Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year...

Seasons Greetings & Happy New Year (a few days early)!!  Another Holiday season is coming to an end and in looking back I realized I haven't written a blog in almost a month.  I guess it's safe to say that our first year operating a "retail" business over the Holidays was quite the experience.  We knew it was going to be busy but we had our world rocked by all the orders.

What a great gift to us!  For the month of November and December every day we had multiple orders come in.  Since all of our products are handmade (by us) and most of our copper engravings are personalized, we spent a lot of time in the workshop.  Both our copper engravings and wine racks were sent across the country for the season.  We were very excited to receive our first two orders for a new wine rack we just started marketing!  It's called Antiqued 8 Bottle Ladder Wine Rack and you can see in the picture below it has a great cottage feel to it.  We made our first one during the summer but hadn't taken pictures of it up until November.  We also added another new item to our wine racks, the Tuscan Decor 16 Bottle Copper and Wood Wine Rack and had our first order come through for that as well.

What a year!  We started our business with one product and had no idea what the interest would be.  We've since added three different kinds of wine racks and countless different copper engravings.  Each new product re-ignites our excitement and gets us thinking about new ideas again.  We have had a great first year and have loved seeing people across the country put up our handmade products in their home.  Maybe one is on your wall right now...we consider a privilege to be a part of your home!

I hope your 2011 was great and your 2012 is even better!

Antiqued Wine Rack

16 Bottle Copper & Wood Wine Rack

Closeup of 16 Bottle Copper & Wood Wine Rack

Merry Christmas from Tessa

Someone Has Something Extra to be Thankful for...

Can you believe Thanksgiving has already come and gone?! We had so much to be thankful for; including all of you who participated in our drawing for a free wine rack!  It was fun to read the things each of you are thankful for.

I hope that you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday last week.  My wife and I, along with our new baby girl - Tessa, traveled to my aunt and uncle's house to celebrate Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family.  We had a great day and there was plenty of GREAT food, including some of my favorite Lebanese selections, pictured below:

Kibbeh Balls...I probably ate the
equivalent of what's pictured here.

Tabbouleh!!  So good!

OK, so I could talk about food all day long, especially Lebanese food.  If you have never tried it before...you MUST!  It is extremely good and fantastically healthy for you.

On to the results from the drawing...  ***DRUM ROLL***

And...the winner of a free wine rack is...Bethany Loney!!  Congratulations to you (we will contact you)!!  For the rest of you, don't fret, we will have another drawing before you know it.  ;-)  Just keep up with us and who knows, you may be coming home to a free gift??!!  

Until next time...

-Tom

Free Wine Rack...

Snow is falling, Thanksgiving is approaching, Christmas music is ringing through the house...the season of giving is at our doorsteps.  To kick off the season in spirit, we are going to have our first of many giveaways...aka FREE STUFF!  We have had a great first year of business and want to celebrate with you by having a drawing for one 8 Bottle Signature Series wine rack.

There are multiple ways to enter in our drawing, you are welcome to do one or all - the more you do the greater odds you have of winning!!

Free Wine Rack - One 8 Bottle Signature Series
*Wine not included

Here are the ways to enter your name in the drawing:
1) Post a comment on this blog by answering this question: "What am I truly thankful for in 2011?"
2) Follow our blog via the "Follow by Email" utility (top right portion of this page) OR Follow us by joining our site as a member
3) Like us on Facebook!  (Follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vetrina-del-Vino/183123258405704)
4) Follow us on Twitter @vetrinadelvino (http://twitter.com/#!/VetrinadelVino)

I'll kick it off with what I'm thankful for... This year, I'm thankful for the blessing of our daughter Tessa!  She is such a joy in our home and we are looking forward to watching her grow.

As we've gone on this journey of starting a new business, having our first child and all the other small things that happened I have been reminded over and over that I want to have a spirit of giving at all times - not just around the Holidays.

-Tom

***Entries must be completed by Sunday November 27th, 2011 at 11:59PM (CST).  The winner will be announced on our blog by December 1st.  People who already Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter will be entered in this first drawing automatically.***

Let's Go Copper...

Creativity is a special thing...it gives you the ability to start with nothing (or very little) and create something; something that is yours!

One of the reasons that Michael and I decided to start a business was to create additional income to help offset the costs of raising kids, why not right?! Another reason, which has become just as important as the first, is this thing called creating; to think outside of the box.

We started our business with handmade wine racks and we felt great about it; proud that we had created something that people enjoy decorating their homes with. We knew there was so much more we could do though...which is why I wasn't surprised when Michael called me one day to say that he had thought of a new idea...copper engravings! Who would think that we would be working with the 29th element (Cu) of the periodic table to create lasting pieces commemorating significant days or locations?

Our copper engravings started with standard Italian sayings like "In Vino Veritas" and "Pane, Vino, Dolce".

Our first copper engraving

Another engraving

But shortly after that we realized we could offer customers a way to order a personalized copper engraving and started mapping out what the layout would look like, what font worked best, what size we could make and where to find the copper. Michael spent a couple of weeks playing with the copper itself to come up with a quality finished look. He tried different engraving techniques and different finishes to find the best product to offer. The next step was framing - we knew we loved the style of wood and stain we used for the wine racks and wanted to replicate that with the frames. Together we spent an afternoon trying different techniques and styles of frames, which are handmade as well!

After a couple of weeks we had our finished product! Customers now order a variety of different engravings. We have wedding dates, established dates, longitude/latitude, birth dates, and more.  Below are a couple of pictures, we love seeing the different things people commemorate with an engraving. We recently had a customer order a Latitude/Longitude engraving with the coordinates of where they got married...SO COOL!

Newborn Baby Engraving...

Latitude/Longitude Engraving, just need your name and address!

Another twist on a Wedding Gift...

Housewarming gift...copper style!

With the holidays approaching copper engravings are a GREAT gift for the hard to purchase for family or friend. Don't know what to buy for the parent who has everything they need? An 'established' engraving is the perfect way to show them you care!

Looking for a place to order one?  Check out our website http://www.vetrinadelvino.com/framedcopperengravings.aspx and order a customized copper gift today!

-Tom

Babies, Bottles, and Wine Racks...

Zzzzz's...a common occurrence in our home lately. It has been a few days since our last post and for good reason! A week ago I found myself at a hospital with my wife Brenna who labored for 30+ hours to finally welcome the newest member of our family, Tessa June; weighing in at 9lbs 2oz and 22in long. Brenna was an amazing trooper and currently is one of the best mom's in town...my natural bias I suppose.

Tessa at 3 days old

While it was fun to be a part of the "birth" of our company, Vetrina del Vino, the birth of my daughter has been life changing to say the least. With our business, Michael and I can plan, strategize, and be organized. With Tessa's arrival, my wife and I have found ourselves humbled by all of the things we don't know about parenthood.We are learning every day/night and getting sleep every minute we can, although, those minutes are few and far between.

Tessa June
by {j. rochelle photography} 

by {j. rochelle photography}

Not surprisingly, Michael has been an amazing business partner and has carried the production load of our business, while I have been adjusting to the new needs of my family. I look forward to doing the same for him when they add to their family in January with their second!!

***Watch for our upcoming post on another fantastic part of our business...Personalized Copper Engravings.  They are very unique and a perfect gift for the upcoming Holidays for the hard to please family or friend.***

Our small business shout out for the month of October is {j. rochelle photography}! Not only is the owner, Jenni, an amazing friend, mom, wife but she is an OUTSTANDING photographer. In the words of my wife Brenna, "if she can make me look good in family photographs eight days after having a child she can do anything with a camera." I have to say, it's true. She photographed my family (parents, siblings, Brenna, Tessa and I) this weekend and was such a professional. We gave my mom family photographs as a birthday gift and she did a great job of making sure my mom got the pictures she wanted, everyone felt comfortable and most importantly that we all had fun. Check out her blog at http://jrochellephotography.blogspot.com/ to see more of her work and how to contact her.

-Tom

Hockey Players & Wine Racks...

Every year the Twin Cities and surrounding areas hosts a tour called the Parade of Homes. If you have been to it, you know exactly how amazing these homes are; my wife and I like to call them McMansions. I personally like going to them to see the craftsmanship, detail, and decor of these amazing homes. This year we had the privilege of showcasing our Cellar Series wine racks in one of the luxury homes. (The Cellar Series racks are 87" tall and hold 20 bottles). The homeowner...Captain of the the MN Wild, Mikko Koivu!

Mikko Koivu, 2011-12 Captain of the MN Wild

The builder of the home had a great location for the wine cellar, right below the staircase to the basement. We worked with the mason that was sub contracted for the brick work to come up with the best installation plan for the space. The cellar was a modest 4' x 3' space, that allowed for plenty of storage as well as a great place to display and locate individual selections from the home owner's wine collection.

Before adding the bottles...

Bottles have been added!

Another great shot of the cellar!

So, if your life is anything like mine, you don't have a luxury home that would make it on to the Parade of Homes! That's the beauty of these wine racks.....you don't need a luxury home to accomplish something like this. All you need is to think a little outside of the box and you can turn a basement closet (or a portion of a closet) into a practical storage solution. No longer do we store wine in an old cardboard box or take up room on valuable counter space; NOW we Showcase it!  

Here's to a great 2011-12 season Mikko...

-Tom

Feel free to contact us if you are looking to outfit a space with our wine racks.  Contact us at sales@vetrinadelvino.com and we can help get the ball rolling!

The Story of the 1st Wine Rack...

Once Upon a Time...In a land called Minneapolis, the first wine rack was created. On this day the skies were clear, the sun was shining AND smiling, there was a gentle breeze, and for a moment in time the world stopped as the first hole was drilled into an old 2x4 of rough pine. Snow White was singing in the background and we were both whistling while we worked.

OK, so obviously that isn't how it all happened. The reality is that I have no idea what the weather was like outside and we were in Michael's unfinished basement, while Allison was taking care of Lydia. We can only assume that the soundtrack was them watching Snow White, but only the non-scary parts. I happen to enjoy the first version of the story better, it just sounds more whimsical so we will stick with it!

After measuring, calculating; using math skills that we once learned back in school, we finally had come up with the right distance between holes as well as the degree in which the holes would be drilled in at. The last thing we wanted to have happen was for our finished prototype to drop bottles once they were placed in - NOT a good scenario!! Fortunately, everything worked great as we tested it over and over again. Fast forward through some staining sessions, some poly and the finished product was just one step away. The final piece, which we believe sets our wine rack further apart from the rest, is the hammered copper discs on the top and bottom of the rack. Che un capolavoro bellissimo! (What a beautiful masterpiece!)

First wine rack, displayed at Michael's house.

Top down look at the first rack - love it!

Stay tuned for more blog entries and even a FREE Wine Rack Giveaway!!  We have also added a way for you to receive emails when we update our blog...it's on the top right of our page.  Have a great weekend!

-Tom

It all has to start somewhere...

March 2nd, 2011.....a big day for me!  I crossed the line into my 30's (don't worry - I survived with a full head of hair intact thanks to my Lebanese genes) AND I crossed the line into my second round of running a personal business. On my 30th birthday my business partner and lifelong friend incorporated our business, Vetrina del Vino. Michael and I first met at John F. Kennedy HS in Bloomington, MN back in 1995 and now, 16 years later, we are starting a new adventure that will allow us to stretch our creative muscles as well spend time together with our wives knowing it's "business" versus pleasure.  In reality, both of our wives know it's a pretty even mix but it sounds better that we need to head out on a Friday night to "work".

At Mike & Allison's wedding in '04 - Mike on the left, I'm on the right

Vetrina del Vino, means "Showcase (or Feature) the Wine" in Italian. While neither of us are Italian, I could pass for one and Michael spent a semester in Italy in college; so maybe that makes us "part" Italian?!  Either way, we definitely enjoy Italian food, wine, and decor.

As they say.....It all started a couple of years ago when Michael was remodeling his dining room and was looking to display his selections of wine. He wanted a way that would not only fit the style of his Tuscan decor, but store a significant quantity of bottles without taking up valuable floor space. Out of this desire came the creation of our main product, the 16 bottle ladder wine rack. After refining the design, utilizing the racks in both of our houses and for numerous family and friends, we decided to produce these beautiful wine racks in the hopes that you will enjoy them as much as we have!

Both Michael and I have always been entrepreneurs at heart. I started and sold a credit card processing business in my 20's and love the experience of making something out of nothing and being able to provide for my family while doing it. Michael's family owns and runs a Brick and Stone business and Michael loves getting to not only help people create something beautiful but see the process through from beginning to end.

We would be nothing of course without our beautiful wives! I married Brenna December 27th, 2008 and have loved every minute (well, 99% at least) of this amazing thing called marriage. Our first child will be joining us ANY day now - literally. Brenna was due yesterday...looks like our baby is all snuggled up in mama and doesn't want to come out yet. We will be ready when she does!!

Our honeymoon in January 2009

Michael married Allison on October 4, 2003 after dating through high school and college. They have loved seeing each other grow and how their marriage has grown deeper and stronger with each passing year. They have one adorable daughter named Lydia that I might note is also brilliant as she thinks I'm pretty awesome. They are excitedly planning for the arrival of their second daughter in January of 2012.

Mike, his wife Allison, and daughter Lydia

These two women are amazing because they not only LET us do this second "job" that takes up lots of time and energy but they encourage us and cheer us on at every turn.  ;-)

-Tom