VC Blog: Ed's musings about this curious business of importing wine and sake