Reports that the largest alcohol companies are sitting on $22 billion in inventory should make every independent and mid-size Maker and distributor pause. Not because it’s your inventory,but because it’s clogging everyone else’s shelves. When distributor warehouses are full, the system doesn’t slow down evenly. It squeezes from the edges inward. And independent Makers feel it first. Big Inventory = Small Makers Get Crowded Out Excess inventory changes distributor behavior, fast: Sales teams are incentivized to move what’s already sitting in the warehouse, not discover what’s new Portfolio rationalization accelerates Support quietly turns into neglect because of other priorities In these moments, size matters. Not quality. Not stories. Not scores. If your brand isn’t already turning, you’re suddenly competing with pallets of product that has to move. Big distributors depend on those suppliers to keep the lights on. So,

July's supply chain landscape feels deceptively calm, but the undercurrents are shifting. Fuel costs ticked upward again – $3.599 to $3.779 per gallon – putting quiet pressure on logistics, even as transportation costs eased with the surprising disappearance of peak season surcharges. That dip is a welcome but likely temporary reprieve.  On the production side, capacity continues to tighten: OI’s Portland plant has officially closed, and two additional furnaces are scheduled to go offline, which continues to raise concerns about domestic supply heading into the back half of the year. Lead times have not budged from June’s elevated levels, but with fewer furnaces online, we are likely to see that stress compound by fall. Ports remain neutral, and overall supply feels steady – but for now, it is a still surface over increasingly strained infrastructure. Tariff watch: The rules are changing The new US tariff rates announced on July 31 mark a signifi

January 15 th, 2025 — Wineries excel at delivering exceptional customer experiences, but keeping pace with modern communication trends can be challenging. Recognizing the need for seamless digital interactions, VinesOS, a trusted point-of-sale and commerce winery software provider, has partnered with RedChirp, the wine industry’s leading text messaging platform. This month, they launch an integration that simplifies winery communications and drives customer engagement. Together, they’re making it easier than ever for wineries to connect with customers, enhance their operations, and boost revenue.  A Seamless Customer Experience This integration bridges the gap between wineries and their customers by offering innovative tools that enhance communication and elevate the customer journey. Key benefits include:  Seamless Contact Syncing: Effortless syncing of customer contact details between VinesOS and RedChirp ensures efficient and accurate outreach, allowing

San Jose, CA | January 2025 — Wineries excel at delivering exceptional customer experiences, but keeping pace with modern communication trends can be challenging. Recognizing the need for seamless digital interactions, VinesOS, a trusted point-of-sale and commerce winery software provider, has partnered with RedChirp, the wine industry’s leading text messaging platform. This month, they launched an integration that simplifies winery communications and drives customer engagement. Together, they’re making it easier than ever for wineries to connect with customers, enhance their operations, and boost revenue. A Seamless Customer Experience This integration bridges the gap between wineries and their customers by offering innovative tools that enhance communication and elevate the customer journey. Key benefits include: Streamlined Contact Syncing: Effortless syncing of customer contact details between VinesOS and RedChirp ensures efficient and acc

Winery software that seamlessly links the art of storytelling with effective sales strategies. SAN JOSE, Calif., (February 13, 2024) - The wine industry has kicked off the new year with many publications and organizations promoting the importance of a brand story to connect with the modern consumer. Wine America has released a campaign to focus on the 'Magic of Wine,' with regular contributions emphasizing the enchanting aspects of the industry. Jim Trezise, President of Wine America, encourages wineries to broadcast the magic of wine with a heightened focus on the narrative behind each bottle. This campaign addresses concerns over effectively marketing to younger generations and consumers shifting to alternative categories or abstaining.  VinesOS has strategically partnered with wineries in the last year whose modern approach to engaging with consumers reaches multiple generations. From Napa Valley, Olivia Brion bonds with consumers by sharing uplifting stories highlig

VinesOS Takes Modern DTC for Wineries to the Next Level Personalization, allocations, loyalty programs, and frictionless checkout  are no longer options for wineries. They're essential.  – Learn how at WIN Expo in Sonoma on December 1, 2022. San Jose, CA | November 17, 2022 – VinesOS has taken its eCommerce and POS solutions to the next level, enabling small to midsize wineries to fulfill today's consumer expectations. The all-in-one DTC platform now offers personalization, allocations, and new loyalty programs, all with easy and accelerated checkout.   PERSONALIZATION "Offering personalized recommendations online and in the tasting room can be challenging, but today’s buyers have come to expect it. Research has shown that 84% of online shoppers report that personalization influences their purchases, and almost 90% are more likely to continue shopping on a retailer website that offers a personalized experience," says CEO J

Afternoon Brief, March 18th

California Cult Winemaker Walks Out on Winery: Star winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett walks away from Kenzo Estate over the release of the 2020 reds...

Robb Report Named the Official Media Partner for the 2022 Golden Vines® Awards Supporting Diversity and Inclusivity Within the Wine, Spirits & Hospitality Sectors

Florence, Italy Will Serve As The Host City For The Annual Event From October 14-17, 2022 17 March – Earlier this week, Robb Report and Penske Media Corporation are delighted […]

 Let's Never have Another Year like 2020 I opened the 2021 SVB State of the Industry Report with this line: "2020 will go down as the year in which we answered the heretofore rhetorical question, what else can go wrong?  We are all glad 2020 is over. We are all grateful vaccinations are signaling an end to what we've endured this past year, and almost uniformly across America, there is renewed optimism that 2021 will be better as we move into spring.     The Year Ahead Brings Hopeful Signs As I laid out in a recent blog post, I believe overall wine sales will have a little renaissance in 2021 as the vaccines are rolled out, restaurants and travel reopen, and consumers kick up their heels after being locked down. That type of recovery isn't what you normally see in a recession, but in this case, not only are consumers ready to get out of the house, they also have the money saved to pay for it as noted in the nearby chart. Not only to locked-down tou