Comments on: More on the Family Winemakers lawsuit http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/2006/10/04/more-on-the-family-winemakers-lawsuit/ Untangling the complex world of wine direct shipping and compliance Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:17:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jake http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/2006/10/04/more-on-the-family-winemakers-lawsuit/#comment-17115 Jake Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:38:53 +0000 http://shipcompliantblog.com/blog/?p=129#comment-17115 Great Post! The systems currently in place for traditional distribution methods is most obviously a flawed system; especially in the cases of small wineries who are unable to pay the bribes necessary to obtain a distributor. Most distributors have so many brands right now, that they are starting to consolidate, making the struggle even more difficult for these rare gems. I am confident in saying that the system is starting to unravel, and soon we will see the 3-tier distribution system focused mainly on catering to their large (money-making) brands. Once their eyes are opened, a feat which we are attempting, we hope they will embrace a 2 1/2 tier system that will offer the internet and direct sales as a means to incubate brands before incurring the costs of placing them into full distributorship. While this may seem to be the most cost efficient and fair means of handling the current situation, the fear by large distributors that the internet will take over is enough to keep them fighting. What they must understand is that Amazon opened up the world of books, and is one of the largest retailers, but Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc... still hold their market share. Jake <a href="http://grapethinking.com" rel="nofollow">Grape Thinking</a> <a href="http://www.tastevine.com" rel="nofollow">The Tastevine</a> Great Post! The systems currently in place for traditional distribution methods is most obviously a flawed system; especially in the cases of small wineries who are unable to pay the bribes necessary to obtain a distributor. Most distributors have so many brands right now, that they are starting to consolidate, making the struggle even more difficult for these rare gems.

I am confident in saying that the system is starting to unravel, and soon we will see the 3-tier distribution system focused mainly on catering to their large (money-making) brands. Once their eyes are opened, a feat which we are attempting, we hope they will embrace a 2 1/2 tier system that will offer the internet and direct sales as a means to incubate brands before incurring the costs of placing them into full distributorship.

While this may seem to be the most cost efficient and fair means of handling the current situation, the fear by large distributors that the internet will take over is enough to keep them fighting. What they must understand is that Amazon opened up the world of books, and is one of the largest retailers, but Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc… still hold their market share.

Jake
Grape Thinking
The Tastevine

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