by Smoke | Jun 28, 2011 | 2011 Event, Distributors, E-commerce, eskye, Supply Chain, WITS Happenings
Hope to see you there!
Smoke
Three-Tier Trade Sales & Marketing Panels Announced At The Seventh Annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium, July 12-13, 2011
June 24, 2011, Napa, CA – The Wine Industry Technology Symposium® WITS®, the premier event showcasing innovation and strategic use of information technology and services for the wine industry, has announced two key panels on three-tier trade sales and marketing discussions this year at the seventh annual conference July 12-13, 2011 at the Marriott Napa Valley.
The Trade Sales & Marketing panels begin with a candid overview on how wineries, distributors, and retailers can collaborate better.
For the first exciting panel, a representative of each tier plus a moderator will be concentrating on communications between wineries, distributors and retailers that are currently in place. This panel will discuss industry benefits from better information integration and the technical, operational and financial ramifications that result from embracing (or avoiding) standards and how to evolve them. Â They will draw from the extensive successes GS1 has experienced working with the largest retailers and manufacturers in the world in consumer product goods. Panelists include: Michael Saitow, CIO & Sales Operations, MS Walker; Ian Griffith, Director, Ecommerce, Beverage Media Group; Tom Hatton, Strategic Account Executive, 1Sync; Joe Gregg, Vice President, IT and Business Process St. Michelle Wine Estates; and
Stephen R. Arens, Director, Industry Engagement, GS1 US. Moderator will be John Collins CEO, Great Vines.
The second interactive panel will discuss the use of the latest in market tools, best practices and case stories from the field. It will have an informative overview of iPad use throughout the world of wine as well as an in-depth look at how Jordan uses the iPad in their sales and winery operations. Panelists include: Lisa Mattson, Director of Communications, Jordan Vineyard and Winery and Cathy Huyghe, Founder, Red White Boston with Heather Crawford, Director of IT, Amy’s Kitchen as moderator.
Both panels promise to have a lively discussion between retailer, distributor and winery as well as the attendees. WITS focus on “take home value†will be front and center as these panels include live examples and integration with the attendees.
“When I was a distributor and was Chairman of WSWA, we spent many years discussing supply chain integration and industry standards working with the ABI-EC and later GS1. Later as a technology CEO, I worked hard to bring tools to the industry to accomplish some of the goals we had established. Today as a supplier to the industry in wine, spirits and beer, I continue to work with all three theirs to encourage adoptions of standards and further collaboration. These panels are near and dear to my experience and I believe everyone who has an interest in these topics will benefit from them.†said Smoke Wallin, WITS co-chair.
For more information on speakers and topics, visit www.WineIndustryTechnologySymposium.com. Registrations are now being accepted online.
About Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)
The Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS) was created in 2005 by a group of wine industry and technology professionals. The purpose of WITS is to address the unique information technology and services needs of the wine industry. WITS is dedicated to bringing the world’s leading wine industry professionals together with some of the world’s leading technology experts to foster learning and discussion. Panels of experts will discuss specific examples and case studies. www.WineIndustryTechnologySymposium.com
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Media Contact:
Lesley P. Berglund, co-chair, 707-246-6827
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by Smoke | Jul 2, 2010 | 2010 Event, Distributors, E-commerce, Education, Software, Supply Chain, WITS Happenings
Abbey Klassen, Executive Editor, Ad Age
For those of you who have followed this blog over the years, you will know that it was launched in 2005 when we first created WITS.  The 6th Wine Industry Technology Symposium promises to be our best ever.  Besides an action packed agenda of break out sessions with real take home value, I am very pleased with our two keynote speakers Michael Gelb and Abbey Klaassen. Both of these accomplished individuals represent what WITS is all about, innovation and how we can all adopt to the changing business environment in which we live.  I hope you choose to join me at this year’s conference.  It will be worth the effort.  See you in Napa!
Abbey Klaassen of Advertising Age to Deliver Keynote at
Wine Industry Technology Symposium in July
Register Now for Tech Summit
June 9, 2010, Napa, CA – Abbey Klaassen, Executive Editor of Advertising Age, a leading global source of news, intelligence and conversation for marketing and media communities will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS)® July 13-14, 2010 at the Marriott Napa Valley.
Klaassen’s address, titled “Living in a Post-Digital World,†will address consumer behavior and the resulting opportunities for businesses in this post-digital world. When every physical location is accompanied by a digital experience, social media increasingly becomes a reflection of real life. Interactive technology is like the air we breathe “so ubiquitous we often take it for granted.â€
Conference co-chair, Lesley Berglund said: “We were looking for a keynote speaker who could address the technology shift that has changed the way we do business. We wanted to go beyond networking tools and really take a look at the far reaching implications of our digital lives. We are thrilled to have Klassen sharing her perspective…â€
Best Selling Author Michael Gelb to Deliver One of the Keynotes
at Wine Industry Technology Symposium in July
Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking - Gelb and Wallin at book release
Register Now for Tech Summit
June 22, 2010, Napa, CA – Michael Gelb, author of international best seller How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Innovate Like Edison: The Five-Step System for Breakthrough Business Success and Wine Drinking For Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth annual Wine Industry Technology Symposium® (WITS) July 13-14, 2010 at the Marriott Napa Valley.
Gelb’s general session address, titled “How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci,†will discuss the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development. Gelb is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, accelerated learning, and innovative leadership and has more than 30 years of experience as a professional speaker, seminar leader and organizational consultant.
Gelb will not only be one of the keynote speakers in the general session but will also be a speaker for the networking dinner being held at the Napa Marriott on Tuesday night, July 13th. His address, titled “Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices,†also the title of his book, will discuss expanding creativity through wine appreciation. Gelb’s book comes highly recommended by wine authorities such as Gary Vaynerchuk, Host of Wine Library TV and Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate and others.
Conference co-chair, Smoke Wallin said: “Gelb’s message couldn’t be more timely. The wine industry is changing at a rapid pace which requires both owners and team members to find new ways to do business. We’re thrilled that we can offer both innovative technologies and a new perspective for applying them at the conference.â€
Online Registration Now Open
The Wine Industry Technology Symposium® (WITS), the premier industry event showcasing innovation and the strategic use of information technology, is now accepting online registrations for its fifth annual conference. The event will be held on July 13-14, 2010 at the Marriot Napa Valley. www.wineindustrytechnologysymposium.com
Early Bird Pricing Ends July 2
Tickets are available online before Friday July 3rd and at the “early bird†price of $100 for day one and $250 for day two, per guest. After July 4th, registrants pay the full price of $150 and $300, respectively. Full program details are available online.
About WITS
The Wine Industry Technology Symposium® (WITS) was created in 2005 by a group of wine industry and technology professionals. The purpose of WITS is to address the unique information technology and services needs of the wine industry. WITS is dedicated to bringing the world’s leading wineries, wholesalers and retailers together with some of the world’s leading technology experts to foster learning and discussion. Panels of experts will discuss specific examples and case studies. www.WineIndustryTechnologySymposium.com
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Media Contact:
Lesley P. Berglund, co-chair, 707-246-6827
Pete Blackshaw of Nielsen on last year’s WITS conference:
Pete Blackshaw on WITS 2009
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by Smoke | Nov 10, 2009 | 2009 Event, Brand Management, Distributors
My friend Liza has a nice piece in Winebusiness.com today on the Fall selling season. Reports from Nielsen, Bill Cascio at Glazer’s, Wilford Wong at Beverages and more! all point toward improvement over last year, though value driving business.
Yesterday, another Wine 2.0 friend, John Corcoran’s blog “Think Wine Marketing” had a well done piece on the state of marketing wine online with his interview of Paul Mabray. “A conversation about marketing wine online with Paul Mabray of VinTank” This interview captures nicely a bit of the history of the past decade of attempts at doing business online in the wine industry. It made me go back an search an old Information Week story (2000) on my then start-up eSkye.com. (ok, picture is almost 10 years old I know)
Smoke Wallin in Information Week, April 2000
“Alcohol Goes Online Overcoming Regulatory Maze
Web site simplifies ordering for industry that hasn’t changed much since Prohibition”
There has been nearly half a billion dollars ($500 million) in venture funding that has gone into various efforts in the the online wine space. In rereading this piece, it is amazing how much and how little has actually changed. Technology has leaped forward, enabling much greater communication and commerce capabilities for all. The regulatory and industry structure has bent, but not fundamentally changed. It will be very interesting to watch the impact of Web 2.0 technologies and social media on the way in which the industry operates going forward. Clearly, there is a constant march of producers and consumers to get closer together. Sometimes this is about discovery and information. Sometimes this is about commerce. Consumers feeling more connected to brand and having conversations with wineries and more importantly with their people (who make the brands what they are) is only accelerating. This has real world implications. Wine 2.0 is in the online connectivity business, but that drives our live events.  To wit, we are seeing a surge in interest in our Wine 2.0 New York event from both wineries and other companies involved in marketing to consumers. It will be interesting to see the consumer and trade turnout.
I’m looking forward to attending Web 2.0 Expo as well. It is great to get out of the wine business and look at what is cutting edge in terms of technology and latest developments.
Separately, Mashable’s blog just posted details on Web 2.0 Expo and our event Wine 2.0 Expo New York.
Mashable’s Weekly Conference and Event Guide
Mashable (blog) – Tamar Weinberg – ‎18 hours ago‎
November 18, 2009, New York City: Wine 2.0 Expo New York is the place for all Web 2.0 Expo attendees to connect with hundreds of wine and technology lovers …
Here is an excerpt from Liza’s story…
November 10, 2009
The Fall Season Shapes Up
Outlook Seems Upbeat as the Market Heads into the Final Stretch
by Liza B. Zimmerman
WineBusiness.com
Feedback from retailers, restaurateurs and wholesalers has grown increasingly positive as we move into the last part of the fourth quarter. Many seem to believe that this year is finally turning out to be more dynamic than last. According to data from a Nielsen presentation earlier this month wine was the No. 5-ranked category of the top 15 of the major 125 segments that Nielsen tracks with a 5.1 percent volume growth in the period ending September 5, 2009 over the previous year.
“Our volumes are up in total wines, about three to four percent in all states,†said Bill Cascio, the San Francisco Bay Area-based vice president and director of winery relations for the Dallas-based Glazer’s Family of Companies, which is active in 12 states. “It is shaping up to be a little bit better than last year,†he concluded.
Wilfred Wong, cellar master for the 100-store, Concord-California based Beverages and more!, said that this year is drastically different from the previous. “Last year this time business really dropped off,†concurred Brahm Callahan, wine director at Post 390, a gastropub that is part of the three-restaurant Himmel Hospitality Group which opened in Boston early this month [ed: Oct]. Callahan has a long track record in the Boston restaurant business. “We are starting to see people want to spend more money but they want to see perceived value.†Post 390’s 5,000-bottle list, priced $25 to $600, features two thirds of its selections in the $20 to $80 price range…
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