The other day, I got this phone call.
"I'm interested in New Zealand wine, but I don't know much about it. If I go there, can I choose wine while listening to an explanation of its taste?"
I answered, "Yes."
"Sorry! You are calling from a restaurant called Bokumo, not a wine shop.
The wine shop has a confusingly similar name, but it's called Bokumo Wine.
However, the wine shop is now only open for mail order, so you can't choose in the store..."
"Really? That's a shame."
"Oh, how about this?
Bokumo is open from 6pm, so if you come after then, we can explain the wines to you whilst we look at the product screens on an iPad in the store.
If you like, please let me know what flavors you like and give me some suggestions.
Since I'm in the middle of running a restaurant, it can get a bit hectic at times..."
"I see, that's good. I'll go now."
In the end, none of the people who called have come to the store yet, but I was reminded that there is still a desire to "ask someone who knows directly."
The other day, I went to a clothing store for the first time in a while and bought some clothes, consulting with the salesperson about various things, and the satisfaction I felt after buying it was completely different from buying it online.
Similar clothes can be purchased online,
"If you pair this jacket with bottoms like this, it will look neat."
Just that one comment made me think, "Oh, I'm glad I asked a professional." And every day, I coordinate my outfits exactly as I was told (simple).
The same goes for repairing a computer.
Currently, with Apple, if the repair is simple, the device will be returned within about a week of being sent out, but I had a lot of questions to ask, such as "What kind of repair will be required?", "How much will it cost?", and "Can the delivery time be shortened?", so I ended up taking it to an Apple store and talking to a staff member.
In the end, the staff member explained all my questions to me in detail, and I was able to ask for the repairs with complete satisfaction. I'm glad I went.
Now that we can order anything via smartphone, I think the value of the experience of meeting someone in person, talking to them, and getting an understanding has become even more apparent.
Bokumo Wine is constantly improving its online shopping site with the aim of making it as easy as possible to choose from.
We also have a LINE account and frequently receive inquiries about our products.
However, I still think the amount of information you can get through a screen is inferior to that of talking face-to-face.
I want to open a shop somewhere in Nagoya someday. A street-front store with a parking lot would be good. Even better if it's close to the station.
There is a cellar in the basement, a large warehouse in the back yard for mail-order shipments, and a tasting shop and restaurant next door.
Hmm, that looks like it's going to cost a lot of money! I'll have to work hard!
This week's pairing
Bokumo's latest staple salad is the Greek salad.
This salad doesn't use any leaves. It is made with cucumbers, peppers, olives, and a little salty Greek feta cheese on top. It is a salad that can be eaten as a snack by crumbling it together with vegetables.
It goes well with Riesling.
Misha's Vineyards "Limelight" Riesling 2018
It's like putting green apple dressing on a salad. You can get two servings of this salad in one dish.
