Here is an example of how difficult it can be sometimes to sell Senor Sangria to a store manager for the first time.  A few weeks ago one of our reps went to visit the Wine Cellar  to tell our story and offer a sample.  After hearing our pitch, the guy tells us that someone had already come in and inquired about our product.  Even though he liked Classic Red after tasting it, our rep left without selling anything because he didn’t think they were ready for it.

Now, I can understand his position.  A scenario where sangria might be somewhat foreign to a store manager, placing a bulk order on the basis of one customer request is…risky (even if the manager himself liked it).  After all, one customer request does not exactly represent a large sample size.  Seasonal products can also present a unique challenge.  In a scenario where shelf space is valuable real estate, a seasonal product might not sit on the shelf – the same shelf, at least – year round (though, that is where a lot of our retailers get creative with store displays in the aisles).

Anyways, the Wine Cellar story does not end here.  Last week, the rep that left empty handed got a call from that same store manager…for a 10 case order!  Since that is quite a flip in position, our rep had to ask, “Why the about-face?”   Well, apparently a very focused (and thirsty) customer came into the store with an empty bottle of Classic Red, wanting more.  That was enough to convince the Wine Cellar that they were ready for it!