Wine Store Franchises

Investing in a wine store franchise could be ideally suited to those who have developed a keen interest in a variety of different wines but now want to turn their hobby into more of a full-time interest.

The growing number of various wine store and off-license franchises available also means that there is the added support of a high-profile brand name as well as substantial advice on offer - which can be vital in fending off competition from supermarkets.

Interesting Wine Industry Statistics

• In America, wine production reached $876 billion and 404.5 litres in 2006, with 95% of wine taken from California.
   
• USA wine consumption in 2006 was just over 716 million galons, on average 2.39 gallons per wine consumer. (According to the: Wine Institute/ Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, August 23 2007).
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• This means there is a prime market for specialty wine and store franchises that can offer people great tasting wines from across the world.
   
• According to Euromonitor International wine sales enjoyed an accelerated growth in 2007 with the emergence of "smaller portable style serve wine" and the development of innovative and exotic flavors. (Source: Euromonitor International Wine in the US Survey, Jan 2008)

Wine Franchise Opportunities
 

In the US, there are a number of wine store franchise opportunities that could help people benefit from a growing demand for high-quality wines.

Potential wine store franchisees can benefit from economics of scale and substantial purchasing power, which means they have ability to buy wine supplies at wholesale costs. This can ensure strong profits as well the chance to pass on such savings to customers to ensure repeat business.

Training is also crucial for wine store franchisees and it is vital that the principles of the wine industry and markets are fully understood. Being given guidance on the most suitable wines to stock can help to meet customer demand, whilst being kept informed about emerging wines from unusual regions such as England and Norway will ensure that shelves are always stocked with tempting trendy offers.

An extensive knowledge of the product will also ensure that franchisees can answer questions from customers, who may not always be aware which particular wine will be most suitable for their needs, as well as driving sales.

In many cases, franchisees are also able to gain direct access to a wide range of IT solutions to help manage day-to-day operations including point of sale software and supply chain management solutions.

Above all, anyone planning to move into the wine store franchise industry needs to ensure they have a commitment to customer service levels and a keen desire to undertake training to help develop a strong business model.

However, anyone planning to invest in a franchise is reminded to ensure they do adequate market research and fully examine their long-term business plans to ensure that they will be able to see a strong profit on their initial investment.

Even though the majority of franchises do not require extensive business experience, it is vital that potential franchisees remain aware how much of a risk any such venture can be. Without sufficient research even the most well-established branding may not result in a successful opportunity and the value of the original investment could diminish.