BUYERS AND SELLERS

Why can’t we all just get along?!?!?

Note: I am allowed to write this blog post because I’ve been both a buyer and a seller of wine.

BUYERS

It is your job to:

1. Taste wine continuously. Familiarize and educate yourself as much as possible about what is out there.
2. Stay current with all portfolios you’ve chosen to work with by honoring regular tasting appointments with the respective reps.
3. Participate in non-regular tastings and/or meetings with producers and supplier reps. Know when it is your turn.
4. Manage your schedule and show up to your appointments. If you are going to be late or need to cancel, then pick up the phone and call.
5. Understand that your rep has a boss to answer to—just like you.
6. Understand that if all you do is cherry pick, than you’re not a priority when it comes to allocations and back-scratching.
7. Play ball. Remember that all relationships require mutuality.
8. Make ordering on-time a priority.
9. Make ordering at-the-last-minute the exception.
10. Not expect free shit.
11. Not base all of your purchases on how much free shit you get.
12. Not expect your rep to bark like a dog and jump through flaming hoops just because you have chosen to work with their products.
13. Actually try the bottles that your reps drop off instead of just giving them to your staff to drink.
14. Work with the rep, as well as individually, to make the products you buy a success.
15. Spread the love as much as possible.
    

SELLERS

It is your job to:

1. Taste wine continuously. Familiarize and educate yourself as much as possible about what is out there.
2. Respect your buyer’s schedule and tasting process.
3. Not saturate your buyer with too many special appointments or supplier meetings. Know when to ask.
4. Manage your schedule and show up to your appointments. If you are going to be late or need to cancel, then pick up the phone and call.
5. Understand that your buyer has a boss to answer to—just like you.
6. Remember that cherry-picking happens, and so does back-scratching. It’s all part of the game.
7. Play ball. Remember that all relationships require mutuality.
8. Answer your phone and get orders in on time
9. Be as flexible as possible with last-minute orders.
10. Throw your dog a bone for Christ’s Sake.
11. Not base all of your service on how much business you get.
12. Bark like a dog and jump through flaming hoops.
13. Every once in a while, drop off something for the staff to drink.
14. Work with your buyer and the staff to make the products purchased a success.
15. Be impeccable with your service.