Crafty Producers Boost Sales
These unprecedented times call for creative measures. We’ve been blown away by the elbow grease and innovative approaches that craft producers are pumping out. From an adult-appropriate “ice cream style” truck, partnerships with other local businesses and nonprofits, free local delivery and more, the ability of these businesses to pivot and make the best out of a challenging situation is impressive. And their hard work shows. Ordering wine, beer, and other craft beverages online has never been more popular.
We put together a list of craft beverage producers that are thinking creatively about their business:
Saturday Wine
Restaurants Deliver Wine with a Virtual Live Tasting
Restaurants can now ship wine directly to customers. This inspired Saturday Wine to start a wine club, sell wine from their cellar online, and start a live weekly wine tasting via Zoom (on Saturdays, of course.) Every Saturday at 6 pm, the Saturday Wines crew opens two bottles that customers can purchase and receive during the week. They experience the wines for the first time with their customers, so everyone involved can share first impressions and Saturday Wine owners can answer questions.
Sanitas Brewing
Adult “Ice Cream-Style” Beer Truck Delivery
The nostalgia of hearing the ice cream truck roll through your neighborhood as a kid has gone unmatched, until now. Sanitas Brewing, out of Boulder, Colorado, outfitted their delivery van with an old school megaphone, an enthusiastic delivery man, and extra-long, social distance appropriate friendly tongs to hand over 6-packs to giddy adults. The orders are still made through Sanita’s online store, but delivery happens in minutes. Curbside takeout and delivery have given new lifeblood to Colorado craft producers since the temporary measure made it possible, allowing them to increase online orders and keep the beer flowing.
Frasca Hospitality Group, Ceritas, and Failla
Order Wine and Support Restaurant Workers and Their Families
We’re all in this together, and helping those in need not only benefits the receiver but can be fulfilling for everyone involved. Restaurant workers have been hit hard as most dining rooms have been ordered to close their doors. Bobby Stuckey, owner of Frasca Hospitality Group (FHG), a restaurant group out of Colorado, partnered with wine producers, like Ceritas and Failla, to create thoughtful wine packs that they are selling online. To pair with the wine, some packages also include Zoom discussions with the winemaker. 25 percent of all proceeds will go directly to the Frasca Hospitality Group Staff Relief Fund. FHG employs 222 employees, and with their partners and children combined, this fund impacts close to 300 lives.
Hamilton Pool Vineyards
Delivering a Winery and Farmers Market Experience
Hamilton Pool Vineyards of Austin, TX is bringing the winery experience and farm-fresh foods to their customer’s doorsteps. Hamilton partnered with local farmers to create a unique farmers market experience. Customers choose handcrafted wines and the food comes directly from local farms just hours before delivery, complete with cooking instructions, suggested recipes, and wine pairings.
Monochrome
Drink Wine and Support Shelter Animals
While humans are most certainly affected by the current pandemic, our furry four-legged friends are also feeling the impact. Monochrome normally hosts Wine4Paws, an annual major fundraiser that benefits local shelter animals in need. With an in-person event not possible this year, they decided to change things up. Instead of forfeiting the event entirely, they are offering online orders for pickup or shipping, extending the event duration, donating twice the normal percentage of proceeds, and offering 4-packs at a special price. If you love animals and wine, this is the perfect package.
The Find
Virtual Personalized Shopping with a Napa Vintner
Forced to stay home, many people are finding that they are blowing through their wine stash quicker than expected. The Find, a wine shop in Danville, decided that they would open their virtual doors for personalized shopping experience with a Napa vintner. Customers can schedule a 30-minute Zoom call where they will be shown wines based on their palate and get assistance pairing wines with whatever they are cooking at home.
Avery Brewing
Free Beer for Frontline Workers
Avery Brewing Company, a long-standing Colorado brewery, is giving back to local frontline workers. They committed to give away 4,000 cases of Stampede Gold Lager to Boulder healthcare, police, fire, EMS, delivery drivers, grocery store, and other food service workers. Frontline workers place their orders online and can pick up at the Avery taproom.
What have you noticed or what are you doing yourself to maintain or grow your business during this time? We’d love to learn more about your experience and what you’ve learned. Drop us an email.
