Mitch is absolutely right. It's one thing if people don't wish to share their e-mail address, or they don't have one, but not to ask for it is a major breakdown.
Do you have a list of "things we want to have happen when a customer visits our tasting room?" You should, and getting an e-mail address (and permission to send e-mail to it) should be one of those things. Having a list like that ensures that your staff is aware of all the things that should be happening (and why).
But the foremost item on your list should be "Did our visitor leave with a positive impression of our winery?"
In response to economical climate, and in an effort to be actively seeking more fans of our winery, we have displayed on our tasting menu that we offer a half priced tasting of our featured wine flight if you join our mailing list.
It has done wonders for our mailing list numbers, which in turn has garnered us more enthusiastic & satisfied customers!
I love my job.
Posted by: Brandy Bell | February 05, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Be aware, though, of the CAN-SPAM provisions. You need permission to send people email and while you can certainly gather this with a signup sheet on a clipboard, it's harder to prove to an ISP or email provider that they gave it to you that way (unless, of course, you keep the signup sheets). Either keep them or have a computer in the tasting room that's set to your email signup page.
Posted by: rick | February 05, 2009 at 03:08 PM
we use a double opt-in program to guarantee only people who want to are receiving our information. Everyone has to sign their individual mailing list sign up, which we keep in an alphabetical file!
The opt in has proven to be a great way to not only ensure good delivery rates, but also to offer people another reason to hear from you!
We do also have an in-tasting room kiosk, but its definitely the biggest hit with millennials, other generations are still preferring pen & paper!
Posted by: Brandy Bell | February 09, 2009 at 08:28 AM