We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jessena & Michael Waldo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jessena & Michael below.

Jessena & Michael, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.

Working together as a husband-wife duo can have its challenges it requires careful consideration of each person’s strengths and weaknesses. The way we made this work for us was by assigning specific roles according to each person’s strengths, this helped us to streamline our day-to-day duties in our business operations. For example one of us handles the financial side of the business while the other handles the creative side, we found that this is a great balance for us. One of our pitfalls is that it can be challenging to disconnect and manage the work-life balance dynamic when trying to transition to family time. We would love for our children to join our business and learn all the ins and outs and the day-to-day operations, this will help them to learn how to be successful and see how a legacy can be built from hard work and dedication. Some experiences that helped shape our view on family business was how we both came up working hard for other companies and excelling within these companies but not having the feeling of gratification or success.

Jessena & Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jessena Waldo, and I’m originally from Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating high school, I moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where I met my husband and pursued a degree in business management at Jackson State University. While I always envisioned myself as a business owner, the specific path remained unclear. My journey into the world of wine began with a discovery – Cabernet Sauvignon. I proudly embraced the title “Cab girl” for a while, but my exploration didn’t stop there. I was captivated by the vast array of grape varietals and the art of winemaking. My husband and I immersed ourselves in the world of wine, attending tastings and classes, and delving into its history and the diverse regions that produce it. We were particularly drawn to the sense of community that blossomed during these events, as people bonded over their shared experiences, discussing the nuances of flavor and texture. This inspired us to create our wine brand, a way to connect with others on a deeper level, fostering a sense of community through the shared enjoyment of wine.

My name Is Michael Waldo and my roots are firmly planted in Virginia. Born in Naasawadux, I spent my childhood in Norfolk, with frequent trips to the Eastern Shore, particularly Cape Charles and Cheriton. Later, I moved to Chesapeake, graduating from Indian River High School. Three weeks after graduation, I left for the U.S. Army, embarking on a journey that took me to boot camp and ultimately, to Desert Shield, which later transitioned into Desert Storm. After leaving the military in 1992, I held various jobs to make ends meet, eventually finding my way into the automotive industry in 1995. I steadily climbed the ranks, reaching middle and upper management positions. My experience extended beyond automotive, as I later gained valuable insights in manufacturing industries like ply-wood and metal stamping. After over 30 years of service in manufacturing, I left the industry in 2021. The combination of my military, automotive, and manufacturing experiences has instilled in me a strong work ethic, a drive for success, and a wealth of skills and expertise. These qualities, coupled with the unwavering support of my wife and children, have inspired me to pursue my love of fine wine and its complexities to build something beautiful together that we can share with everyone.

Our mission is to provide our customers with exceptional fine wines, crafted with the highest quality and care. We stand behind our products with pride, viewing them as works of art. We want our customers to not only savor the exquisite flavors of our wines but also to share them with loved ones, creating memorable moments and fostering connections through the shared experience of fine wine. We are incredibly proud of the journey we’ve embarked on as a family and the quality of the wines we’ve been able to create and share with our customers. The positive reception and appreciation we’ve received is truly rewarding, and it fuels our passion to continue crafting exceptional wines.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Our most valuable source of clientele has been our family and friends. Their unwavering support and enthusiastic word-of-mouth referrals have been instrumental in building our customer base. This organic growth has not only helped us retain existing customers but also introduced us to a diverse range of individuals with unique preferences. By listening to their feedback and understanding their wine desires, we’ve gained invaluable insights that inform our advertising strategies and ensure we cater to a wider spectrum of tastes.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

We’re committed to rewarding our customers and building strong relationships. Here’s how we do it:

*Loyalty Program:** Customers earn points with every purchase, which can be redeemed for coupons towards future purchases.

*Wine Club Memberships:** We offer monthly, quarterly, and yearly memberships with perks like free delivery, monthly discounts, and tasting notes.

*Community Events:** We’ll be hosting events around the city, offering a chance for customers to interact with us, taste our wines, and learn more about our brand. Wine Club members receive special discounts on these events.

*Weekly Newsletters:** We keep our subscribed customers informed about upcoming releases, new products, and exciting news through our weekly newsletters. These initiatives help us foster brand loyalty, stay connected with our customers, and make them feel valued.

Through these initiatives, we aim to foster strong brand loyalty, maintain close relationships with our customers, and prioritize their experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.divinelyelegantvines.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinely_elegant_vines
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/tQD99MUNcr3ujLtx/?mibextid=YMEMSu

Image Credits

Divinely Elegant Vines LLC