Article Contributed on: 8/12/2009 4:17:56 PM
Business: Highlands WineSeller
Owner: Bob Quinette
Address: 6668 Timberline Road, Highlands Ranch
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.
Founded: August 2004
Employees: 12
Contact: 720-889-WINE (9463)
Q. How did you come to be involved in this business?
A. I live in Lone Tree and I was tired of going to large liquor stores that did not offer good service. I like wine, but wanted to learn and know more about it. Because customer service is key, we felt there was a niche that needed to be filled in this part of town. We wanted the store to offer superb service to the novice wine buyer as well as the sophisticated buyer.
Q. What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A. Our goal is to provide every customer who walks in the store with a level of service unparalleled in the industry. We do this by hiring a knowledgeable and friendly staff that is able and very willing to anticipate the customers' needs, provide help with food and wine pairing and party/event planning all to ensure that each customer receives superb service. In addition, we offer free weekly wine tastings with live music. Though the store is upscale in appearance, our goal remains the same: to provide a higher level of customer service with guaranteed lowest prices.
Q. What do you like best about your line of work?
A. It is an opportunity to meet terrific people and provide a higher level of customer service to them. We understand and respect they have other shopping options, so seeing them return on a regular basis is a good thing. We welcome and appreciate the positive as well as the constructive feedback we receive from the customers. Receiving praise from a customer is truly the best part of the business. Of course, trying all the great wines does not hurt either.
Q. What is your business' biggest challenge?
A. Our biggest challenge is to continually stay on top of our customers' ever-changing needs, whether it's pricing, service or having the right product in the store. Keeping the current customers happy while bringing in new customers is a challenge in this market and it is something we work on every day.
Q. Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A. They might be surprised to find out how active we are in the community. As a community partner/sponsor with the Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA), we sponsor numerous events including "In The Pink," a fundraiser to support breast cancer, The Taste of Highlands Ranch as well as a variety of educational classes. Proceeds from ticket sales to these events support scholarships to local area high school students. In addition to these events, we also host quarterly wine tastings benefiting local charities such as Brent's Place, Fired Up For Kids and the Double Angel Foundation.