We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Terra Dunham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Terra, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

It can seem like we’re just trying to play with the big dogs at a smaller scale – Amazon and ABC and Sam’s Club, etc. who sell wine and books at discount prices. Corporate America thinks that this is the best way to do business – that people want easy transactions at the lowest cost possible. But that’s not true. We’re choosing to do things a different way, that we think is better and more sustainable for people, our planet, and for business.

At Book + Bottle we believe that people know that they’re voting with their dollars. They want to be able to have a conversation, browse the shelves, get personalized recommendations, and learn something. They know the money they’re spending is supporting their town, their friends’ careers, a vision of the world they want to live in.

Our customers like learning the story of the winemaker, the ethos of a vineyard, and the author they’re supporting. It helps connect us in a vast, online world. We get to tell the story of sustainability, and slowly, people are making their choices based on the values found in the vineyard, not just the recognizable label on a bottle. This trend towards more respectable purchasing will start to force others into caring for our planet and people, too.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a St. Pete native and have always loved books and reading, and in fact, my first career was in publishing. As soon as I was old enough, I fell in love with wine, too, via food pairings and cooking. Wine isn’t (just) something to get you drunk, it’s a nerdy rabbit hole of geography, culture, chemistry, agriculture, hospitality, and so much more.

While living in Denver, Colorado, I got the bug to start my own thing, which obviously had to include books and wine, and moved back home in 2019 to start my dream business.

At Book + Bottle, we’re an independent bookstore and bottle shop, as well as a coffee shop and wine bar. We are doing ALL the things! And, we’re doing them differently. I truly believe we can be the change we wish to see in the world, so I manage kindly and flexibly, support other local, small, independent businesses, minimize physical waste, and dream big. All the small decisions we make every day add up – both financially and in accounting for the planet.

I am most proud of my team – I believe together we’ve created a work environment where they can truly be their best selves. They can come as they are, we use radical candor in our conversations, and they’re empowered to take ownership of the pieces of the business that most inspire them. Our little team is doing stuff that other companies are paying tons of money to outsource, which I think makes our business even more sustainable, more fun, and more authentic.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Books have always inspired me, not to mention that they’re the most economical business coaches you can hire ;) A few of the books that have helped me are:

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight – A memoir about creating Nike, this book encouraged me that through passion and endless work ethic you can create your dream!

Radical Candor by Kim Scott – This is the best management book I’ll ever read with a simple message that clear and kind communication is essential for business and for any interpersonal communication.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz – While I don’t implement his guide exactly, I do hold true his argument that if you don’t put profit first, it will often get missed. His principles helped me find ways to actually make money in my business.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

We love having a strong relationship with our customers, and we work to build that dynamic on multiple fronts.

First and foremost is when customers walk through the door. We want everyone who enters to feel welcome – an acknowledgment and smile go a long way. Our whole team is super friendly and loves to learn each customer’s story – how did they find us, what are they reading, what are their wine preferences, and the relationship often develops from there. We like to think of ourselves as a brighter, modern version of Cheers, where everyone knows your name ◡̈

We’ve also designed our memberships, The 17 Club and The Readers + Drinkers Circle, to be loyalty programs. Our members are extremely loyal customers and are rewarded with discounts, member exclusives, and other perks.

We also engage with our customers online daily through Instagram. We make it a point to respond to comments and messages, and we love sharing and reposting what our customers are reading/drinking/loving. Additionally, our email bulletins are respectfully periodic and informative and often feel more like a conversation, encouraging customers to respond with their thoughts and ideas.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bookandbottlestpete.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book_and_bottle/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/book-bottle/

Image Credits
The Dashing Ginger Book + Bottle