Small Fortune Podcast

Ep 75: A Short Course in Publicity with O.G. Julie Ann Kodmur

Today’s wine business has been shaped by pioneers like Jule Ann Kodmur, who worked on an early Sotheby’s wine auction, and then worked for many important distributors and wine companies. She started her own consulting firm in 1997. Julie Ann and host Carol Collison talk through the differences between working for a company and being self-employed, but most importantly Julie Ann shares many, many great ideas about how to get publicity for your company. From stodgy old media to today’s influencer media environment, Julie Ann has experienced it all on behalf of her clients. http://julieannkodmur.com/ [http://julieannkodmur.com/] Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com [smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com] Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/ [https://www.globalwinebank.com/] Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions www.thepodhouseproductions.com [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepodhouseproductions.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cjcorcoran%40globalwinebank.com%7C04ca27c232304d80f79e08de2c4fb6ea%7C70f749c026c94acfb17b69f48adead78%7C0%7C0%7C638996918044642332%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=czfW7MA9ue49DgdbRy5c6H1iNoYABUz%2FYK68CX1US4g%3D&reserved=0] Music: Nate Collison Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Ep 74: Selling Paso Robles with Jenny Heinzen

Jenny Heinzen is the Broker and Principal of Vineyard Professional Real Estate in Paso Robles, CA. She is the leading seller of winery and vineyard properties in this market. Why would Carol Collison, a winery M&A advisor, invite a fellow professional on her podcast? It’s because Jenny and Carol aren’t really direct competitors. In this conversation you’ll hear the difference between the two practices (Broker v. Advisor) as it relates to issues such as acquiring clients, finding buyers, and managing a transaction process. Jenny provides an update on the Paso Robles vineyard and winery real estate market beginning around the 32-minute mark for those who want to skip the broker talk. https://vineyardprorealestate.com/ [https://vineyardprorealestate.com/] Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com [smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com] Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/ [https://www.globalwinebank.com/] Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions www.thepodhouseproductions.com [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepodhouseproductions.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cjcorcoran%40globalwinebank.com%7C04ca27c232304d80f79e08de2c4fb6ea%7C70f749c026c94acfb17b69f48adead78%7C0%7C0%7C638996918044642332%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=czfW7MA9ue49DgdbRy5c6H1iNoYABUz%2FYK68CX1US4g%3D&reserved=0] Music: Nate Collison Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Ep 73: Niagara: The Hottest Wine Region in the World with Paul Speck

With American wines off Canadian shelves and tourists staying home and visiting local attractions, now is a great time to be a wine producer in Canada.  Hear what’s happening in this interview with Paul Speck, President of Henry of Pelham Estate Winery, the third largest wine company in Canada founded in 1984 on land that had been in the family since the 18th century. The company is based in the Niagara Peninsula, the large Ontario growing region and farms 300 acres. In addition to wine production, they also run Family Wine Merchants, which imports and distributes beer, wine, and spirits from throughout the world. Hear Paul’s tips on how to succeed as a family wine company, the history of the Canadian wine industry and how it is similar to American wine history and succeeding through listening to your customers and giving them what they want among other great ideas. Paul also talks about their best-selling varietal product, Baco Noir. The conversation wraps up with key concepts for starting and succeeding in the Canadian wine business (and everywhere else too.) https://henryofpelham.com/ [https://henryofpelham.com/] https://fwmcanada.com/ [https://fwmcanada.com/] Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com [smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com] Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/ [https://www.globalwinebank.com/] Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions www.thepodhouseproductions.com [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepodhouseproductions.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cjcorcoran%40globalwinebank.com%7C04ca27c232304d80f79e08de2c4fb6ea%7C70f749c026c94acfb17b69f48adead78%7C0%7C0%7C638996918044642332%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=czfW7MA9ue49DgdbRy5c6H1iNoYABUz%2FYK68CX1US4g%3D&reserved=0] Music: Nate Collison Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Ep 72: How to Wind Down a Wine Business the Right Way

Back in mid-2024, Episode #25, Carol interviewed Megan Bell, owner of Margins Winery in Santa Cruz, California. Megan had been profiled in the SF Chronicle about the increasing challenges in the wine business. Two years later she was profiled again for having ended her wine company, and host Carol Collison asked her back to talk through her process of deciding to wind down the business, and the sacrifices she made to make sure she paid all her growers and her bankers. Carol and Megan discuss various issues and tendencies that make it difficult for entrepreneurs to make decisions like this: the tendency to ignore information that contradicts your decision, the “sunk cost fallacy”, as well as the role of investments - such as a tasting room lease and tenant improvements - that have the effect of increasing a company’s break-even point and reducing financial flexibility.  Carol emphasizes that the discipline and integrity that Megan demonstrated in her wind down of Margins winery reflects the best of American business ethics, and calls to all business managers to remember to “do what you say you’re going to do.” An ethos that has made American entrepreneurship the envy of the world. https://www.agleaders.org/programs/about/ [https://www.agleaders.org/programs/about/] https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/small-business-development-centers-sbdc [https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/small-business-development-centers-sbdc] Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com [smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com] Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/ [https://www.globalwinebank.com/] Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions www.thepodhouseproductions.com [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepodhouseproductions.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cjcorcoran%40globalwinebank.com%7C04ca27c232304d80f79e08de2c4fb6ea%7C70f749c026c94acfb17b69f48adead78%7C0%7C0%7C638996918044642332%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=czfW7MA9ue49DgdbRy5c6H1iNoYABUz%2FYK68CX1US4g%3D&reserved=0] Music: Nate Collison Logo Photography: John Corcoran

Ep 71: Far Niente Board Chair Carol Reber on How to Climb to the Top

Among many the keys to professional success in corporate environments that are discussed in this episode are: make what’s best for the business your “north star” (then your career will take care of itself); focus on the big picture (don’t get lost in the data); but also prioritize your efforts based on data.  Host Carol and her guest Carol also discuss challenges that women managers can face and ideas about how to overcome them. Learn what the role of a Board of Directors is (nose in, hands out) and the best ways that managers and board members can work together to advance the business they serve. Reber recommends that owners of businesses of any size find either informal or formal outside advisors to get advice and support when making important decisions. Please note: this is an edited version of a long conversation, some day in the future we may publish an “director’s cut” of the whole thing. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolreber/ [https://farniente.com/] https://farniente.com/ [https://farniente.com/] How to become a board member in six steps | McKinsey [https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/starting-your-board-journey-six-steps-to-guide-director-hopefuls] Questions? Comments? smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com [smallfortunepodcast@gmail.com] Sponsor: Global Wine Partners https://www.globalwinebank.com/ [https://www.globalwinebank.com/] Editor: John Kiernan, The PodHouse Productions www.thepodhouseproductions.com [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepodhouseproductions.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cjcorcoran%40globalwinebank.com%7C04ca27c232304d80f79e08de2c4fb6ea%7C70f749c026c94acfb17b69f48adead78%7C0%7C0%7C638996918044642332%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=czfW7MA9ue49DgdbRy5c6H1iNoYABUz%2FYK68CX1US4g%3D&reserved=0] Music: Nate Collison Logo Photography: John Corcoran