BACK ORDER REALITY

The wine cooler and beverage center manufacturers enjoyed record sales for the months of November and December last year.  Up to that time, the industry showed a great reluctance to maintain high stock levels of their products.  As a result, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers were faced with many orders that they couldn’t fill.  Back orders of these products became the rule rather than the exception.  Demand exceeding expected levels and lack of stock caused many a customer frustration.  The back order situation is still an issue as we start 2012.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 

The last couple of years, manufacturers generally did not expend a lot of money with new product development because of the general state of the economy.  For the last couple of years, the cooler models available for purchase remained a relative steady and unchanging list for customers to consider.  Since the first of the year, our business experienced an increase of discontinued models.  In our case, the discontinued models accounted for about 6 to 8 percent of our offered products.  Manufacturers at the same time began introducing new replacement wine cooler models, but the reality is they are still trying to catch up.

PRICE ESCALATION

Another customer reality is that prices on beverage and wine cooling appliances are increasing.  Pricing on many items have increased anywhere from 5 to 15 percent in the last 30 days.  Everyone will be paying more for these products as the year progresses.  Most manufactures now employ MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) pricing strategies for most of their best-selling top of the line models.  Customers will find it harder to find deals on the MAP priced products as everyone is required to advertise them at the same minimum price.  Retailers that violate MAP pricing directives can be suspended from offering these products in the future.  Pricing competition is obviously reduced as manufacturers and suppliers seek higher profits after a couple of tough years of declining business revenues.

THE FUTURE STATE 

I believe that the industry will use 2012 to settle into a situation where they will continue to develop new and innovative products to sell and get a better handle on demand so they can reduce the constant back order situation we are now in.  Of course, the state of our American economy and its ability to sustain consistent growth will ultimately define any industry outcome.

MY RECOMENDATIONS 

I do have some recommendations for you the consumer.  First, if you run into a situation of a back ordered product, don’t be reluctant to get on the list for the first restocked items.  Sometimes it is better to wait a bit rather than “miss the boat” on what you want.  Be sure and ask for price protection as newly stocked items might come with a price increase if you wait to purchase them later. Second, seek out a company where customer service is important.  Call the company and talk to a real human-being rather than a menu.  Companies that value you as a customer should make personal contact with you as your order moves forward.  Third, when purchasing the more expensive appliances, call the company sales people and ask for delivery capabilities and price breaks.  You will never know what is possible unless you ask.  Fourth, large companies don’t always have the best deals nor are they necessarily able to provide the best personalized customer services.  Some smaller retailers will be able to fill your needs just as well.  Lastly, when buying anything of significant price, do your research and perhaps go beyond page one of the search engine listing.

Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, 1/24/2012

WINE BOTTLE SIZES

Most wine will come in a standard 750 ml. bottle and in fact this size bottle is the basis for naming many of the other bottle sizes.  Wine cooler and chillers are typically sized to handle the standard 750 ml. bottle.  Some of the standard sized wine bottles that you are most likely to come across are: Split (1/4 bottle, 0.1875 liters ), Half (1/2 bottle, 0.375 liters), Bottle (full bottle; 0.750 liters), Magnum (2 bottles, 1.5  liters), Double Magnum (4 bottles; 3.0  liters), Jeroboam  ( 6 bottles, 4 ½ liters), Methuselah (8 bottles, 6.0 liters), Salmanazar (12 bottles; 12.0 liters), Balthazar (16 bottles; 12.0 liter), and Nebuchadnezzar (20 bottles; 15.0 l.).  It is interesting to note that many of the larger sized wine bottles were named after Biblical Kings and other figures.  The United States waited until 1979 to adopt the metric measurements for bottles of wine and use the 750 ml. standard bottle.

The Split size bottle stands about 7 ½ inches tall with a bottom diameter of about 2 ½ inches.  These wine bottles are often used for desert and sparkling wines and are small enough to drink in one serving as they lose their fizz rapidly after opening.   The most widely sold standard 750 ml. bottle stands about 11 ½ to 12 inches high and is typically 3 ½ inches in diameter at the base.  Magnum bottles stand about 14 inches tall and are around 4 inches in diameter.  Jeroboam bottles stand 19 ½ inches tall with a base diameter of about 5 inches.  The higher capacity bottles such as the Methuselah (22 inches tall) range upward in size to the Nebuchadnezzar that is 31 inches tall.  Imagine picking up a bottle that is over 31 inches tall and pouring its wine into your delicate glass stemware.

WINE BOTTLE SHAPES

Wine bottle shapes are as varied as their sizes.  Most wine producers opt for bottle shapes that are most appropriate for their wine.  For example, Chianti and some other Italian wines come in a round-bottomed bottle encased in a straw basket.  Champagne and other sparkling wines come in bottles that are thicker walled because of the excess internal pressures.  Wine producers often choose a wine bottle shape strictly for marketing purposes.  For that reason, a German Company uses a bottle shaped as a “house cat’” for a Riesling wine it produces.

WINE BOTTLE COLORS

There are several traditional colors that you will find being used in wine bottles.  Dark green bottles are typically used for red wines (Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone).  Mosel, Rhine and Alsace wines often use a lighter green or amber colored bottle.  Clear bottles seem to be the most popular for white wines in many countries.  Champagne is typically bottled in a dark to medium green color.  Some wine producers also use colors relating to their individual marketing strategies.

FUTURE WINE PACKAGING

The future of wine packaging is wide open.  Many producers are opting for cost reducing screw type caps instead of corks.  Because the weight of the bottle approximates about 40 percent of the total bottled wine weight, plastic bottles and tetra packs are being explored as a lighter alternative that is cheaper to handle and ship.  Packaging wine in lighter containers and exporting wine in bulk quantities then bottling it in smaller bottles closer to the point of consumption are all strategies being explored to improve wine sales and reduce shipping costs.  Perhaps, the cost of a good imported French wine will become more affordable in the future.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice President, Ideal Wine Coolers

The Avanti wine bottle coolers can be used in counter top, free standing and under counter applications.  Wine bottle capacity ranges from 8 to 166 wine bottles.  Features that are available include French door designs, table top to pantry size classes, dual zone wine compartments, clear and mirrored glass doors, slide out shelves, interior lighting, auto defrost and more.

The Avanti compact refrigerators are perfect when space is an issue as in a apartment, condo or dormitory room.  Avanti mini refrigerators range in capacity from 1.7 to 3.1 cubic foot capacity.  Several models also incorporate a small freezer section that will aid in keeping your food properly preserved.  Another Avanti appliance we carry is a unique ice maker water dispenser that will fit your kitchen counter top and make up to 30 pounds of ice per day.

We also carry two different Avanti Beverage Coolers.  Our Avanti Side-by-Side beverage center model has dual zone storage for both beverage cans and wine bottles and is made for either free standing or under counter applications.  The smaller Avanti beverage can cooler has a storage capacity of 3.1 cubic feet with a reversible door, adjustable shelves, auto defrost, stainless steel door trim and full range temperture control.

Ideal Wine Cooler’s original Mission Statement stated that we would continue to find more quality products to maximize the choices our customer has.  We believe the Avanti products that we have added will provide our customers with the best possible range of choice.

ALSO CHECK OUT OUR HALLOWEEN SALE THAT IS ACTIVE UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER.  We have reduced pricing on our entire product line at our web store.  Additionally, you can get additional bonus saving of $10 to $30 dollars off the reduced pricing.  Any one purchasing more than a $750 cooler will also receive a FREE 1 year extended in home warranty that will add to the standard factory warranty.  For details CLICK here.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

FEATURES:
* Three in One Party Center Design
* Designed for Freestanding or Undercounter Use
* Electronic LED Thermostat
* Frost Free Operation
* Door Ajar Alarm
* Solid, Stainless Steel French Doors
* Euro Style Stainless Steel Handles
* Stainless Steel Trimmed Glass Shelving For Can Storage
* Stainless Steel Trimmed Black Wire Shelving For Wine Storage
* Makes 4 Pounds of Ice per Day
* White Interior LED lighting
* NOTE: Direct Hook Up to Plumbing for Drain and Water Source is REQUIRED.

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 23 13/16 Inches; Depth 23 11/16 Inches, Height 34 7/16 Inches

CAPACITY:
* 60 Beverage Cans
* 12 Wine Bottles

MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY:
* 24 months parts and labor

* * *NEW PRODUCT, LIMITED STOCK, BUY TODAY!* * * 

Weight and Distance

If one is looking for a wine refrigerator that will store 24+ plus bottles of wine or a beverage center that will store over hundred cans, you must realize these appliances are going to weigh in at 100 pounds plus.  Weight is not the only factor related to shipping.   UPS, FedEx or standard freight shipping is also based on distance from the warehouse pick-up spot to the home or business of the consumer.  Obviously, an item warehoused in Los Angeles, for example, will cost more to ship to New York City than the same item warehoused in New Jersey.

Over Sized Package

Most shipping companies also have restrictions based on package sizing.  UPS typically will add an additional charge of over $50.00 per package for shipments exceeding their predetermined size limits.  This additional charge often results from “double-boxing” the wine cooler and beverage center appliances.  These appliances often come with glass doors and adjustable legs making them particularly vulnerable to damage from the shippers without the added box protection.

Delivery Issues

UPS and FedEx home deliveries are really geared to handle smaller packages quickly and efficiently, but give them something that weighs over 100 pounds and that quick and efficient operation begins to deteriorate.  Image a package delivery driver that comes to your neighborhood to deliver a heavy package to you and has to “man-handle” this heavy package to your door.  Our neighborhood UPS driver doesn’t even have a dolly to move it with.  One of our customers reported that their driver struggled with their delivery and eventually dropped it on the ground.  Our “double-boxing” requirement saved it from damage.

Wine Cooler Pricing Verus Cost

Any seller of wine and beverage refrigerators obviously has to purchase their products from a factory or wholesaler.  They also must determine the best pricing structure for retailing the appliances considering base cost, overhead expenses and required profit margin.  Shipping costs also become part of the marketing consideration.  Consumers are going to look at the bottom line by adding up product cost, shipping cost and potential sales tax costs.  The retailer that can market the “best bottom line” to the consumer will get the sale.  Retailers will use several different strategies for determining market bottom line figures.

Consumer Bottom Line

Consumers will rightfully continue to look at their bottom line total cost.  However, I believe they need to be more aware of the shipping dilemmas related to appliance weights, distance and boxing protection.  Before you buy take the time to call the retailer, some times better deals can be made than are presented on the web site.  For example, if a buyer is from an area near our warehouses, they will have much reduced delivery prices that apply or they may even be able to pick-up the item themselves.  Lastly, look for personal customer service where you can talk to a human-being and get the true facts about your bottom line.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

Built-in Wine Cooler Dimensions

Wine and beverage refrigerators, used in built-in applications, with few exceptions come in standard kitchen cabinet size widths, depths and heights.  The most common widths are 15 inches wide or 24 inches wide, although sometimes one can find a product that is 12 or 18 inches wide.  Typical cabinetry depths are 24 inches and heights around 34 inches.  Most pantry size built-in appliances can be as tall as 65 yo 70 inches.  No matter what brand of wine or beverage cooler you might opt for there is a high degree of consistency regarding the dimensions of these under counter products.

Maintaining Cooling Efficiency

If the desire is to place these wine cooler appliances in a confined space, you must also consider how that placement will affect the cooling efficiency of the product.  In order to install one of these appliances in a zero-clearance situation, they must be front-vented, similar to standard upright refrigerators.  The front vent carries the heat given off by the cooling process and allows it to disperse away from the appliance.  If a wine cooler or beverage center is rear vented, as most all free-standing ones are, the heat will build up in the confined space, make the cooling appliance run harder than it was designed for and ultimately “burn it out”.

Free-standing Wine Cooler Clearances

Free standing cooling appliances for wine and beverage cans are designed and built with a broad range of differing widths, depths and heights.  Customers often find one that will fit their particular cranny dimensions and want to use it in a built-in application.  Stand-alone wine and beverage coolers require specified clearances in order to operate efficiently given their rear-vented design.  I usually recommend minimum clearances of at least 3 inches around the sides and top of the appliance and at least 6 inches for the rear-vented back.  If these clearances aren’t accommodated when installing a free standing unit, the unit will most surely fail before it’s time.

Other Solutions

One customer had a cabinetry nook that was ideally 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep but was short by a half an inch on the height.  The customer called me and after hearing about the height deficiency and the specific design characteristics, I found an easy solution, remove the ceramic tile from the floor of the nook to gain the needed height for the built-in cooler she wanted to purchase.  Additionally, some under counter wine coolers have adjustable legs that can be dialed into the proper height needed.

Best To Start Over

The dilemma of trying to retro fit a pre-sized purchased product into a nook or cranny to enhance the appearance of your home and business needs a cautioned approach.  Putting the wrong appliance in a place where it can’t function properly is begging for failure.  I believe the best approach, to cranny or nook remodeling to incorporate a wine or beverage refrigerator, would be to remove the cranny’s restricted construction and start with new appropriate sized cabinetry that will give you the finished look that will enhance the decor of your home.   You won’t regret the extra expense for assuring success.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

Ideal Wine Coolers recognizes that much of the country is covered with that wonderfull white stuff called SNOW.   We are trying to melt some of it down by offering a sizzling hot winter sale of all of our products.  We feature an extensive line of undercounter, freestanding, dual zone, countertop, thermoelectric and locking wine coolers.   If you would like beverage storage that adds to your stylish furniture collection, we also carry wine cabinet furnture in many capacities and finishes.

Ideal Wine Coolers has over 200 different products for you to peruse that will meet your needs.  We pride ourselves on the personalized services we provide.  If you want to talk to a human-being instead of a computer, just call us on our toll free line (888-501-7749).  We will be more than happy to answer your questions and we even will take your order over the phone.  Just ask for Ron or Belinda.

We also want to extend our thanks and appreciation to our many customers from last year. 

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

EdgeStar Outdoor Beverage Refrigerator Description (OBR900SS)

Our EdgeStar 84 Can Outdoor Combination Wine And Beverage Refrigerator is specially insulated for use outdoors. This wine and beverage cooler features several different, addjustable and removable shelves designed to store a variety of beverages including wine bottles, canned beverages, soda bottles, etc. This beverage refrigerator has a stainless steel exterior with a triple-paned glass door. Features that will make this beverage center a complete joy to own are interior lighting, digital control panel, temperature range from 36 to 64 degrees F., scalloped wine racking, flat shelf beverage storage and versitile combination storage of all your favorite beverages. This wine and beverage cooler can be used in either free-standing or undercounter applications. This wine and can cooler will make an excellent addition to your patio or outdoor bar. Look no further for superior outdoor beverage centers.

Wine and Beer Can Refrigerator Features

 
FEATURES:
* Stainless Steel Exterior
* Triple Pane Glass Door
* Flat Shelves, Scalloped Wine Racking and Wire Basket
* Interior Lighting
* Digital Control Panel With LCD Display
* Temperature Range from 36 Degrees F to 64 Degrees F
* Full Length Door Handle
* Leveling Legs
* Wire Racking to Accommodate Cans and Bottles in various sizes
* Removable and Adjustable Shelves
* Built-In or Freestanding Application

CAPACITY:
* Up to 84 Cans or 26 Wine Bottles
* Holds Mixture of Cans, Beer Bottles and Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 14.6 Inches x Depth 24.4 Inches x Height 33.5 1/2 Inches

SHIPPING:
* FREE SHIPPING

MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY:
* 90 Days Labor/1 Year Parts
* Extended Warranties Available

If you have a need for an outdoor combination wine and beverage cooler, this EdgeStar Outdoor Beverage Fridge will do the job.  Having your cool beverages handy to where you play and entertain will certainly make life easier.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

Be sure an take advantage of our Year End Inventory Sale.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers

(discounts up to 30% off our regular pricing)

Ideal Wine Coolers  decided that our customers should not have to wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving to find shopping bargains.  We decided Black Friday should start today!!  Additionally, to make this a real bonanza for some lucky buyer during our Black Friday Sale Event, we will award one of our customers with a $100 rebate on their purchase.  This special sale will last until December 15th, 2010.  All buyers during this sale event will qualify for the drawing.  December 16th we will randomnly draw the winner’s name.  The winner will received a $100 rebate on their credit card statement.  During this Black Friday Bargain Sale, we have discounted up to 30% off on all of our wine coolers, beverage centers, ice makers, compact refrigerators, mini freezers and beer keg coolers.  See our Sale Pricing Page of our website for further details.

All of our primary brand name products (Danby, EdgeStar, Summit, Haier and Vinotemp) are included in this special BLACK FRIDAY SALE.  This sale will last until December 15, 2010.  If you ever had an inclination to purchase one of these products, do it now and save money.

Special note for you buyers:  To guarantee a December 24 delivery, items should be purchased by December 15th, 2010.  

Visit our website and see our over 195 different products by Vinotemp, EdgeStar, Danby, Summit and Haier.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers