10 questions for interviewing a wine vendor for your restaurant, club, or wine shop
- Can you tell us about your company and its history in the wine industry? Looking for financial stability and longevity.
- How do you select the wines that you offer to your clients?
- What is your pricing structure and do you offer any discounts for volume purchases? (Where legal) If they are doing or suggesting Illegal activities then run for the hills. A lack of integrity never wears well.
- What kind of support do you offer to your clients in terms of wine education and training? Ask, them to do a 5-minute training for you on their favorite wine they represent.
- How often do you update your wine list and introduce new products?
- Can you provide references from current or previous clients? Ask, how much they improved their client’s wine sales over the last year. Beware if they give you too much information about other accounts because they will do the same about your account.
- What kind of shipping and delivery options do you offer, and what is your shipping time frame? Is wine available, late at night or on the weekend in case of emergency?
- How do you ensure the quality and consistency of the wines that you sell? Is there warehouse climate controlled and are their delivery vehicles climate controlled?
- Do you offer any customized services, such as private labeling or custom blends?
- How do you handle customer service issues or product returns? How hard is to reach the general manager or owner if I have a problem? How friendly are the team members of the company?
