The leading online wine shop interviews COO Justin Kite
to discuss how COVID-19 is affecting the wine industry, along with how the
company is handling the issue.
Pennsauken, N.J., April 16, 2020 - The COVID-19
pandemic has posed many uncertainties in a variety of industries around the
world, including the wine community. The creation, sourcing, and distribution
processes that go behind every bottle of wine are now compromised due to delays
and limitations in the best interest of global safety.
WTSO, a leadingonline wine shop, has remained open during this time not only to sustain
and uphold the business, but to give customers access to wine that it may not
be safe for them to get otherwise. In the interest of transparency, WTSO and
COO Justin Kite want to communicate with customers about how they are handling
the issue and how the Coronavirus is affecting the world of wine.
When asked how the wine industry is changing amid the virus,
Kite noted, “Wineries that rely on direct sales through their tasting room or
restaurant sales as a major source of revenue have been severely negatively
impacted. I'm sure they are now trying to increase their revenue channels of
direct-to-consumer shipping and distribution to retailers if possible.”
Ultimately, the United States is in somewhat of a waiting
game when it comes to wine. The industry heavily relies on events; and with
wineries closing and events being cancelled, it is more difficult to uphold the
community. However, wine sales themselves will most likely not be struggling --
many retailers are switching to online platforms and delivery, making it easier
for enthusiasts to still enjoy different wines from home.
As an exclusively-onlinewine store, WTSO has been shipping wine to customers for almost 14 years.
During this uncertain time, they are taking precautions to ensure cleanliness
and health. “We developed and launched our current plan of action on March 15.
All office employees were sent home to work remotely. Strict guidelines were
put in place for all logistics and fulfillment employees that were still
reporting for work,” Kite said, when asked about how WTSO is handling the
situation. “We utilized a secondary facility normally used for storage to run
parallel with our main facility. This allowed us to split the work staff in
half in each location to allow for better distancing. All employees are given
protective masks and gloves and everyone in each facility is required to wear
them at all times. All work areas and machinery are disinfected multiple times
throughout the day, and a cleaning crew is brought in each night for a thorough
cleaning.”
Due to the high volume of online orders, shipping may be
delayed during this time. However, WTSO is still prioritizing quick delivery
and free shipping options to support customers and friends who are looking
to buywine online.
Ultimately, Kite adds, “The health and safety of our
employees is our greatest concern...Thus far we have been extremely fortunate
that no one has been ill in either location. If that was to happen, the entire
facility would be shut down and any worker there would be subject to quarantine
for the requisite amount of time.”
While the future of the industry is not clear, WTSO is
making the efforts to keep momentum going this trying time and provide online
customers with the affordable bottles they’re looking for.
For more information about WTSO and their offerings, please
visit wtso.com or
call the Customer Service team at 866-957-2795.
Media Contact:
JULIE BLOUNT
Website: https://www.wtso.com/
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