Wine Buyer - High End Wine Shop

General Expectations: We are seeking a knowledgeable and passionate Wine Buyer to join our team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for selecting, purchasing, and managing our wine inventory to meet our customers' needs and preferences while maintaining our company's standards for quality and value. The position is a very visible role where you will act as the wine buyer for Meritage Wine Market but also handle day to day retail store wine transactions. Responsible for creating the energy and product excitement around the events and seminars and ensuring customers are selecting the right wine, every time. It is required that this position will take a lead on budgeting, staff training, procurement of wine for events, and overall execution of events for Meritage Wine Market. This individual must be charismatic, high energy, excited to come to work and most important have the drive to succeed.

Job Responsibilities

Develop and maintain relationships with vineyards, distributors, and suppliers to ensure a diverse and high-quality wine selection.

Analyze market trends and customer preferences to make informed purchasing decisions.

Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery with suppliers to meet budgetary goals.

Work closely with the marketing and sales teams to promote wine selections and drive sales.

Conduct regular inventory assessments and manage stock levels to ensure availability and minimize overstock.

Stay updated on industry trends, new products, and emerging regions to continually enhance the wine selection.

Organize wine tastings and educational sessions for staff and customers.

Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations regarding alcohol purchasing and sales.

Generate wine sales with current and new customers.

Responsible for Meritage Monthly Wine Clubs: growth of membership, selection and pricing and procurement.

Cultivate customer relations and execute follow up.

Select products for events, documents for events.

POS input and pricing creations

Web content creative components

Manage vendor relationships.

Grow relationships with current and new customers.

Master the product line and internal systems.

Responsible for Employee education and staff training. Including product information and ongoing staff education.

Manage and execute in store tastings, wine dinners, seminars and other events.

Customer service and sales:

o Promotes sales by assisting customers with suggestions and recommendations of wine through events.

o Ringing up customer transactions on the Point of Sale

o Answering phones and responding to customer emails

Engage in a positive, collaborative and results oriented manner.

Clearly lay out goals and timeline to complete projects

Required Skills

 Drive, results oriented, takes initiative and has passion for selling

 Able to excel in a creative, collaborative environment

 Sales Minded, but service oriented

 Goal oriented personality

 Knowledge of and passion for fine wine

 Excellent interpersonal skills- strong ability to network to build positive and effective relationships with customers, suppliers and staff

 Public speaking and presentation skills

 Ability to close sales at all levels

 Ability to sell proactively and communicate effectively with all customers

 Capable of teaching others in a constructive and positive manner

 Proactive mentality, multi-tasking skills, detail oriented

 Ability to plan and manage projects from start to finish

 Strong work ethic

 Excellent organizational, problem solving and grammatical skills

 Plan and manage projects that have time constraints

 POS Experience a must

 Possess the writing and software skills necessary to create material for sales emails, wine club write-ups, tasting sheets, and other marketing material

Qualifications:

Education: College Degree preferred Licenses: Driver's License

Must be 21 years of age; Must have a valid driver’s license, acceptable motor vehicle record, proof of insurance.

Specialized Work Experience: Prior retail/customer service experience required. Knowledge of the wine products & wine industry required.

Physical Requirements: Standing, bending, twisting and/or stooping on a regular basis. Lift 25-50 lbs and be able to use retail-type ladders. Reaching and/or lifting overhead, grasping/grabbing with hands on a regular basis.