How does your service process work?
Depending on the nature of the project, the work is performed at our Portland metro area office or on site at yours.  A typical client relationship unfolds as follows:

1.  Phone or in-person meeting to determine your project's priorities, goals and budget.
2.  Trellis Wine Consulting conducts initial research to evaluate your unique selling propositions and strengths and                                       challenges,        and provide you with a proposal designed to uniquely meet your needs.
3.  We discuss the proposal and Trellis Wine Consulting revises it if needed.
4.  Initial deposit is collected and work begins.
5.  Trellis Wine Consulting implements the plan while consistently communicating with you.
6.  Final payment is received and we survey your satisfaction to ensure continuous improvement of our business.

We're a small, family-owned and operated winery.  Can we afford strategy consulting?  And more importantly, things are going well, so do we even need help?
Yes!  Trellis Wine Consulting enjoys working with wineries of all sizes.  While working with limited resources can be more challenging, it can also be more rewarding when those carefully chosen paths pay off with increased sales and make winery "parents" happy!  Regarding the need for consulting, if you're exceeding high expectations, then you may not need help.  However, most wineries find that some well defined counsel in particular area(s) of challenge helps push them to achieve greater levels of sales and profitability.

I have so many different projects.  All are important, but I can't fund all of them and I'm not sure where to begin?
Trellis Wine Consulting prides itself on helping its clients make the most effective decisions.  The company's fresh perspective and service philosophy helps guide its clients in the most fruitful direction.  Whether your project is a relatively quick press kit design or advice on distributor communication best practices, or a more lengthy issue such as distributor selection and management or brand creation, we would love to help.

Most consultants want an up front retainer and require signing a lengthy contract.  I'm not comfortable working in that manner -- will Trellis accommodate my needs?
There are pros and cons to the choice between working on a retainer versus project basis.  Depending on the nature of the project, one may be more beneficial than the other for both parties.  Dixie will speak to you about the pros and cons of each arrangement and work in the manner most comfortable for you.  We work with a one-page mutual agreement to clarify expectations, services to be rendered, and payment terms, which offers simple protection for both parties.  Daily phone calls and emails are welcome; there is weekly or monthly reporting depending on client's desire.

Trust and confidentiality are extremely important to me.  How can I be sure the relationship will be a fit?
Dixie is happy to speak with you in person or over the phone to discuss your concerns.  There is no charge for an initial consultation.  Her references, quoted on the testimonials page, are excellent people with whom to speak.  (We didn't put their emails and phone numbers on the site out of concern for their privacy and spam folders.)  Please email or phone us for their contact information.