Exploring the WineDirect Academy

Just over a month ago, you got access to the WineDirect Academy - a free online training portal to master WineDirect's robust toolset. Recently, I sat down with Ben Kraemer to chat about the Academy and dive into what you need to know to get the most out of this exciting new offering.

 

To get started, simply create an account for free, choose which courses benefit you and then complete the modules. If you've already signed up, you can continue learning from where you left off. We think you'll love the new Academy, but don't take our word for it:

"I am loving it! I think the Academy is so great. This is fresh and in real time and feels very current. They segments are short and to the point. I know I will get a ton of use out of it." - Nancy Dunsmore, Ex Nihilo Vineyards

We are excited to support you on your journey of mastering WineDirect's robust tools. Stay tuned for new modules soon!

New: Live Chat for DTC Pro and DTC Advanced

If your U.S.-based winery is on the new DTC Pro or DTC Advanced plan, you now have access to enhanced support with live chat functionality and help from our senior Support Specialists. This team is made up of the people who know WineDirect best, and are dedicated to giving you a quick and thorough response, leveraging their collective knowledge and new tools like live chat. 

Haven't used our chat feature yet? Check out our Resource Kit with steps for accessing chat, as well as other tips for reaching WineDirect and our partners. Of course, you can always connect with us by emailing support@winedirect.com or calling 800-819-0325 too.

We’ve also launched WineDirect Academy, an on-demand educational resource that you can access for free - anytime, anywhere. We encourage you to check it out so you and your team can take full advantage of the platform’s robust toolset.

The Client Success Team is here for you seven days a week, with ample coverage during business hours, ready to assist when it's convenient for you. We are always happy to help!

New: Billing Contact Changes on Packing Slips

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state statute intended to enhance privacy rights and consumer protection for residents of California. Based on this legislation, WineDirect has removed date of birth (DOB) and some Billing Address information from Packing Slip PDFs globally to ensure compliance and consumer privacy. 

This update means removing DOB from Packing Slips PDF printouts. In addition, all Purchaser Billing Address information - except for the City and State/Province, which is required by regulators to determine the purchaser's origin, has been removed.

Below is an example of the updated Packing Slip PDFs will display Billing Address going forward:

No action is needed from you, we have already made this change in the backend on your behalf to ensure you continue to protect your consumer's privacy. Thank you for your understanding as we move quickly to uphold compliance.

 

Now: Temecula Valley Wine & Agricultural Heritage District Assessment Levy

If your winery is within the Temecula Valley Wine & Agricultural Heritage District (TVWAHD), you may have heard that on April 1, 2021 a hybrid tax was implemented for all wineries in the region. This five year term stipulates that 1% of all gross sales be funnelled into advertising for the valley.

The good news is that lead trainer, Ben Kraemer, has created a video detailing everything you need to know about the change and your WineDirect setup. Watch the video below:

 

If you intend to pass this assessment on to your customers, you should retroactively collect it starting April 1, 2021. The amount of assessment, if passed on to each customer, shall be disclosed in advance and be separately stated from the amount charged and any other applicable taxes, and each customer shall receive a receipt for payment from the business. Please identify this assessment as the “TVWAHD Assmt” in a separate line item on the customer’s receipt. In order to disclose the fee in advance, a simple note of “All sales are subject to a 1% Temecula Valley Wine & Agricultural Heritage District fee” should either be printed on tasting menus and/or restaurant menus or on a sign at the register.

Additionally, it must be disclosed in any special events and wedding estimates and contracts. Please note that if a customer refuses to pay the assessment, your business is still liable for paying it.

We've also created some FAQs to help your migrate through this change:

FAQs

1) What should we call the assessment on the sales receipt?
Per the District’s Management Plan, the assessment will be called “TVWAHD Assmt.”

2) The 1% assessment is charged on gross sales revenue. What does that include?
All direct to consumer sales of for wine, wine club shipments (whether shipped or picked up), ticket sales, tasting fees, tours and private and public special events, merchandise, prepared foods for on-premise or off-premise consumption (whether sold in a tasting room or a stand-alone restaurant on-premise), orders placed via telemarketing, telephone, online, email, whether carried out at the time of purchase, shipped or picked up at a later date (pre-sales). Gross sales revenue shall not include any federal, state or local taxes collected, including but not limited to sales and use taxes.

3) Does the assessment apply to any non-taxable items? (e.g. Shipping, Gratuity, Non-taxable pre-packaged food, etc.?)
No, it only applies to items that you would charge California sales tax on.

4) Would refunded transactions refund the assessment fee previously collected on the order?
Yes, just as you would refund sales tax, you would also refund any assessment collected.

5) Are fees collected for wholesale transactions?
No, there are no assessments collected on wholesale transactions.

6) Our tasting fee includes sales tax and we “back out” the sales tax when it comes time to pay the state. Can we include the assessment in the tasting fee as well and use the same procedure?
Yes, you can, however, it is highly recommended that you line item both the sales tax and the assessment separately, as it will make your accounting much easier and will lessen questions from customers if they see other wineries charging both the tax and assessment and you’re not. In doing a bit of research, many of the wineries in the area do charge sales tax on their tastings as a separate line item.

New: Smart Product Search

With WineDirect's brand-new search functionality, it's now easier for your customers to search and find your wine. By implementing a smart search bar within your website, consumers can quickly search your products to find their favorite wines. 

Here's what one of our beta testers had to say about the new product search functionality:

"The new update for WineDirect search tools works great! The speed is what I'm most impressed by." - Mark Kubas, Ellement Wine & Spirits

We recommend working with your designer to add search to your website. Steps can be found on our Documentation site. If you have any questions, please email support@winedirect.com.

Don't have a designer? Check out our network of Certified Designers.

Now: Getting Ready for Summer Shipping

As ecommerce and wine clubs sales continue to be strong, we’re proud to continue to partner with you to provide the best possible experience for your consumers.

This year, we are implementing our temperature controlled shipping options earlier to ensure the best possible experience for your members. As of March 1, our temperature controlled shipping solutions are available for your use - just in time for the busy spring and summer shipping season.

Learn all about getting set up for summer shipping success in this short video with Ben Kraemer.

 

We hope you enjoy the step-by-step instructions and are inspired to create shipping options to continue to delight your consumers as we welcome summer.

Partner Spotlight: WGits for Quickbooks Integration

Our partner, WineGlass Integration Technology Solutions (WGits), offer an automated solution that allows you to easily transfer transactions directly to your QuickBooks desktop application.

We recently sat down with Dan from WGits to give us an overview of the solution, including main benefits, cost, what to expect and some FAQs. Watch the video below to learn more:

 

Benefits of WGits for QuickBooks include:

• Significant time-saving benefits (10-30 hours per month!)
• Fully automated, yet flexible 
• Reduction in human error
• Easy setup and ongoing support: The WGits team configures everything for you and can be reached over the phone, email and chat for help.

WGits for QuickBooks offers WineDirect clients an easier way to reconcile your transactional data with your accounting needs, eliminating tedious administrative work and headaches for your team. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Participants must be current customers of WineDirect and be based in the US
• Must be using Quickbooks Desktop on a PC

> To learn more about WGits for QuickBooks, please contact WGits for a demo.

Now: Update Your Browser

As part of WineDirect's ongoing commitment to security management, we are increasing online security in order to improve reliability as you manage your clubs, inventory, and winery website. As of March 22, 2021 we are recommending you to update your browser to the latest version to ensure your WineDirect login experience remains seamless.

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

If any computers or devices at your winery use another browser, it is key that you move to one of our supported browsers before March 22nd, 2021 to ensure your login experience remains seamless. If you’re already using Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge, click here to learn how to update your browser. We appreciate your help in meeting our mutual goal of top-notch security across our entire platform.

New: WineDirect Academy

With the new year in full swing, we're thrilled to offer you access to brand new educational resources - all for free! There are two tracks of educational training videos working as you work to master WineDirect's robust tools. Start with WineDirect Essentials and level up to courses within WineDirect Academy!

WineDirect Essentials are for those of you just starting out and getting the hang of WineDirect's foundational tools.

WineDirect Academy is  module-based and builds on foundational tools with deep dives and best practices.

access academy

Simply create an account for free, choose which courses benefit you and then complete the modules. We think you'll love the new Academy, but don't take our word for it:

"I am loving it! I think the Academy is so great. This is fresh and in real time and feels very current. They segments are short and to the point. I know I will get a ton of use out of it." - Nancy Dunsmore, Ex Nihilo Vineyards

We are excited to support you on your journey of mastering WineDirect's robust tools. As we welcome new beginnings in 2021, we want to say thank you for your continued partnership and trust in WineDirect. Happy learning!

New: Improve Your Email Deliverability

Getting your emails into your customers’ inbox has never been more critical. That’s why we’re excited to share how you can improve email deliverability and enhance security. By adding DMARC domain authentication, you will instantly increase the likelihood that your emails hit inboxes during the busy holiday season.

To get started, you will need to reach out to us at dmarc@winedirect.com with  three pieces of information: 

1. Confirm there is an existing vin65.com SPF record on your DNS server.

Email services that receive email will usually check for this record and your DNS administrator can confirm if it is already available. You can use a site like this to look up the SPF record.  To confirm if this record is already present, look for the ‘include:’ section ensure ‘_spf.vin65.com’ is included. 

2. Provide the email address of a member on your team or an IT vendor who can edit your DNS records.

An automatic email will be sent from our email vendor SendGrid to the provided address, including the updated records and instructions.

3. The domain of your 'send from' email address.

For example, if you send system emails from info@abcwinery.com, your domain is @abcwinery.com.

Your continued success is always our top priority and this is a fantastic new way to ensure your emails are reaching more of your valuable customers. We look forward to hearing from you!