2014 has been a new year for
this gal, a bit of dusting off and
relaunching TexaCali Wine Co. within the National and International Markets. Another big focus of our services this
year is social media strategy, website creation and communications
management.
I’ve also partnered with a
design firm “Sketchbook Creative”, Devin the owner and I have the same
sensibilities as to why wineries need to care about their online image.
Sketchbook provides affordable and super cool website design and development, email marketing, photography and print design.
A recent little Q & A between Devin and myself as we were getting to know each
other’s core business…
D: What IS TexaCali Wine Co.? A: We are a
sales and marketing consulting firm, always have been, always will be. 2014 has presented a solid mix of client
needs from opening national distribution to writing emails to their wine club
members. Currently I’m working with a handful of wineries and one importer…oh
and there’s the fantastic Zalto (stemware) sales that come along with it too.
D: What isn’t TexaCali Wine Co.? A: Great question, seriously do not come to me with
1000 cases of wine you bottled a few years ago that you didn’t have a sales
plan for then…there are people in this business that feed like sharks on
others’ misery and mistakes, this is not for me. It’s best to utilize TexaCali Wine Co. in a positive situation,
where you want to strengthen your current working plans and/or begin planning for the first time ever.
D: So do you live in Texas? A: Not anymore, I’m basing operations from Marin County
(proximity to airports is KEY!) but am always up for a visit to Texas, Germany,
NYC – you name it. I basically live
behind my Mac and in my car…thank goodness for our view from the deck at home
in Marin!
D: Who’s your favorite client? A: Now now, you can’t ask me that, they’re all special
in many different ways. My best clients have a focused vision for the business,
are organized for me to step-in and lend my strengths and are already
implementing “best practices”. First you
must be making wine that I love to drink…seriously matters. Oh and don't be an asshole, my #1 rule in life from now on...
D: What do you think your best strengths are then? A: Oh my
enthusiasm for the “business of wine” and the art of story telling to make sure
anyone I’m reaching out to feels the passion that went into those bottles! I’ve
been known to move a few truckloads and containers of wines too…the best part!!
D: Weakness – come on, spill it... A: I
loathe projects that are full of time wasting minutia, I love to sell BIG,
kills me to wrap my talents around selling a handful of cases at a time for
someone, I’m not very good at staying on target with that task. Make me work for a solid BTG placement and for a special feature any-day! Oh and I wish I was a Master of Excel, I blame
it on my age, but man I'm such a Excel dummy.
D: Describe a perfect day in the life of TexaCali Wine
Co. A: Easily begins with a handful of
Purchase Orders from Wholesalers, news of a big weekend of wine club/mailing
list purchases right up there with hearing from buyers and sales reps throughout
the day about how the wines are working for them. Getting text messages from my Inner Circle
makes my day! My day starts early, the
East Coast is rockin’ by 8am Cali time, so is my email/iPhone by that first cup
of coffee in the morning. The rest of my
perfect day is tooo long to finish in this Q&A…but meeting folks in the
vineyards and/or wineries are my very favorite part of the job! I dream of
ending each day at Three Dog Yoga in Santa Rosa for a 90 minute class…but
haven’t made that happen in a couple of years now. Le sigh.
D: How do you see this new partnership with Sketchbook
Creative working for TexaCali Wine Co.? A: Oh, you guys bring such valuable
expertise and resources that I can not provide technically. I was the project manager of a website in
1998 and I’ve hardly stopped with my online focus since. I code just enough to
mess things up, but have clear and precise ideas that Sketchbook can easily
help to execute for my clients. I’ve been spoiled in my roles prior to TexaCali
Wine Co. to have a creative resource team within arms-reach, so shazzam, now I
do finally in 2014!
D: What’s on tap for Fall 2014 for you then? A: Besides
having my clients in active distribution across the USA for the big OND season,
the www.texacaliwinetours.com
division will be in full-swing with wine country visitors and then there’s a
new project I’m working on with my husband Eric www.smithstorywinecellars.com
that’s ramping up this Harvest 2014. I hope
to walk the dog (Lord Sandwich) a few times inbetween my market travel and
vineyard visits too.
D: Speaking of Dogs…isn’t that how we met on Instagram? A: Oh yeah, you
follow @sandwichthedoodle then the “Dog Gods” connected us with @thedogsofwine
...that’s business done the right way, love it. I'm really excited to be lending my expertise to Sketchbook and watch all of our dog-loving (we do like cats to) clients grow with our help.
Cheers to the Art of Wine, indeed Devin!
- Ali
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