Allison Creed, Ph.D’s Post

If you missed our April 2024 Executive Forum, "3 ACTIONS EVERY WINE & SPIRITS LEADER CAN TAKE IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS TO QUICKLY BOOST DISTRIBUTOR SHARE OF MIND" we had a robust discussion about the state of the alcohol beverage business, which then was in complete decline. We also talked about what was in our control. We will be sharing a few of the breakthrough revelations with you over the next few weeks... BREAKTHROUGH REVELATION #3: NEW HIRES ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY For years, open roles were almost exclusively filled with candidates who had years of experience in the alcohol beverage industry. And today, there is a trend of hiring other CPG experts - non-alc beverages; food industry; cosmetic industry, etc. These new hires (at all levesl of a business) need to learn the industry language; learn the culture; in order to be able to apply their skills. Your teams are the best in the business - many with years of experience. Small adjustments and new skills will put you ahead of the curve vs. chasing declining numbers or waiting for the bleeding to stop. And in today's declining, changing, shifting landscape, employees entering from outside the business need to be leaders who can get them up to speed and confident as quickly as possible...so, at our next invitation-only Executive Forum for leaders in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industry, Newborn Evolution will be sharing three strategies to help your teams, partners and customers to remain resilient, confident and able to navigate through this uncertain and unstable landscape. Join us on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00am ET for a robust virtual discussion on this topic. Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol -Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key take-aways If you would like to request an invitation for yourself or someone at your organization who may be interested please email us at Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com and say “July 26th Executive Forum” and we will send you details. #Wine #Spirits #Beer #AlcoholBeverageIndustry #winetrends #spiritstrends #keyaccounts #strategy #businessplan #onboarding #newhires #cpg

This is so absolutely, totes amaze. Words can't describe how proud I am of that little snozcumber Jason Stevens, this achievement is beyond comprehension. Vagabond Wines has only gone and got to the finals of the HR Excellence awards for our L&D strategy. He's done it all with no funds. He's improved NPS by a mere 48 points (getting us to 88). He's improved engagement with training by 70%!!!! He's created a culture of learning, growth and ownership through his passion, love and presence alone. Cut this guy, and wine comes out (not cos he's an alcoholic, he just knows his shizz), he is what makes the Vagabond experience, legit. Too legit to quit. Get down to a local Vagabond today, experience what true hospitality is, drink some fabulous wine, and be dazzled by our most amazing Cru. We're waiting... #hospitality #hrexcellence #learninganddevelopment #welovejason #thehairapproves #hr #training #leadership #wine #engagement #people #proud #growth #peopledevelopment

Wine: A Recipe For Connections In the fast-paced world of work, building meaningful connections with colleagues can often seem like a daunting task. But what if I told you that a simple glass of wine could be the secret ingredient to fostering stronger bonds within your team? Wine isn't just a beverage; it's a bridge. When enjoyed in moderation, it has a unique ability to break down barriers and create an atmosphere of camaraderie among coworkers. As you sip and share stories, you begin to see your coworkers in a new light. The wine becomes a catalyst for conversation, helping you connect on a deeper level and build trust within the team. However, it's crucial to approach wine consumption with moderation in mind. Enjoying wine responsibly ensures that team-building activities remain positive and productive. The next time you're looking to strengthen relationships with your colleagues or enhance teamwork within your organization, consider incorporating wine into your team-building activities. #teambuilding #wineevents #community #peopleculture www.thewinevoyage.net

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮. That’s a paraphrase of something Danny Meyer said on Top Chef when he appeared as a guest judge in Season 10. If you don’t watch that show, give it a try. There is TONS to learn from it. Meyer is one of the most successful restaurateurs in the world. He knows a thing or two about innovation. After all, he was the one who brought his signature concept of “enlightened hospitality” to fast food by applying it to a hot dog stand!  That hot dog stand later became the international restaurant chain Shake Shack. “You’re crazy. That’ll never work.” Is something Meyer has heard often from experts in his industry. To push ahead with his risky ideas, Meyer says he always asks himself one question:  “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?” Don’t you just love that attitude? Too often it is fear of failure that keeps us from innovation because true innovation is risky. When was the last time you tried something that people told you was crazy and would never work? What will you do when you go for it, and everything goes right, and people start to copy your crazy idea? Don’t you want to find out?

Daily Dollop of Wallop #59 Below is an exert from a piece in Harpers Wine & Spirit Magazine. The main focus was a gathering of over 100 #hospitality businesses, meeting up and discussing an agenda that looked at how to best drive productivity and innovation in the hospitality sector. It was a great read and would loved to have been a part of it. This though, captures exactly why I do what I do and preach what I preach when it comes to education and training in our trade - BUT BEING INNOVATIVE WITH IT. 200 young professionals (18-34) were asked a batch of questions and here is what they stated on this particular subject: "When asked what would make them want to join the hotel, catering or high-end retail sector, learning and #growth opportunities (38%) brought the greatest response, even more than in other countries, followed by training and professional development opportunities (31%). Of greater importance in comparison with respondents from France, Germany, Italy and Spain are career development prospects, and to have the opportunity to learn and to benefit from training (both 58%)" This is pure evidence that not only suggests action but requires action. Our young people who are wanting to join our trade are both now needing AND desiring #learning and #training opportunities, as a way in which they can gain longevity in the industry. So, coming from a #wine POV, arguably, it is a facet of a hospitality business that needs one of the biggest focusses. Simply because it can be complex (most of the time, I think it needn't be) and it covers a whole raft of critical paths. Not just the product itself. It was a great piece and I would love to see more takeaways from the summit and more importantly what action we can collectively curate. Leverage your beverage

I've noticed an uptick in grumblings when it comes to experiences. Whether someone goes to a restaurant, a resort, a theme park, or travels by air, increasingly the challenges are bubbling up to the surface. There are always going to be challenges. With people sometimes forget is this: no matter what you make, create, design, and sell, you are first and foremost in the relationship business. Be mindful of this. Be willing to hold yourself and those around you accountable. Relationships can refresh long after that thing you've acquired has been consumed. When I worked in theme park leadership, challenges provided two opportunities. The first was the chance to identify whether something needed to be addressed because it was impacting regularly and not occasionally. The second was the opportunity to go above and beyond. I was taught early on if someone brings back a bad piece of fruit, don't give them the plant because that's not an equitable exchange. I disagreed. Giving the plant not only buys you goodwill, it buys you the kind of advertising and future relationship-building in the way of referrals that no amount of money can purchase. We can always grow more plants but with bad experiences from which there has been no recovery, we cannot grow repeat customers (naturally these are my opinions and not those officially held by any company). Make it the best day ever. https://lnkd.in/e7dwNEFp

We actually groaned, ourselves, when I read was the opening sentence of a recent article by Wine Searcher. "The warehouses of US distributors are groaning under the weight of their backed-up inventories." Reading on it became an article of the "blame game." - Too many imports in the market - Neo-Prohibitionist movement - Smaller wholesalers going out of business - Chains focusing on private label - Retailers stocking fewer wines - World Health Organization stating that no alcohol is healthy - Gen Z's lack of interest While this list is factual and true. It also begins to have a stink of "the dog ate my homework." Is everyone slinging blame at each other? Because....there will be suppliers, distributors and agencies who emerge because they are resilient, action oriented and innovatively thinking about what's coming next, while everyone else is hollering loudly... Would you like your teams to be in the resilient group? At our upcoming invitation-only Executive Forum, Newborn Evolution will be sharing three strategies to help your teams, partners and customers to remain resilient, confident and able to navigate through this uncertain and unstable landscape. Join us on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00am ET for a robust virtual discussion on this topic. Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol -Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key take-aways If you would like to request an invitation for yourself or someone at your organization who may be interested please email us at Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com and say “July 26th Executive Forum” and we will send you details. You can also find out more in the link in the first comment below. #Wine #Spirits #Beer #AlcoholBeverageIndustry #winetrends #spiritstrends #keyaccounts #strategy #businessplan #data #leadership #resilience

We actually groaned, ourselves, when I read was the opening sentence of a recent article by Wine Searcher. "The warehouses of US distributors are groaning under the weight of their backed-up inventories." Reading on it became an article of the "blame game." - Too many imports in the market - Neo-Prohibitionist movement - Smaller wholesalers going out of business - Chains focusing on private label - Retailers stocking fewer wines - World Health Organization stating that no alcohol is healthy - Gen Z's lack of interest While this list is factual and true. It also begins to have a stink of "the dog ate my homework." Is everyone slinging blame at each other? Because....there will be suppliers, distributors and agencies who emerge because they are resilient, action oriented and innovatively thinking about what's coming next, while everyone else is hollering loudly... Would you like your teams to be in the resilient group? At our upcoming invitation-only Executive Forum, Newborn Evolution will be sharing three strategies to help your teams, partners and customers to remain resilient, confident and able to navigate through this uncertain and unstable landscape. Join us on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00am ET for a robust virtual discussion on this topic. Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol -Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key take-aways If you would like to request an invitation for yourself or someone at your organization who may be interested please email us at Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com and say “July 26th Executive Forum” and we will send you details. You can also find out more in the link in the first comment below. #Wine #Spirits #Beer #AlcoholBeverageIndustry #winetrends #spiritstrends #keyaccounts #strategy #businessplan #data #leadership #resilience

Our CEO, Joanne Newborn just returned from Portugal, taking a tour of the Douro Valley and visiting a few incredible wineries. The messaging was the same, as I’ve heard from other countries, “We have too much wine, because people aren’t buying and drinking as much.” In fact, although 2024 was an incredible year for the grapes, many vineyards were deciding not to harvest all of them, and just let them die on the vine.  It is heartbreaking for someone who spent decades in the Wine & Spirits business. Why is this important? While the story is sad, it isn’t going to help to sell more. Yet data will help tell stories that are “win” for on & off premise accounts, and knowing HOW to use the data and WHAT to do with it, is what makes data so powerful. At our upcoming invitation-only Executive Forum we are sharing some ways to do this. We recently sponsored WSWA’s Women’s Leadership Council Conference and we will be sharing some key insights, data, and 2025 predictions from the conference, and specifically  from VIP and Sip Source that will help you and your teams to see how to use this information to take action in Q4 2024 and set up your Q1 2025 for success. Join us on Friday, October 25, 12:00 noon ET for a conversation around “Data-Driven Success: Empowering Wine & Spirits Suppliers & Distributors to Dominate Q4 2024 & Lead Q1 2025." Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only  -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol -Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key take-aways If you would like to request an invitation for yourself or someone at your organization who may be interested please email us at Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com and say “October Executive Forum” and we will send you details. Or you can find out more in the link in the comments. #Wine #Spirits #Beer #AlcoholBeverageIndustry #winetrends #spiritstrends #keyaccounts #strategy #businessplan #data #leadership #data #analytics #q12025 #q42024

In April 2024 we hosted our Executive Forum, "3 ACTIONS EVERY WINE & SPIRITS LEADER CAN TAKE IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS TO QUICKLY BOOST DISTRIBUTOR SHARE OF MIND" where we had a robust discussion about the state of the alcohol beverage business, which then was in complete decline. We also talked about what was in our control. We will be sharing a few of the breakthrough revelations with you over the next few weeks... BREAKTHROUGH REVELATION #1: IDENTIFY KEY MARKETS AND REPS Don’t spread your portfolio, budget, time and energy too thin (the US is the equivalent of 50 different countries with different state legalities). Especially during tough times. Do the data research on your brands and find the few key markets that your distributors can focus on. Get to know those market reps that can move the needle. All the way down to the feet on the street level. This is your team. Build trust and credibility with them. If everyone is in New York, then find your other key markets, try to carve out your territories or specific areas of big cities. Own your relationships with reps and retailers. Retailers are being more conservative with bringing in new products as they follow the next great thing. You need to be influencing their choices. And the landscape is changing again...so, at our next invitation-only Executive Forum for leaders in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industry, Newborn Evolution will be sharing three strategies to help your teams, partners and customers to remain resilient, confident and able to navigate through this uncertain and unstable landscape. Join us on Friday, July 26th, at 11:00am ET for a robust virtual discussion on this topic. Why you should consider joining the conversation: -Our Executive Forums are exclusive and by invitation only -We will be sharing expert insights during the forum from decades of experience in the Beer, Wine & Spirits Industries -You will have the opportunity to have real-time conversations with high- level leaders like yourself, in the Alcohol -Beverage Industry who are facing similar challenges -This is a great opportunity to expand your network leadership skills -All attendees will receive a high-level recap of the most pertinent key take-aways If you would like to request an invitation for yourself or someone at your organization who may be interested please email us at Concierge@NewbornLeadershipEvolution.com and say “July 26th Executive Forum” and we will send you details. You can also find out more in the link in the first comment below. #Wine #Spirits #Beer #AlcoholBeverageIndustry #winetrends #spiritstrends #keyaccounts #strategy #businessplan