Wine consumption in the U.S., as well as around the world, is on the rise. According to a new report released last Tuesday by the International Wine and Spirit Record, the U.S. is poised to become the top wine consumer in the world by 2012. Maine is no different.
The Wine Outlets of Maine have opened three locations (in Lincoln County, on Rt. 1 in Wiscasset), along coastal Maine within the past year even in the down economy. The ability of the company to expand is the direct result of their fluid business model.
First, they hired wine obsessed people to sell the often overlooked, discounted wines from all of the state’s distributors. Then, they formed a plan to get the best wines to customers by any means possible.
Each of the three stores, located in Wiscasset, Freeport, and Scarborough, have developed a loyal fan base that trust the staff to find them wines that they can’t find anywhere else.
Bill and Luanne Clifford, owners of the company, also own a fine dining restaurant in Boothbay Harbor and started the Boothbay Harbor Wine Club in 2004. They know that wine drinkers are more savvy now because of the growing wine community on the Internet.
The Cliffords believe people are eager to try the new varietals they read about online, but don’t want to pay the regular retail prices to experiment. The Wine Outlets are happy to fill that niche market.
The company has embraced social media marketing, and announces sales and specials via their twitter account. Tweeting under the username wineoutletsofme, the stores hope to attract busy customers who do not have time to read their e-newsletter, but who check their social media sights regularly from their smartphones.
“When people ask me if I’m worried about the economy, I say ‘bring it on’. Businesses that innovate and have a solid business model will come out on top,” Luanne Clifford said.
Cheers to that.
