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

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

Basic Wine Storage Requirements

Storage requirements that are basic to any wine are reasonably straight forward.  You must keep your wine in a horizontal position to keep the cork moist.  The storage location should be vibration free and provide protection from light and UV rays.  Temperatures should be stable and optimally range from between 42 to 58 degrees F. with red wines stored at the upper part of the range and white wines the lower.  Ideal storage would be in an environment where relative humidity is at least 70 percent.  Finally, do not store wines where their corks can pick up strange odors from a source like a stinky cheese or worse.

Common White Wine Types

Some the most common white wine grapes include Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.  Other popular white wines include Semillon, a favorite dessert wine, and Viognier, primarily grown in France and California.  California is the primary state where white wines are made, but other important growing states include New York, Oregon and Washington.

White Wine Storage Temperatures

You should always store and serve white wines colder than your red wines.  Most people recommend storage temperatures between around 42 degrees to 48 degrees F.  Wines, such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and Champagne are best stored at the lower end of that range.  Remember, storing temperatures for white wines are colder than their respective serving temperature.  You should research the optimal temperature requirements for storing and serving your particular favorite white wine.

Caves or Wine Refrigerator?

Much of the wine made in France is stored in caves where stable temperatures are near 55 degrees F.  Most of us in the United States do not have caves handy for this use.  Manufacturer’s today offer many different styles and sizes of wine coolers and wine  refrigerators that can provide a stable temperature, provide for horizontal wine bottle storage, reduce UV rays and run with little or no vibration.  Wine coolers are also made that can provide dual temperature zones to store different classes of wine at their respective optimum temperatures.

Closing Advice

If you only occasionally grab a bottle of wine to enjoy with your dinner, your standard refrigerator will work fine for short term storage.  If you like to keep a wine collection on hand to later select from or if you have intent to age your wine to improve its value and taste, investment in a wine cooler, cellar or refrigerator is what would be best for you.  No matter what you decide, I only offer this last bit of advice: buy the wine that you like, store it correctly, serve it at its best temperature and enjoy it to the last drop.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, June 2011

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!* * * 

RED WINE TYPES

Some of the most popular red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.  Grenache grapes are often used as a blending additive when wine making from other grapes and are one of the most planted red wines in the world, especially in Spain and France. Other red wines that are not as well-known but deserve mention are Barbera, Malbec, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo and Gamay. Syrah and Shiraz wines are made from the same grape, but are developed using uniquely different grape processing techniques. The modern era has brought an increasing popularity for red organic wine, produced with no fertilizers or chemicals.

RED WINE STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

The best rule of thumb for red wine storage is to store them at a temperature between 50 and 60 degrees F.  When temperatures approach 90 degrees F., red wine can easily be damaged.  Imagine it is August in the Arizona Desert; you stop to buy your red wine for dinner and leave it in the trunk of your car while you  continue to shop for several hours. Your red wine will be damaged. You will not be able to undo the damage if you rush home and stick the red wine bottle in the freezer. That action of moving your wine from one temperature extreme to another will also cause damage to it.  Alexander J. Pandell has written an excellent article on How Temperature Affects the Aging of Wine that is worth reading.

Red wines are best stored in a wine fridge, bottles properly racked in a horizontal position and with the temperature precisely regulated. The horizontal position will insure that the cork won’t crack or leak from drying out. Relative humidity should be around 70 percent. Leaking corks can cause premature oxidation of the wine.  Disturbance of the bottles should be minimized to the best of your ability, particularly if you intend to age them awhile.  Look for slide out shelving in your wine cooler appliance to make access to your bottles easier and to minimize movement of the other stored bottles.  Your storage appliance should be placed out of direct sunlight to maximize your wine cooler’s ability to hold a constant temperature.

RED WINE SERVING TEMPERATURES

Most red wines should be served at room temperature, which means an average of 60 to 65 degrees F.  If the red wine is served too warm, the taste will be dominated by the alcohol and if it is served to cold, it will definitely be less flavorful.  Red sweet and sparkling wines should be served much colder than room temperature, about 45 degrees F. Lighter reds like Pinot Noir and Zinfandel should be served around 60 degrees F. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, full bodied red wines, are best when served at 65 degrees F. Use the serving guidelines, but good wine tasting often comes down to personal preference in balancing flavor and alcohol taste. It is best to experiment on your own when serving your favorite red to find your personal temperature niche.

The more you refine your red wine storage and serving parameters, the more you will appreciate the quality of your taste experience.  As popular as wine is becoming as an addition to our lives, I still recommend to everyone to buy the wine you like best, store and serve it the proper temperatures and enjoy it any time you want to.  Wine refrigerators are designed today to address all the critical conditions needed to keep make your red wine storage easy and keep your bottles ready to enjoy.

Author: Ronald Senn, Vice-president, Ideal Wine Coolers, May 2011

FEATURES:
* Use in Free-standing or Built-in Applications
* Black Cabinet with Stainless Steel Trimmed Door
* Digital Temperature Controls
* Stainless Steed Trimmed Wood Shelves
* Stainless Towel Bar Style Door Handle
* Powerful Compressor Based Cooling
* Auto Defrost
* Dual Temperature Zones
* Blue LED Interior Lighting
* Reversible Door Hinges
* Security Lock
* Upper Zone Temperature Range is 54 to 65 Degrees F.
* Lower Zone Temperature Range is 50 to 54 Degrees F.

CAPACITY:
* 26 Wine Bottles

DIMENSIONS:
* Width 15.0 Inches x Depth 23.5 Inches x Height 32.0 Inches
* Depth With Door Handle 24.5 Inches

SHIPPING:
* FREE

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

If you ever had thoughts about having a wine cooler to store and age your favorite vintages, now is the time to take a hard look at this EdgeStar Wine Refrigerator.

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

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