Women & Wine® Creates First 'Trusted
Source'™ Designation to Be Awarded
May 1, 2007
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20
/PRNewswire/ -- Women & Wine®
(www.WomenWine.com)
the lifestyle membership company that
creates online and off-line experiences
for lovers of wine, good food, travel
and fine living, announces the launch
of an award program to recognize wine
retailers whose stores feature an atmosphere
that appeals to both novice and experienced
wine buyers. "With so much choice
in the marketplace, we want to inspire
women to drink the best wine for their
budget -- whether it's $10 or $100,"
says Julie Brosterman, CEO & Founder
of www.WomenWine.com.
"Our 'Trusted Source™ retailer
designation is a way for consumers to
know the shop has staff willing to answer
even the most basic questions, make recommendations
in their price range -- and that the culture
of the shop is to build a trusted long-term
relationship with their customers."
Statistics
released in 2005 indicate that women purchase
nearly 60% of all wine sold in the U.S.
-- most of it in supermarkets. "While
it may be convenient to pick up what's
on special at the end of the aisle while
you're grocery shopping, we encourage
women to be curious about the wine they
drink and to learn about the people, the
place, the story that is in the glass,"
says Brosterman. "That happens by
forming a relationship with a trusted
retailer."
Women
& Wine(® is inviting wine retailers
across the country to apply for their
Trusted Source™ designation. The
application includes questions about the
store's inventory, price range, staff
knowledge and consumer- education opportunities.
It also asks retailers to match two wines
with a dish suggested by Women & Wine®.
Retailers
who earn the Trusted Source™ designation
will receive a decal that they can display
in their window. There is no limit to
the number of retailers who can earn the
award, but those who do not qualify by
March 30, 2007 will have to wait until
2008 to re-apply. A special provision
will be made for new shops that open after
the March 30th deadline.
Women
& Wine® will give each Trusted
Source™ a page on www.WomenWine.com
where they can post information about
events, sales and other information. A
$3,000 annual value, the webpage is complimentary
to award recipients.
Retailers
who do not receive the application via
email can request one by emailing rustedsourceretailer@womenwine.com.
A $249 handling fee covers the cost of
reviewing each application and a secret-shopper
store inspection.
Additionally,
retailers will be asked to invite their
customers to complete a survey in support
of their application. Websites that sell
wine can also apply.
"If
a wine retailer has a Women & Wine®
Trusted Source™ decal in the window,
customers will know they'll be in good
hands when it comes to learning about
the wine they buy," says Brosterman.
"Ultimately it will enhance their
total wine experience."
Women
& Wine® is a multi-media lifestyle
company that designs wine-related experiences
for organizations, luxury-product launches
and charitable events. It features savvy
wine and food-related content on www.WomenWine.com
and Women & Wine Radio. Women &
Wine® also offers wine clubs, custom
wine-country travel and signature hotel
packages complete with wine tastings,
gourmet fare and spa pampering. The leading
online community for women who love wine,
travel and living well, Women & Wine®
has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN
and in TIME, USA Today, O Oprah Magazine,
Bon Appetit and Travel & Leisure.
For more information visit www.WomenWine.com
or call 877-804-WINE (9463).
Women
& Wine®
Sonia Norville, Director of Communications
+1-323-936-9154, or cell, +1-310-699-0820
sonianorville@womenwine.com
Web site: http://www.womenwine.com
