Marlborough Gets Customised Cellar Door Training

For immediate release

Marlborough, October 4, 2007

Marlborough Gets Customised Cellar Door Training Course

The wine industry in conjunction with NMIT is today launching a customised Cellar Door Training course. The first one day training course for staff will be delivered on October 16.

Sigrun Steinhagen, project manager, on behalf of Wine Marlborough, has been working with winery representatives and training providers over the past months to present a course that was tailored completely to industry needs. Mystery Shopping Results from February/March this year further shaped the course content.

The course concentrates on techniques to improve and increase customer relations skills, customer service, sales technique and wine knowledge.

The traveller and wine connoisseur has become increasingly discerning when it comes to customer service. New Zealand is a reasonably expensive destination, even more so with the high exchange rate, attracting affluent travellers. These wealthier travellers are more sophisticated, better educated and have high expectations based on international standards.

With increasingly demanding customers and increasing competition maximising the time spent with the customers to best effect will become more important, making this course very relevant.

On completion of the course staff will know more about what the customer is looking for, what motivates them, and will be armed with techniques to market their winery and the region in its best light, exceeding customers expectations.

The presenters are Phillip Reay of Horder Reay Consultancy and Brian Bicknell of Mahi Wines. Mr Reay has 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industries. We are very pleased to have found a specialist who can relay customer service and sales technique presenting this from a hospitality angle. Brian requires almost no introduction. Dedicated to the Marlborough wine industry, not only did Mr Bicknell manage Seresin Estate, establish his own label, Mahi, but he also served on the Wine Festival committee, helped establish the Winter Wine Weekend, and will be a panellist at the Grand tasting of the Marlborough Wine Weekend. Full bios are attached.

To enrol staff for the first course, wineries can contact NMIT, 03 578 0215. A second date will be offered depending on demand.

-ENDS-

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