Oct 30: Thanks to the Covid-19 Pandemic that has been disrupting many businesses including wine shows, exhibitions and conferences, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition which has been organising the Show at Amsterdam for over 10 years, has decided to postpone the on-site fair but has implemented WBWE Connect on 23 Nov-4 Dec 2020 to bring together the buyers and sellers who need to transact business and have been using the WBWE platform successfully, writes Subhash Arora who has been a regular visitor to the Show for several years and would have missed it this time due to the pandemic.
While postponing the physical show in RAI, Amsterdam, the organisers of the Show are implementing WBWE connect, the platform to boost business in 2020. It is a meeting tool that provides total freedom regarding transactions among professionals, without sales commissions or intermediaries. It is a platform developed so that producers can set up commercial transactions and make their wines known to a wide audience of international professionals and buyers.
It offers a new solution to buyers from all over the world, who need to discover new wines and harvest tailored to their needs. Wine producers need to be ‘present’ with their wines, where business exists.
Though not physically, it makes the wines from producers known to a much larger professional audience worldwide. WBWE guarantees sealing between three and five meetings with international buyers interested in the profile of the wine presented. It also promotes the participating winery via an exclusive newsletter sent out to the entire database of the WBWE international buyers. These newsletters also include the logo and a link to the participant’s website.
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The WBWE offers preferential access to all exhibitors who have proven their commitment to the WBWE.
The price for unlimited access to the WBWE CONNECT is 1,800€ for those exhibitors who participated with WBWE from 2018 to 2020 (there was a hybrid type of Exhibition earlier this year in China). Others pay 2,500€ for the ‘Connect’ which will be open from 23 November to 4 December.
Unlimited access to the WBWE connect can be purchased by any buyer, consultant or ‘visitor’ at a discounted price of only 50€ before November 1with on-line payment with credit card. This entrance ticket will cost 70€ afterwards- till 4 December.
Also Read: WBWE 2019: 11th World Bulk Wine Exhibition concludes successfully
The on-line business platform with the WBWE hallmark of quality, has been very well received by wineries from countries such as Australia, Argentina and the United States, who expect to boost their commercial opportunities via WBWE Connect in 2020. Kingston Estate Wines (Australia), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (USA) and the Cámara de comercio de vinos a granel de Argentina (Argentina) are already part of WBWE Connect.
WBWE Connect ensures guarantees the participating wineries between three and five business meetings with buyers with relevant profiles. This platform will also provide the shipment of wine samples to the buyers so as to achieve a swifter and more effective trading experience without charging the buyers any fees.
The CEO of the WBWE, Otilia Romero de Condés says, ‘WBWEconnect is a practical tool that is here to stay as we do not know when the normal as we knew it, will return. Those 
wineries who know how to smoothly adapt themselves to this new business reality will be the ones that will maintain their leadership in the future. One thing is for sure: Business does not wait.’
International Bulk Wine Competition (IBWC) 2020
It is heartening to note that the tradition of organising a wine competition for the last few years continues this year too, on November 27, though with a different format. The IBWC guarantees that the participating wines will be tested and evaluated by professionals (buyers, brokers and specialized media) from across the world. The quality of wines seems to have improved since the competition was instituted. Besides helping the buyers decide on which wines or wineries to focus, the organisers have also announced that the Great Gold winners will not have to pay any sample charges vary from €100-150, in 2021. The contact information of these wineries will also be communicated to the database of all the international buyers of the WBWE. November 19 is the last date for submitting the samples. Visit the website for details.
www.worldbulkwine.com
WBWE provides an excellent opportunity to wine importers in India or those who plan on getting into private labels to register for the event by paying a sum of only 50 euros- but this offer is only till 31 October unfortunately and it may require your immediate attention, unless you want to pay 20 euros extra.
For more information or register, please contact info@worldbulkwine.com
These are tough times for any business. WBWE has worked out a model that will be beneficial to all the stakeholders- most importantly, it will help their business carry on!
Also Read: WBWE 2018: World Bulk Wine Exhibition through the Eyes of an Aussie
Subhash Arora
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