Traveling Vineyard
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wine, direct sales |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | |
| Services | Winery |
| Website | www.travelingvineyard.com |
Traveling Vineyard is an American multi-level marketing company based in Ipswich, Massachusetts, that sells wine. The company was founded in 2001, and in 2010 it was purchased by Richard Libby and restructured.[1]
It is marketed by means of approximately 5,000 Independent representatives.[1] Traveling Vineyard representatives, called Wine Guides, pay one-time fees, and in return, the company sends them a Success Kit[2] with wine education materials (including notes on individual wine varietals and food pairings), sample accessories, tasting glasses, and ten bottles of wine for the first tastings. Traveling Vineyard also provides website setup and access to training and support.[3]
Direct Selling Association[edit]
Traveling Vineyard is a member of the Direct Selling Association, which holds member companies accountable to ethical standards and policies that protect independent salespeople and consumers.[4] The company is also a member of the Better Business Bureau.[5] Traveling Vineyard uses the party plan method of direct selling.
Wine tastings[edit]
Wine Guides connect with event hosts from their social networks to arrange free, in-home wine tastings. Wine Guides help hosts prepare for the event and then present guests with specific wines they can taste with the opportunity to order. Wine Guides make marketing fees from their sales to customers, not from how many people they recruit to be on their team.[6]
Sommology[edit]
In 2013, Traveling Vineyard launched Sommology. Sommology is a food and wine pairing educational resource. It was created in collaboration with Eddie Osterland, America's first Master Sommelier.
Company history[edit]
Traveling Vineyard was founded in 2001. In April 2010, the company declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy.[7] In November 2010, Richard Libby and other investors purchased the Traveling Vineyard assets out of bankruptcy and restarted the company.[8] As of May 2017, Traveling Vineyard has over 5,000 independent Wine Guides in 40 states in the United States.
Regulatory history[edit]
In the 2005 ruling Granholm v. Heald, the Supreme Court held that Michigan and New York states violated the Dormant Commerce Clause by permitting in-state wineries to ship directly to consumers but prohibiting out-of-state wineries to ship directly to consumers.[9]
Since then, individual states have been opening their shipping and allowing Traveling Vineyard to grow as a winery.[10] The Wine Institute[11] and Free The Grapes[12] have been instrumental in lobbying for the ability for out-of-state wineries to ship wine directly to consumers.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Mass. Corporations". William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Reisem Hanna, Holly. "Traveling Vineyard – A Home-Based Business for Wine Lovers". The Work at Home Woman. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ Gevirtz, Leslie (20 Jan 2015). "Drink wine, make money? The latest house party trend". BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Search Results For Company: DSA". Direct Selling Association. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "BBB Business Profile". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Tory (1 Nov 2006). "Tory Johnson's Work-From-Home Tips". ABC News. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Goodison, Donna (16 April 2010). "Traveling Vineyard in bankruptcy". Boston Herald. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "The Traveling Vineyard Resumes "Fast Growth" Under New Executives Strategy and Vision". SB Wire. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Granholm v. Heald". Oyez. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ Sherman, Erik (21 Jan 2015). "House Parties Turn Wine Into Fruit Of The Money Vine". AOL. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "The Wine Institute". The Wine Institute. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Free The Grapes". Free The Grapes. Retrieved 30 May 2017.