Wine of the Month Clubs

[Botafogo]

Shipping cost are not the only factor in this equation: We have MANY customers in Hawaii and even Guam who have to FED EX the stuff there and it still ends up cheaper than the local market not to mention our selection is much better. For the rest of the country, after you take out sales taxes (which are not paid in either state) almost any wine over $15 is still a value for folks in a lot of places and then you factor in the complete price meltdowns that happen here on a regular basis and you see why a third of our business is out of state...

To get back on topic, we do a different kind of WOM Club: we set up a data base for EACH customer with their likes and dislikes, preferences for price and style, number of bottles (or cases in some instances) and do an individualized order for each one every month. AND, we don't use it to clear out slow movers but to lead with new items. Most of them are started as gifts but we have maybe fifty folks who just like the adventure.

Roberto @ WINE EXPO, Santa Monica

[This message has been edited by Botafogo (edited 11-03-2002).]