08/06/2026
This week weâre pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to run an independent wine shop. From the outside, it might seem like we spend our days tasting wine and chatting with customers (and yes, thereâs plenty of that), but behind the scenes weâre constantly making decisions about where to invest our time, energy, and budget.
Weâre talking about the balance between short-term revenue and long-term growth, why every season has a different purpose, how we plan inventory months in advance, and why saying âyesâ to one opportunity often means saying ânoâ to another. We also get into the things that donât always show up on a profit and loss statement but are essential to building a successful business, education, customer relationships, community, and creating an experience people want to come back to.
Whether youâre a business owner, thinking about starting something of your own, or just curious about what goes into stocking the shelves at your favorite local wine shop, this episode is an honest conversation about the decisions, tradeoffs, and long game of building a business. Pour yourself something good and come hang out with us.
Featured Wine: â 2025 Quinta do ErmĂzio, Vinho Verdeâ , Imported by Jose Pastor Selections and distributed by AHD Vintners - Michigan Wine Distributor and sold at Lake District Wine Co.
Additional Mentions:
BOS Wine Raduno Golden Hour Outdoors Shady Lane Cellars Mari Vineyards Maria's Sauce Co Vintage Shop | Traverse City Cherryland Humane Society Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City vom Boden
