Newsletter

July 2008

We like to make it convenient for our customers to get the service they need from us, and so for as long as we can remember we have taken American Express cards.

I’ll be honest: for a while I thought it wasn’t particularly convenient for us- but hey, if people want it then we’ll try and supply it.
 
It had been dawning on me slowly that it has benefits for us as well- American Express make an effort to find out what we need, and they supply us with regular helpful information and courses. So when I opened my monthly statement and saw that they were promoting a gift of help with marketing and advertising, it was simple for me to respond- I just filled in the form, faxed it to Amex and went on balancing my cheque book.
 
A few months later, I’m sitting at my desk during the usual stuff when I receive a phone call saying that I have won $5000 worth of advertising product through Ogilvy. I was thrilled! It was the perfect prize- I could use it to help myself do better business. I’d better be careful, I thought, and not squander it. I looked up Ogilvy on the internet. Wow! They specialize in branding and interactive marketing and that’s exactly what I need. Some pretty good brands too- like Amex. I get them to send me a form so I can fill out a media brief. I know a little bit about clarifying objectives and sticking to them.
 
I decided I wanted to tell people about the wine we make and encourage them to try it; and about the vineyard restaurant and what a great venue it is for special meetings and corporate events. The internet seemed the obvious way to go, so they have refreshed our website for us. This is the result- I hope you like it and feel tempted to buy some Sangiovese or dolcetto –it’s pretty tasty wine – over the web, from one of our outlets or at our restaurant. The vineyard restaurant is a great space and needs to be filled by people enjoying each others’ company while drinking good wine with food. Please consider it for your next party, group get together or seminar.
 
June has been an exciting month- while writing and getting images for the website, I have been coordinating the Matakana Coast Wine Country regional presence at the Food Show Auckland, July 31st – August 3rd.  I want to encourage you to visit our site- 202, 203, 204 and 204A and try a little Matakana wine, taste a little Matakana food and chat with our friendly ambassadors who will share with you some of the delights of our area. And then you will want to visit Matakana Coast Wine Country itself, because we are offering some special treats if you choose to take a break up the Matakana Coast during the next few months.
 
I must gratefully acknowledge the people who surround me and give me the strength to keep going: who work here at Heron’s Flight and give 110 % whether they are cooking, cleaning, pruning or making you welcome. Thanks to people in the Matakana Coast Wine Country community who know how to cooperate and make it a great place to live and do business. And to my family- you know that we wouldn’t have a venue or wine at all if it weren’t for you.
 
And the people from Ogilvy have been such a breath of fresh air! Although I still say you should come to Matakana to recreate, rejuvenate and refresh, I‘ve done all that at Ogilvy in Stanley Street Parnell where the people are so clever, helpful, stimulating and generous spirited. Especially Angela and Leila and Ralph and Rowan and Jennifer!