Oddbins Hello Oddbins, (name) speaking.
Mktg Hi, I've just moved to West Hampstead (London) and heard that Oddbins is reopening with an offer for people to taste wine.
Oddbins This is not entirely correct. We don't do an offer to taste wine, we held a wine-tasting last weekend and will hold another this weekend. We open two or three bottles and you are more than welcome to come in and taste them. We also do private wine-tasting events.
Mktg Is that something that Oddbins used to do? Because I know that it closed down.
Oddbins Oddbins has never closed down. It went into administration and then a new guy took over, but didn't buy all the shops. He picked the best-performing ones and now we are trading with 37 shops. The shops that are open now have always been open.
Mktg So the West Hampstead shop never closed?
Oddbins It never closed. We were empty at some point, and it was the end of an era and the beginning of another, but we opened every day.
Mktg So you were open even with no wine on the shelves?
Oddbins We were never empty, but we were trading with very few wines on the shelves.
Mktg But now it's all different?
Oddbins Now we have a lot of exciting wines together with a new range put in place by the buyers, who are still Oddbins buyers. So the concept and the quality of the wine and the staff running the shop are still Oddbins, just with a new owner.
Mktg Will there still be recommendations from Oddbins staff about the quality of the wines?
Oddbins Of course. The level of enthusiasm and knowledge is still there with staff.
Mktg So this weekend I can come in and taste some wine?
Oddbins Yes. We pick a couple of bottles for the staff to taste with the customers. So if you come to Oddbins this weekend, you may find some wine-tasting happening.
Mktg OK, great. Thanks, bye.
Oddbins Thanks so much, bye.
Verdict
The staff member in the Oddbins West Hampstead branch was helpful, friendly and enthusiastic about the business. He was well informed on details of the takeover and explained them clearly, proving to be a great ambassador for the chain.
Score 9/10