Claire Carruthers of Carruthers & Kent
Posted on Fri 21st Feb 2014 at 11:53
A View from the Inside - Each month we talk to people who work, live and love wine. This month we chat to Claire Carruthers of Carruthers & Kent.
Stobi Wines and Macedonia
1. What did you know about Macedonian wines before you tried them? Very little. Didn't know the native grape varieties but knew that they were interesting wines at good prices. Tried them at SITT and loved them. Didn't know the prices at the time.
2. You selected Stobi’s entire range for Carruthers & Kent. What impressed you about the range? We were very impressed with the value for money and diversity in styles. The least impressive was the Muscat but that’s fantastic with food.
3. Are your customers good at trying wines from new regions like the Eastern Mediterranean? They love it. They've been after some Macedonian and Greek for some time so as soon as we tweeted etc. they were queuing at the door. Had one on by the glass last month and took some to a farmers market and sold out in half an hour. They are very obedient customers.
The Wine Industry
1. Carruthers & Kent is a partnership; how did you get together and what brought you to the world of wine? I got into a job at Oddbins by default about 21 years ago, was only supposed to be a 6 month job but you know how it goes. I met Mo 13 years ago and we went to Florence where we stumbled across an Enoteca. At that time there was nothing like that in the UK. We wanted to open one there and then and be the 1st in the UK. We finally did it in 2010 after Oddbins sacked me, so we are the 1st in the Newcastle instead. Mo was into politics but desperately wanted to come into the business. She's a natural.
2. What USPs do Carruthers & Kent bring to the market? I think the main one is customer service. I'm not a techno-geek and hanker after good old fashioned shopping. I like to see things, touch them, read about them and speak to people about them. That’s how our customers operate. Everything has to taste good and be good value for money. we don’t sell a Barolo for the sake of selling a Barolo for instance. Also, we like to take the intimidating side of wine buying away, or at least we try to.
3. Tell us about your monthly wine club and how your customers benefit from this? We offer 3 price points , £75, £85 and £100 and you get 3 different whites and 3 different reds (2 bottles of each) and they get different things every month from every country or grape going. However, this can be tweaked and some like it every other month, or just reds, just whites etc. This way customers get to try grapes and countries that they would never think of buying themselves, also food matching tips. Obviously the more they pay the more the range.
4. You offer customers a food matching service. Tell us more….. That's it really. Loads of folk want a wine to go with their tea, or a dinner party or what have you. We also do food and wine matching nights, so I still find it shocking that loads of people don’t know sweet wine goes with blue cheese.
About YOU
1. If you were going to write a book, what would you call it and what would it be about? I have absolutely no idea but it would be more Harry Potter than War and Peace.
2. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Starting this business. I still kick and pinch myself on a daily basis that we’ve done it. It's shut my sister up which was the main objective. I've lots of good ideas in my life and never done anything about them until now.
3. What do you do for fun? I watch Coronation Street !!!!, I go to the Gym, I LOVE eating out, been with friends, sailing and skiing and generally been outdoors or on the water. Travel.
4. If you could share a glass with anyone (anyone from history) who would it be and why? Spike Milligan to make me laugh, Peter O’Toole so I could try and drink him under the table, Joanna Lumley coz she's both glam and a bit loopy.
5. 3 things that make you really happy? (1) Sitting by an open fire, outside, with a drink and friends (2) Laughing (3) Being by water