How do you increase direct sales to regular customers at the winery?
You increase direct sales by capturing contacts at the time of purchase, using fixed occasions during the year and making reordering easy.
The short answer
You increase direct sales to regular customers by giving every buyer a reason to come back and getting in touch at the right time. This is usually the vintage, the pickup or the wine tasting. My recommendation: Speak above all to people who already know the wine and the family.
Which levers bring more direct sales at the winery?
The most important levers at the winery are contact after the purchase, a fixed occasion each year and easy ordering. The table shows what you do for each lever. All of these are recommendations from practice, not measured values.
| Lever | What you actually do |
|---|---|
| Capture contact details | Ask for the contact details at every wine tasting and every purchase |
| Set an occasion | New vintage, open house, pickup day, Christmas gifts |
| Make reordering easy | Keep a list of each customer's favorite wines |
| Stay personal | Write using their first name and mention the last wine |
| Get referrals | Ask satisfied customers to bring friends to a tasting |
How do you collect contacts from buyers as a winery?
You collect contacts best right where the customer is in a good mood: at the wine tasting, at the checkout and at pickup. Put a stand with a QR code on the tasting table and say one sentence about it. Note their preferences, such as dry or sweet, so you can write something fitting later. Do not rely on slips of paper that nobody types up later.
Which occasions fit wine during the year?
A winery has several natural occasions you can use every year. Plan them ahead in the calendar so you do not only think of them shortly before. These are usually the new vintage in spring, an open house or wine hike in summer, the harvest in autumn and gifts before Christmas. For each occasion, one short message with a date and a clear next step is enough.
How do you make reordering easy for regular customers?
Reordering becomes easy when the customer only has to say yes. Remember which wine they bought last and suggest exactly that one, with quantity and pickup date. My recommendation: Keep the number of steps to the order small. A short reply to the message should be enough. This is my recommendation, not a measured value.
How does SmartChat help you with direct sales at the winery?
SmartChat helps by letting you send newsletters via WhatsApp to confirmed contacts. Sending costs no credits, and every contact can unsubscribe with STOP. Collect the contacts with a landing page or a QR code on the tasting table. Sort them with tags, for example by grape variety. You can find more for your industry under Wineries. Newsletters and follow-ups only go to contacts who have confirmed.
All details in the example are made up.
Frequently asked questions about direct sales at the winery.
How many regular customers does a winery need for direct sales?
There is no fixed number. It depends on the volume and price of your wines. It is better to check how many buyers come back each year.
When is the best time for a message to wine customers?
My recommendation: shortly before an occasion, such as the new vintage or the open house. Test the day of the week and time with your customers.
How often may a winery write to its customers?
Only as often as you have something concrete to say. One fixed occasion per message is a good yardstick.
Who gets newsletters and follow-ups from the winery via SmartChat?
Only contacts who have signed up and confirmed. You check data protection and consent yourself, this is not legal advice.
What does sending to my wine customers cost in credits?
No. Sending costs no credits.
Your WhatsApp marketing is ready in 60 seconds
Enter your website. SmartChat AI builds the system for you.
Last updated: By SmartChat Team