Welcome to WineryProfitability.com
This site is intended for winery owners and managers wishing to read about profitability trends in winery operations. Visitors to WineryProfitability.com can expect postings to discuss many of the most commonly asked winery-management related questions:
- What is my most efficient scale of production?
- What is my most profitable wine?
- What is the best way to transfer my winery to the next generation?
- How well am I marketing my products? Can I improve my tasting room?
- Where am I losing money? Where can I tighten my belt?
- What is the best way to start a winery business?
- What is the best method to expand my wine business?
Steve Richards
Steve Richards comes to WineryProfitability.com as a business consultant for Farm Credit. In 2006 he created and has been managing the Winery Benchmark, a program to help owners and managers improve their winery businesses through individual analysis as well as comparison to similar businesses locally and across other regions.
Steve has been in the food industry for over 20 years and has worked with clients in agricultural production, value-added processing, and retail sales. Before becoming a consultant for Farm Credit, Steve worked for Cornell University for eight years. While at Cornell, he wrote 17 workbooks related to business management. Steve earned his Bachelors Degree in Food Science and holds a Masters Degree in Economics as well as an MBA.
Steve’s consultant competencies include business planning, financial analysis, business strategy, estate planning, business transfer, joint ventures/partnerships, employee development, and family business issues. He consults with all types of businesses, even if they are not members of Farm Credit.
Why the need for a winery management blog?
Many of Steve’s clients are wineries and grape growers. He has found that business-related articles on winery management are few and far between–with a lot of sifting and sorting to be done before one gets to the real “meat” of any wine business issue. Steve welcomes any winery owner or business manager that would like to contribute to the blog.
Kelly Richards
Steve’s wife, Kelly Richards, manages WineryProfitability.com and also contributes regularly to the blog. Since so much of running a successful winery relies on an understanding of what keeps visitors coming back, throughout the blog you will find Kelly’s articles written from the customer’s perspective.
What do we want from you?
We would like to hear your feedback on wine business issues that you are facing in your region–what are your top issues and what is business like for your winery? What kinds of articles would you like to see covered in the blog? Please feel free to weigh in on the discussion by clicking on the Comments link at the top of each posting. Some postings will be for Winery Benchmark Participants only and will be found on a password-protected page. Please see the Winery Benchmark page for more information on how participation can help your business.
