Top Free or Low Cost Training and Resources

Looking for resources and need to consider your budget? We have some resources for you!

1. The WISE Blog –
Some posts are geared towards being shared and topic discussions. You can print or send a link, have everyone read, and come to a meeting with ways to implement/improve. Some are just for your management team. There is over a decade’s worth of topics!

2. Mystery Shopping –
Send the team out regularly, and have them report back formally on what they experienced.

  • Some wineries assign two people (usually a strong performer and one who needs confidence) per month, they report back at the monthly team meeting.
  • Wineries shopped can be aspirational, where guests say they are also going, or where else members belong
  • Use the WISE Mystery Shopping form found here
  • Reinforces the WISE standards and keeps them top of mind!
  • When we Mystery Shop your tasting room, we can facilitate the feedback.

3. DTC Business “Book” Club
Have the team read books, articles, blogs, and watch videos together, and talk about what inspired them, what they would like to incorporate. Here are eight resources to get you going!

  • Gift giving that’s perfect for the staff!
  • The ZingTrain blog is AMAZING for short reads
  • The Thank You Economy – Gary V, from the wine industry
  • Be Our Guest, by the Disney Institute
  • Delivering Happiness – Tony Hseih, former CEO of Zappos.
  • The Welcome Conference – these videos are amazing, starting with the book Unreasonable Hospitality, and then going through his videos. You can use these to inspire and train.
  • For the management team, read Danny Meyer’s Setting the Table or follow The Savanah Bananas CEO Jesse Cole videos – super inspiring.

4. DTC Resources, Benchmarks, Analysis: