MCF Rare Wine
We're Still Open, Part 2
(but only 'til 7pm for the time being...)
First things first, I'm hoping that you and your loved ones are safe right now.
Second, I've been trying to lay low on the emails, because, while I do need the business, and I think most of you need the wine, I'm also aware that 'business as usual' doesn't apply to this current situation...at least it doesn't quite feel right to me.
(But I will probably get back to bothering you soon...)
That said, I received a number of nice responses to last week's 'We're Still Open' email, and so I thought I'd share one of them, because we all have so many concerns right now - concern for family, concern for friends, concern for neighbors, concern for the medical professionals in hospitals who are putting themselves in harm's way, concern for jobs...concern for whether we'll have a recognizable country on the other side of this...
I'm choosing (though sometimes it's more like 'trying my best') to remain optimistic, because, based on what I've seen so far, people are more than willing to sacrifice for the greater good. I look out my window and see an empty city, but it's an orderly, respectful, responsible kind of empty.
Despite a culture that seems to almost long for chaos sometimes, when it comes down to it, we always band together.
Despite the litany of issues we face, now is still a great time to be alive.
Despite the fact that huge moments like this certainly define much of our existence, it's mostly the small moments that remind us of how special things are.
As a small business owner, you develop a rather unique set of concerns/viewpoints, and any other small biz owner out there knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's hard to verbalize, but the connection you make when you first meet another one is instant and palpable. There's a 'Yeah, I get it' energy to them that you feel like nobody else can see, but you both see it in each other instinctively.
I mention this, because a longtime customer of mine, I'll call him 'G', replied almost immediately to the 'We're Still Open' message last week. After briefly lamenting the fact that he and his wife had to cancel their planned trip to NYC, he continued -
Owning a business myself, I know how difficult this is for you. I am hoping that, somehow, we all make it through. It's day-to-day and we're all wondering what tomorrow will bring. I will open some of your wine tonight as my wife and I discuss what is next. Stay at it. Thank you and best of luck.
The words themselves are something anyone can appreciate. However, any other SBO out there who's reading this is also seeing the 'words between the words', if you will. Without specifically saying it, I instantly knew that he was also referencing the endless list of 'it all comes down to you' concerns that would be too tedious and, frankly, whiny to list here.
The usual sleepless nights, were about to get sleepless-er...
I'd signed off last week's message saying 'Enjoy the family meals, now more than ever...', and on Sunday, G sent me a new message saying -
As you suggested, a Sunday dinner with family, eating Risotto and drinking some great Brunello. A perfect day, I hope yours is the same...
Below that was a picture he'd snapped from the head of his dining table, surrounded by three generations of his family, the youngest of which might just be walking. Three bottles of Lisini Brunello stood proudly next to a giant, now empty dutch oven of Risotto, and strewn about them were empty plates and serving bowls, toddler sippy cups and toys, wine glasses of various levels of fill, and a package of cookies that they'd now gotten into. Everyone was back in their seats, satisfied and conversing. Nobody was scrambling to clean up...everyone was taking their time.
I knew the feeling he was basking in, and, again, there was an unsaid message, as well. As all-consuming as your business (or pandemics, or life in general) can be, there's nothing that can take a moment like that away from you.
We're doing this together, as a country...as cities...as neighbors...as families...
...one day at a time, we persevere.
So, while I did originally intend to tie this all into a specific offer, I'll instead just use this as a chance to remind you, again, that we're here, taking orders and still delivering/shipping.
In the interest of safety, let me again say to my neighborhood folks that it's probably better that you call us or email me to place an order, and we'll drop it off with whatever special delivery instructions you request.
Should you choose to come by, though, we'll social distance the sh*t out of the transaction...
Okay, I need to go call my Grandma...
IF YOU NEED WINE, JUST EMAIL ME (mcf@mcf-rarewine.com), BECAUSE E-COMMERCE IS COLD AND IMPERSONAL...AND I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE COOKING/DRINKING TOO (IT MAKES THE RECOS THAT MUCH BETTER). ALSO, PLEASE SHARE ANY THOUGHTS OR STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE...I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR.
Wishing you the best, as always. --matt
(Typed through a pair of rubber gloves)
