Acquire the Most Sought - Benchmark Wine Group

Team Subkit -

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Parker, Owner of Benchmark Wine Group, located in Napa, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We’re the largest rare wine retailer with the largest selection and inventory of back vintage, high-end, collectible, investable, and very hard-to-acquire wines in the country. We also distribute and import these products. Our customers are wine collectors and investors, as well as top-rated restaurants and retailers.

Tell us about yourself

I retired from high tech in 1998. Owning two vineyards at the time motivated me to start the first continuous online rare wine auction house in the country, Brentwood Wine Company. Purchasing the only wine auction valuation publisher, The Wine Market Journal, enabled the establishment of a retail operation and Benchmark in 2002.

Finding and offering an ever-changing selection of rare wines to a very loyal customer base, meeting them at wine events, and traveling the wine world keeps me excited about what we do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building the company into many new areas and recently becoming a nationwide presence with the opening of a new facility in Washington, DC.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The ever-changing business environment. All aspects of alcohol sales, customer service, product acquisition, competition, and market conditions are always in flux, so tactics and strategy need to change continually.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Write a complete business plan, even if you’re the only one who will ever read it.
  2. Find several people you trust with broad experience in business and ask them lots of questions continually.
  3. Never believe people who tell you it’s a crazy idea.
  4. Don’t ever ever ever doubt yourself or give up.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.benchmarkwine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenchmarkWineGroup/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchmarkwine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/benchmarkwine
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/benchmark-wine-group/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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