Wine Ignored Influencers. Now It Needs Them. The wine industry once mocked influencers. Now, even Forbes is saying we may need them. As wine faces declining consumption and changing buyer behavior, the voices once dismissed as “unserious” are starting to look a lot more powerful. Read the Forbes article → What’s interesting is, we’ve been talking about this shift for a while. Last year, we hosted a webinar with MiniSocial on how wineries can use micro-influencers and user-generated content (UGC) to drive engagement and sales. Here’s what still holds true: UGC outperforms brand content—everywhere Content created by real customers feels more natural—and consistently drives higher engagement across social, ads, and email. Micro-influencers build trust faster Smaller audiences, but far more engaged—and far more believable than traditional ads. Your customers are your best marketers UGC shows how people actually experience your wine&md

Best Wine Club Management Software for Wineries (2026 Quick Guide) Your wine club is likely your most predictable DTC revenue stream. Members buy on schedule. They purchase more outside of shipments. They refer friends. According to Silicon Valley Bank’s State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report, direct-to-consumer revenue, particularly wine clubs, remains one of the most controllable and margin-protective channels for wineries. Yet many wineries are still running their wine club: Manually Across disconnected systems On software not built for winery operations That friction quietly costs money every week. What Wine Club Software Should Actually Do in 2026 At minimum, your system should: 1. Increase retention Flexible club levels and shipment schedules Clear, automated member benefits Customization options that members value 2. Reduce revenue leakage Automated expired card updater Clean billing workflows Fewer manual errors 3. Speed up tasting room enrollment POS-connected s

What we’re seeing Holiday and event weekends are where wineries make their money — and also where tasting rooms get the most stressed. Lines back up, staff get flustered, and POS screens fill with clutter right when teams need simplicity. How vinSUITE TabletPOS helps TabletPOS is built for exactly those moments: fast, flexible, and easy to use anywhere you pour. These three small setup tweaks have a big impact on busy weekends: 1. Dollar-Based Tips That Match Wine Service Swap restaurant-style percentages for simple dollar buttons that feel natural in a tasting room. The problem Restaurant-style 20% tip prompts can feel out of place on high-value wine tickets. Guests hesitate, do math, or skip tipping entirely. The tweak Use Custom Tip Amounts in TabletPOS to swap percentages for simple dollar buttons like $5, $10, and $15. Why it’s a win Feels natural for winery hospitality vs. restaurant-style math. Speeds up checkout with fewer edits and awkward pauses. Suppo

5 Ways Your Winery Can Strengthen Customer Connections (and Sales) This Holiday Season 5 Ways Your Winery Can Strengthen Customer Connections (and Sales) This Holiday Season The holidays aren’t just busy, they’re your best chance to turn quick questions into lasting loyalty. Today’s shoppers are scrolling on phones, not standing at the tasting bar. The wineries winning December bring tasting-room warmth online with guest-first DTC moves. 1 Real-time webchat Turn Browsers into Buyers with Real-Time Webchat Bring hospitality to your website: help gift-givers pick the right bottle, answer shipping questions, and keep carts from drifting. RedChirp integrates with vinSUITE, so conversations save to the customer profile for thoughtful follow-ups and personalized offers. Prompt ideas for staff: Who is the gift for? What’s the budget? Red, white, or sparkling? Favorite foods? Learn more: RedChirp • vinSUITE eCommerce 2 Segmentation Reconnect with the Customers Who

September 16, 2025 – Vancouver, BC – With its recent acquisition of WinePulse, Commerce7 has doubled down on its commitment to help wineries sell more, build stronger customer relationships, and make smarter business decisions. Last week at C7 Innovate, Commerce7 unveiled a series of new tools designed to give wineries more insight, intelligence, and control over their direct-to-consumer (DTC) performance. “Wineries are facing real challenges right now, from shifting consumer habits to rising costs,” said Andrew Kamphuis, President of Commerce7. “We hear these struggles every day, and our focus is on supporting our clients by delivering advanced tools and insights that make it easier to adapt, strengthen customer relationships, and continue growing.” New Features Announced at C7 Innovate Include: Insights Building on the successful beta of its Insights feature in the point-of-sale, Commerce7 has now introduced a platform-wide rollout. Data driven cus

Most wineries still send the same message to everyone—and leave money on the table. In Session #2 of the Wine Club Symposium, Laura Simons (Simons DTC Consulting) and the team at Enolytics show how targeted segmentation turns “almost” into “I’m in,” boosts retention, and creates predictable DTC revenue—without deeper discounts.  â–¶ Watch the Full Session (Free Replay)  What You’ll Learn  Club vs. Non-Club: Convert high-potential buyers with member-only perks and short-window join offers. At-Risk & Lapsed: Re-engage 6–12-month gaps with “welcome back” bundles and quick pulse surveys. Potential Churn Members: Catch early signals (skips, fewer add-ons) and save with holds, swaps, and plan changes. High-Value VIPs: Use micro-exclusivity (library drops, small-lot access, VIP invites) to deepen loyalty. First-Time Buyers & Recent Converts: A 30-day path that turns a one-time order into a new me

As tasting room visitation declines, wineries must get creative to attract new customers and convert them into loyal wine club members. We have identified several key strategies wineries use to captivate guests and drive wine club growth. Read the full in-depth blog here: https://go.vinsuite.com/BoostClubSignups First, enhancing the tasting room ambiance is crucial. Complementing the wine experience with live music, gourmet food pairings, and interactive activities can transform your space into an immersive, memorable destination. Cultivating authentic connections with visitors is also essential. Train your staff to be skilled storytellers and attentive listeners to personalize the experience and build stronger relationships. Extending your reach beyond the tasting room is another powerful way to boost wine club signups. Leveraging social media to help you re-engage past visitors and introduce your wines to new potential members, even if they can't physically come to your

Every year, we are always amazed at how much the wine industry changes—and at the ways in which wineries and their partners find ways to innovate. 2023 was no exception. What we are seeing is shifting patterns, including shifts in small parcel carriers, consumer purchase behavior, job creation, the use of technology, and more. We also see a lot of opportunity for savvy wineries going into 2024. So what were some of these key patterns in 2023 that will influence how the wine industry will (and should) react in 2024? Small Parcel Carriers Lend Stability to DTC It’s no secret that DTC wine shipping is disproportionately dependent upon small parcel carriers. So it was great news when UPS came to terms with its drivers union and avoided a major shut down this past summer. Meanwhile, Fedex is consolidating its ground and air business into one operating company, with an anticipated completion date of June 2024. The long term stability for UPS, combined with efficiency improvement

Actionable tips for ecommerce success. Competition for consumer attention is steep. There are a lot of products out there, and consumers are flooded with options. But there are ways for wineries to rise to the top of the attention span, especially during the OND (October, November, December) season.   Listen in as this lively panel discusses our August 2020 On the Spot theme: How people shop. And how wine fits in. Click HERE to watch the replay, and get our top takes from their conversation. MEET OUR PANEL GUESTS Chloe Tyer Director of Membership at Heitz Cellar Chloe’s top tip | Storytelling leads to sales. “Find your why,” suggests Chloe. Dig in and share the background of your everyday life at the winery. You are rich with stories! Laurie Millotte Founder and Chief Amazement Officer at Outshinery Laurie’s top tip | Hire someone if you need to. If new technology seems intimidating, hire someone or look for a remote

Day two of Wine Industry Network's Sales Symposium offered a multitude of data-driven insights for the direct-to-consumer oriented winery... The post Wineries Achieving DTC Success with Personalization, eCommerce Optimization, and Targeting Strategies appeared first on Wine Industry Advisor. Url:https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2020/09/10/wineries-achieving-dtc-success-strategies?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wineries-achieving-dtc-success-strategies Published Date:Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:19:05 +0000