Wine-store franchisor seeks to plant its seeds in San Antonio - San Antonio Business Journal:

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The company's goal over the next five to sevehn years is to open 20 stores in the greater San Antoniometro area. Already, the compan has an 1,800-square-foot franchise store in the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center at 11075 West InterstatedHighway 10. A second 1,700-square-foot franchise location is slatesd to open in the Villagew of Inwood at 16535 Huebner Road in either Februaryg or March ofthis year. Local WineStyles storew owner and franchisee David Giraul says there is huge potential for growth for the companh throughout the greater SanAntoniio area.
"Based on the reception that we've had, and in just lookingv at the demographics and the growth we're seeing in San Antonio, it appear to be a very solid fit with wherd we're experiencing growth in other regions with similadr demographics," says Girault, who owns the WineStyles locatiomn in the Huebner Oaks Shopping Centere and another one in The Village of Inwood locationh will be operated by another franchisee, Mel Williams. Girault adds that the company'es rapid growth thus far has been its simplistic approachj tomerchandising wine. "Most, if not all, stores merchandise their wine thetraditional way.
They separat e their wines from different regions and then bydifferenyt grapes," Girault says. "But our researcj indicates that what the customer is looking for is what tastes good and what goes good withwhateverd they're cooking." The WineStyles storesz offer about 150 wines that are grouped in eighrt different styles or types. Each style featurews eight to 24different wines. The style s consist of three types ofred wines, three types of white wines, a nectar wine (which includes dessert wines and ports) and a bubbluy (or sparkling) wine.
The store focuses on sellinh affordable wines that typically averagebetween $8 and $25 per The idea, Girault says, is to encourage people to drin more wine and to embracee it as an everyday dinner beveragwe like it is in European The stores hold wine or tastings, on Tuesday nights for $5 per persoh and Friday and Saturday nights for $10 per person. In addition to beint a franchisee, Girault also is chargesd with recruiting other WineStyles franchisees for a regiob that includes parts of Central andSoutb Texas. His territory goes as far north as Georgetowbn all the way down southy to Brownsville and stretchews out east to Victoria and west toDel Rio.
Girauly is rewarded with a percentag of the profits brought in by the franchiseesehe recruits. As part of this recruitinf effort, he says he also plans to open another 20 locationsz in the Austin metro area over the next five to seven Last week, WineStyles opened its first locationh in Austin and plans to open two more locationes in the area by the end of the "We are actively seeking franchisees throughout our territory and throughour the United States," Girault Girault adds that a prospective franchisee does not have to be a sommelietr or have previous experience in the wine industry.
"W really look for people who just love wine and beyond that we cantraih you," he says.