An Inspiring Comeback Story | Interview with Stylish Entrepreneur Lisa Kline

We’ve all had our ups and downs in life… it’s inevitable. Whether you’re working towards your goals and dreams or if you’ve already met them, the trials and tribulations of life simply become part of your journey. The key is to not get discouraged, but find different ways to be a better version of yourself, create even bigger goals for yourself, maybe even re-invent an old idea you had and make it something even more compelling.

That’s exactly what entrepreneur and style expert Lisa Kline did.

Lisa Kline opened her flagship store in 1995 and was a trusted style source for many actors, recording artists, and celebrity clients selling the hottest trends and putting brands on the map for almost 2 decades. Due to some personal reasons, she closed the last of her 6 stores in 2012.

In the last 8 years, she wasted no time to continue blossoming her career. She had a loungewear line on HSN, was a panel judge for a show on Bravo, placed brands on the Today Show and has consulted for several retailers. You can check out her history on www.lisakline.com.

With those milestones under her belt, she found another way to incorporate her on-air experience with her passion for being a style source for others. When the pandemic began a few months back, she started souring PPE for the medical industry and placing brands on a TV network called Shop LC. It was then she realized it was time for her to come back and bring essentials to her customers.

This August will be the 25 year anniversary of Lisa Kline. She has relaunched the website selling essentials for 2020 across all categories with her site, www.shoplisakline.com.

Check out my interview with Lisa as she guides us in depth through her inspiring comeback, her advice for those who may feel “stuck” career wise, how on-air opportunities helped her blossom, the ways she’s giving back, and so much more.

1.  This August will be the 25th year of Lisa Kline – congratulations! Tell us about yourself – where you’re from, how you got started in your career and how you knew what you were passionate about.

Thank you Brielle! I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I knew I wanted a retail store since I was 9 years old. I was driven always by my passion for clothing and style and the vision I had of my boutique from a little girl. I always stayed on the path by working in retail from a very young age and learning the business. I also studied Fashion Design at Syracuse University. After graduating I wanted to open a store by the time I was 25 years old with my designs. As I started going to trade shows with the fashion design program at Syracuse, I knew I wanted to be a buyer and buy other peoples designs. I graduated, came back to LA, worked in retail and started looking for spots! August 5th, 1995 I will celebrate the 25-year anniversary of Lisa Kline, the home of LA style and one very fun magical journey in all ways. Starting with the women’s flagship on Robertson Blvd, it was followed by Lisa Kline Men,  Lisakline.com, Lisa Kline Kids, Lisa Kline Men Malibu, Lisa Kline BH and the Lisa Kline outlet store on Melrose Blvd. We dressed every show in the 90’s and all of 2000’s, and have always been a style source for celebrities, musicians, other stores across the US, and put hundreds of contemporary brands on the map, along with inspiring young designers and entrepreneurs, LK was quite the institution.  

2.    When did you decide to make the leap from being a store owner to a retail consultant? 

After my husband died of a freak accident in 2009 and I was left with 2 little kids under the age of 5 and the crash of 2008, retail changing in all ways, fast fashion taking over with knock offs, it was time to close my brick and mortar shops one by one. I closed all 6 of them by the end of 2011. After the stores closed, I had a loungewear line on HSN, I launched an start up online platform called Vault as their Chief Fashion Officer, I started a brand placement company placing brands on the Today Show, GMA, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Rue La La, all the while I started consulting for companies and influencers and hotels as a designer and buyer. I just had to pivot, and I never stopped going to trade shows and working with brands in all categories, always keeping myself in the game and having my finger on the pulse. I have always been a platform for brands. I just had to figure out a way to do that without my 4 walls in the typical brick and mortar fashion I was used to.

3.    Tell us a little bit about the services you offer that fall under your consulting. 

The scope of my services are broad, and clients can pick what they need help with in an a la cart fashion from buying, merchandising, retail consulting, design, business development and brand placement. You can see all of my services here: https://lisakline.com/services/.

4.    You’ve made quite a few TV appearances. How did that come about? 

My TV appearances started very early on when I just opened my women’s store in 1995. Fox News asked me to be a style expert and they came in one day and filmed me talking about trends. I loved it and always felt comfortable behind the camera, so much that the staff used to tease me and call me one take Kline. I would always ask the producer if they wanted to do another take and they always got what they needed the first time. We filmed all the time in all of the stores and covered all kinds of trends, brand launches, judging, travel segments, we did fashion shows and were on the news, we even had a segment with Gordon Ramsey! The top chef won a shopping spree at Lisa Kline and her gift and shopping experience was filmed in the store on Robertson. I did a show on Bravo called Launch my Line as a panel judge which had 9 segments. Then I had my own loungewear brand on HSN and went live on air for a few years and was always in talks to do my own reality show but never pulled the trigger. 

5.    How has taking on on-air opportunities helped your brand? 

Being on camera back in the 90’s and 2000’s is what made me an influencer back in the day before we had social media. Lisa Kline was featured in so many magazines, with trends, stories, celebrities, where to buy, and basically as an expert. Lisa Kline the store became a brand organically with having my own label in the store mixed in with the other hundreds of brands we carried. We were a platform for brands and in doing so it built my brand. I was very serious about my branding, my logo, my message, my vision, my packaging and even how the staff interacted with the consumer and styled people in the stores. Everyone was trained and all systems were in place which all helped really establish my brand. My store was one of the first stores on Robertson Blvd which was a sleepy decorators street that became one of the hottest streets in Los Angeles to shop. All kinds of boutiques opened up around me and tourists and people visited from all over the world to shop the curated mix, be on trend, take home a piece of LA fashion and source brands to bring back home to their own businesses. A celebrity spotting was always a plus and happened often.  

6.    When the pandemic started a few months back, you started sourcing PPE for those in the medical industry and placed brands on a TV network called Shop LC. How did this idea come about and what did the process look like to both source products as well as place them on TV? Sounds like there must have been a lot of moving parts! 

There are always a lot of moving parts in all I do but luckily it all flows together somehow. I had reconnected with Cindy who is the VP of Merchandising for Shop LC at a tradeshow called Cosmoprof in August 2019. She actually placed me on HSN when I sold my loungewear line. I asked her if I can pitch her brands like I do with the Today Show and the other venues I work with. So I started sending her brands and then when the pandemic started, she reached out to me and asked me if I could help source essentials for the pandemic like masks and sanitizer. It was thanks to her that I dove right into PPE.

The greatest part is I am working with so many people in my industry who have all pivoted, so the relationships are the same and there is a trust factor for over 20 years. We are just selling other items on trend right now, not apparel. The networking has been so much fun, connecting with so many new people and old friends across the world to get people goods from hospitals, nursing homes, TV shows, hotels, and the general public. We know how to work together, source and get things fast to market. That is how we can help and there is a lot of teamwork with PPE. We are all learning a new curve, a new category and products we have never worked with before. It has been very rewarding, challenging, and fascinating at the same time. I feel like I am getting a graduate degree in PPE as I am learning new things every day and starting a business from scratch. It is a lot, and it takes up time but there is something very mysterious about it that keeps me interested. I have learned a lot and it has kept me busy and on the pulse with the pandemic and how I can help others get what they need to be safe. I use all my skill sets in learning this new space and that is why it is satisfying. I have also reconnected with old friends and made new friends for life while I keep expanding my network which helps with all aspects of my business as a whole.

7.    Tell us the details about your latest venture, shoplisakline.com.

While sourcing PPE in March I started getting messages from people asking if they could buy masks and sanitizer from me and protective gear. I knew at that moment it was time to relaunch and jump back into the space to be a trusted source for my clients once again bringing them what they need during these very strange times to stay sane, safe and styled. The focus of my site is “Essentials for 2020” and that doesn’t mean apparel. I will add clothing in all categories slowly as we grow but that isn’t my focus out of the gate.

8.    How do you choose what items to sell on your site? How do you know what your customers truly want and need successfully through just an online platform? 

I have been curating for 25 years so for me it is second nature and just what I do and love doing. As a retail consultant for high end venues I was fortunate enough to be able to attend over 25 trade shows a year across all categories. I have been very focused on gift, home, beauty, food, drink, candy, loungewear, health, wellness, activewear and more. 

I already had my new LK 2.0 store concept done about a year before this pandemic started and I was causally looking for a retail spot in a hotel but never found a fit. So I am curating those categories on my site and following that map which will continue to grow and expand as time goes on. 

Shoplisakline.com is a marketplace for brands and the consumer to explore, learn and enjoy their shopping experience. 

My gift is knowing what the consumer wants in the present day, and my job is to bring them what they need before they know they need it. I am a source and expert, so my customers shop with me because if it is on my site or in my store it is LK approved and trusted to buy and use, wear, live with and enjoy. I am already an established brand so coming back into the game now during this time online is the way the business will go and I will grow it just like I did my retail stores and online for the past 2 decades, this is my new baby and I will do whatever it takes to make it a success. There is a lot to do but that is the fun part figuring all of that out and I do that as I grow each day, each week, and each month. There are a lot more analytics and tools I can use that weren’t around back in the day and I am going to take advantage of all of them to help my business grow. 

9.    Your story over the last 25 years can truly be inspirational to so many who have hit highs and lows in their career. What would you say was one of your hardest moments that, looking back, now you think was a blessing in disguise?  

My story is definitely inspirational, and I have to say that there isn’t one moment that I can look back and say was hard or something that happened that turned into a blessing in disguise. Going full circle from starting out at a very young age and growing the businesses with a hands-on approach being on the floor and able to react and make decisions quickly it was all positive. The high highs and the low lows really were both just as intense, one was good, and one was bad, but I learned from both. Going full circle and making the decision to close my stores was one of the hardest and heartbreaking things I had to do on my own. They were my babies and they were all very unique and had their own personalities and experiences when shopping in them.

Maybe the hardest moment was when I made the decision to close my women’s division that had moved into the men’s store. That tore my heart out, but it was the right thing to do at the time. I have no regrets and feel that I was the first store on the street, and I was going to be the first to leave as it wasn’t the same shopping experience and I didn’t want to have stores if that was how the future was going to be. 

I missed my stores so much over the years and had to grieve the loss of them, it was hard. The beauty now with this pandemic for me is I already went through so much loss and hardship and had to work through it all over the last decade. Now my vision is clear as day, I know exactly what I need to do and what I want to do and create this time around. 

10.  With the pandemic in full swing and causing every type of detours in people’s lives (especially in terms of career), what advice would you give them about sticking it out through the rollercoaster of trials and tribulations?

My advice would be to go deep inside and pull out your skill sets you were born with, that are natural to you, or learn a new skill, or just try new things. You must pivot and lean into what is currently happening. This isn’t the time to be afraid, this is the time to seek out opportunity and creativity and to help others. 

Taking Your Side Hustle to the Next Level | Insight from Accountant Mirel Barcelo

As someone who has their own “side hustle,” it is definitely easy to get confused or even frustrated questioning whether it’s time to amp up your serious hobby into a full on business. I’ve been there, and I know many others who have run into the same challenges. However, there is a lot that goes into taking it to the next level. So how do you know when to move forward with taking that next step? Is there a right time? Do you turn your side hustle into an S-Corp or an LLC? What about filing taxes? There are so many questions that anyone with their own business or soon-to-be-business would take into account, regardless of the industry they’re in. These questions and any challenges in making that leap can apply to nearly everyone.

I couldn’t be more excited to share with you my conversation with Mirel Barcelo, founder and owner of Corp 1 Financial Services, LLC, where she offers her comprehensive services as a CPA. Today on TGB, she’s offering all of her tips into turning your side hustle into a real business, tax deductions you need to be paying attention to, steps you should be taking throughout the year to prepare for the the next tax season and so much more. I hope this insight offers some great tools to implement in your life if you may be looking to transition from a side hustle to full on biz mode!

1.     How do you treat your side hustle like your business? What are accounting steps you should take with your side hustle? 

A side hustle is a business, no matter how small. As such, the main thing to keep in mind is separate and clean records. This will not only help you determine whether or not you’re making a profit, but it will also help you during tax time to figure out deductions.

2.     What are the 10 deductions you may be missing for your side hustle? 

Most common deductions individuals don’t realize and they could be taking advantage are:

                                               i.     Start-up Costs: include every penny you spent while starting your new business.

1.    Incorporation costs, licensing fees, and computer and software expenses, among others, are deductible.

                                             ii.     Cost of sold goods: everything you buy to make money will be deductible.

1.    Purchases made to resell, costs of parts, and raw materials used for inventory are deductible.

                                            iii.     Basis: if you contribute an asset, the value of the asset will be transferred to the business, tax free, and serve as a base when selling or disposing of the asset.

                                            iv.     Car and travel: any miles or travel expenses are deductible if used for your side hustle.

1.    Business miles used for business purposes, or actual car expenses, such as gas, maintenance, and depreciation are deductible.

2.    Tolls and parking costs are deductible.

3.    Actual travel costs incurred for business purposes are deductible.

                                              v.     Home office: if there is a room in your house you turned into your home office, that portion of your house can be deducted as a non-cash expense, because you already pay to be there.

1.    Portions of rent, mortgage interests, utilities, home improvements, and depreciation can be deducted.

                                            vi.     Cell phone, phone, or fax line: the usage you give your cell phone, phone, or fax line is deductible. If the line is only used for your business, it is deductible in full.

1.    A portion of your cell phone can be allocated to your business.

2.    A dedicated phone or fax line is fully deductible.

                                           vii.     Meals: with clients, or potential clients, meals are 50-percent deductible for tax purposes.

                                         viii.    Advertising Fees: include all those expenses you make in order to promote your product, and they are 100-percent deductible.

1.    Facebook and Instagram ads are deductible.

2.    Business cards are deductible.

3.    Event expenses, such as location, catering, and souvenirs, are deductible.

                                            ix.     Postage and other supplies: this mostly applies to people doing online business and require shipping. Those who use eBay, for example, need to pay close attention to this deduction.

1.    Packing tape, boxes, and postage used on sending products are deductible.

2.    Paper, pens, pencils, and clips, among others, are deductible.

                                              x.     Qualified Business Income Deduction: after the 2018 reform, small businesses qualify for a business income deduction.

1.    Certain businesses qualify for a deduction of up to 20-percent of their qualified business income.

3.     When is it time to turn your side hustle into an S-Corp? 

Businesses should always be their own separate entity. Especially when dealing with customers and/or creditors. The most common structures for small businesses are Limited Liability Companies and S-Corporation. 

As a recommendation, I usually tell my clients to start with an LLC if they’re unsure of the direction of the business at first, especially if they are single owners/members. That way, they will not be bound by corporate regulations and they won’t have to file a separate return. When the business starts being very profitable, then I recommend turning that LLC into an S-Corporation for tax benefits and put them on a salary to avoid potential audits.      

4.     What are the steps you should be taking now with your side hustle in order to prepare for tax season next year? 

a.    Keep records of income. Tracking your income will give you an idea on whether or not your business is successful or growing. It will also give you an insight on the fees you’re charging and time spent on it. 

                                    i.     Keep separate bank accounts (even when the business is not incorporated). 

                                    ii.     Keep an excel spreadsheet with records of jobs or products sold.

                                    iii.     Some companies (Uber, Lyft, Monat) will report all your income on a 1099

                                    iv.     Make sure you are quantifying your profit/loss quarterly to determine whether or not you will need to make an estimated payment.

1.    IRS penalizes you 10% if you have a tax liability of over $1,000 come tax time and you fell below your estimated tax amounts. 

                                              v.     Talk to an accountant to ensure you are not overpaying. 

b.    Keep records of expenses. 

                                               i.     Track expenses on account or credit card designated for the business. Keep receipts and records as neat as possible.

                                             ii.     Track car mileage or car expenditures related to your business. IRS allows to use either mileage or actual expenses when it comes to reporting vehicle expenses. Having clear records of both will help determine which one will give you a bigger expense which will reduce your tax burden.

                                            iii.     Keep track of the usage of your home. If you use a part of your home for your business, it can be deductible. Make sure you keep an area designated solely for your business. 

                                            iv.     If you have a separate phone or fax line, that is 100% deductible for your business. If you use your personal phone, there are calculations to determine what percentage of the expense can be deducted. 

                                              v.     Your business can run at a loss for three out of five years before running the risk that the IRS will deem your business a hobby. 

5.     Do you think it’s always necessary, no matter what stage you are at with your side hustle to trademark it or create an LLC.? It is expensive so how do you know when it is worth the investment?

From my professional experience, I always recommend clients create an entity when doing a business venture. If you do not want to spend the money to incorporate at first, make sure your business is not high risk or high cost to consumers, as a lawsuit or bankruptcy could put you in financial jeopardy. Also, if it is almost the end of the year, and you can afford to wait, incorporate and make your entity effective as of January 1st of the following year. Corporations need separate tax returns–regardless of the number of owners–so this might cost you a bit more when presenting your income taxes.

Incorporating is not very costly and you can usually find a variety of service providers making, the process very seamless. 

Trademarks are a must when wanting to preserve proprietorship of a brand. Although not mandatory, it is definitely advisable. 

6.     What are a few of the biggest transitions or challenges people run into when transitioning from side hustle to full on business? 

The biggest challenge when running a small business is to keep things separate. Since the owners are usually funding the operation, they tend to take money from their personal accounts to buy inventory or for advertising. Also, once the business starts becoming a bit profitable, they start paying their personal expenses directly from the business. Recordkeeping is a big challenge for small business owners as well. They tend to lack the resources to hire or implement systems to document transactions. They end up overpaying taxes because they lose receipts or don’t keep proper records.

7.     Do you recommend having a business credit card for your side hustle even if you haven’t created it into a full-on business yet? Or should you just pull from your checking account? When is the right time to set that up? 

Definitely opening up a separate bank account or credit card is recommendable for any side hustle (even if it’s not incorporated). This will help during the taxes to recognize the true income and expenses associated with the business activity. This will help identify whether the business activity is profitable and ensure the taxpayer is not overpaying taxes.

As far as timing, the sooner the better. Best practice is to designate the bank account or credit card prior to initiating the business activity. 

8.     If you haven’t turned your side hustle into an S-Corp or an LLC, haven’t trademarked anything, etc. are you allowed to apply for a small business loan or must you wait until all of that is finalized and complete? 

When you’re not a separate entity, you can only apply for loans on a personal level. Raising money is one of the biggest challenges sole proprietors often face. Also, since you cannot sell stock in the business, investor opportunity is limited. Banks are also hesitant to lend to a sole proprietorship because of a perceived additional risk when it comes to repayment if the business fails.

9.     Can you speak on expenses and how to properly take into account what you are actually permitted to write off?

My suggestion is always to document everything related to the business, even when it is not expensed through the business bank account or credit card. If you are unsure if something could be deductible or not, record it anyways and present it to your tax preparer or accountant come tax filing. 

10.  Finances can always get overwhelming and confusing no matter what place you are in in your side hustle journey.  What is your top tip to stay organized throughout the year? 

My number one suggestion is be as organized as possible. Keep separate and clean records of your business activity. Also, meet with your accountant at least once every quarter and see where your business is headed. This will alleviate the tax filing process, plus transactions will be fresher in case of improper documentation. It is easier to remember a transaction that happened a month before, than a year before. Also, you will know whether or not you will have a tax liability come tax time and you can start making estimated payments. This will eliminate any penalties which can add up. 

Ice, Ice Baby | Keeping Your Summer Cocktail Cold as Seen on MORE FOX 5 Vegas

Thanks to all who tuned in to my segment this morning on MORE FOX 5 Vegas! Did you know that you can keep your drinks colder longer this summer, all depending on the shape of your ice? The bummer of summertime drinking is that the ice melts so quickly and your drink gets warm before you even have a chance to enjoy it. BUT - you can change that by using certain ice molds! Not to mention, you can make your drink a lot more sophisticated that way right at home, especially if you're not ready just yet to enjoy a cocktail at a bar or restaurant.

Here’s a recap of the segment with links to all the products I use and love to make impeccably chilled beverages this summer.

THE SPHERE ICE MOLD

While standard ice cubes quickly dilute drinks, large ones like a round ice cube, melt slowly to chill evenly. A sphere mold to create a round ice cube also adds a very aesthetically pleasing touch to your drink. You can even freeze a flower inside for a pretty garnish! Looks great in a gin and tonic.

HIMALAYAN SALT CUBES

No one likes a watery cocktail! The #1 problem in the summer is the heat causing ice to rapidly melt which ultimately spoils your drink. I swear by Himalayan salt cubes to avoid this happening. Made from natural salt deposits, these cubes are the easiest way to infuse a summery margarita with amazing flavor without watering it down. Just pop them in the freezer and then throw them in your drink! And if you want to cut the margarita making process in half even more, I love using Taffer’s Mixologist Margarita Mix by Vegas’ own Jon Taffer.

THE SQUARE ICE MOLD

You can keep any beverage perfectly chilled with extra-large ice cubes. I love using a square ice mold for a classic whiskey drink or even an Arnold palmer! These cubes are the perfect size for creative flavor infusions with fruit, herbs or citrus. One of my favorite tips for using these square cubes that I learned from a bartender is you can actually split the square in 2 if you so choose by using a substantial spoon to tap it and crack it in the middle.

FINAL AT-HOME DRINK TIP: 

Put your glassware in the freezer for 30 minutes for an added chilling effect!

Photography by: Grace & Light Photo

Operation Quarantine | Effective Tips for Working Remotely Long-Term

It’s no question that in light of the global concern of COVID-19, all of our lives have been impacted. Hopefully if you are reading this, you have not been infected and are simply self-quarantining and working from home until the dust settles. I’ve of course been following nearly everyone along on Instagram to see how people are reacting to working from home, a concept that surprisingly most don’t do on a more normal basis. It’s exciting at first because you can just wake up, wear comfy clothes all day, save money on buying breakfast/lunch/coffee and can lounge while getting work done. However, it is a concept that can get old fast if you don’t follow effective protocol that keeps you motivated all day.

So what do I know about this exactly? Well… I 100% work remotely! I have for a few years now and have found my groove, but it did take some time. A lot of people on Instagram have been sharing some great tips of their own for working from home but considering I am basically a pro at the WFH life, I wanted to share some that I found have been effective for me over the last few years (meaning, they really work for the long run!).

Take Walks

I have found that taking brief walks in the morning and in the early evening help to start and end the day on the right foot. Something about breathing in the fresh air at those times just calms you down and gives you exactly what you need.

Have Snacks You Look Forward to Eating Later

This doesn’t mean candy or junk, but maybe it’s a healthy-ish recipe you made the night before that you came across on Instagram. I personally make these vegan peanut butter balls with chocolate chips and they not only keep me full, but they really do make me look forward to eating them and rewarding myself with them later because they are THAT good!

Create Boundaries

No matter what, there will always be more work to do at the end of the day. It’s so important to keep the separation of working and home life in the same space. If your hours are 10 AM - 6 PM, keep it that way. I cherish the time before and after work because it’s the only time I get for me, to be productive on TGB, work out and ultimately stay sane. It’s easy to feel guilty because the computer is always there but once you talk yourself off a ledge, I promise it’s for your own good.

Switch Rooms

Switch rooms after a while so you don’t feel stagnant or bored. A location swap is good for re-setting and getting comfortable again. Sitting in the same spot for 8 hours is dreadful.

Take a Virtual Work Out Class

Now more than ever, we are all taking advantage of the awesome fitness classes that we can access in our own living rooms due to the COVID-19 safety concerns. Taking a class also helps with your own personal boundaries too. Maybe you take a class in the morning as you normally would, or you take a “lunch break” and bang a work out out real quick. You won’t be late going back to your desk. Here are a few of my favorite work outs right now!

Barrewell (barre - my studio I belong to and is my favorite barre method hands down!) - Tons of FREE youtube video work outs

Tone It Up (mix of yoga, pilates, etc.) - The app is FREE for a month for new users

Melissa Wood Health (mix of yoga, pilates, etc.) - 7 day FREE trial for new users

9Round Laguna Niguel (a 30 minute work out that’s kickboxing centric and incorporates a functional, interval, cardiovascular and circuit training regimen) - FREE work outs on their Instagram live, and my friend is one of the trainers!

Rumble (boxing, HIIT, etc.) - One of my favorite boxing work outs! FREE on their IGTV

Hot 8 (yoga/hot yoga) - FREE hour-long classes on demand

Think in Increments

I find that dividing my day in increments is really helpful and helps the day go by a lot faster. 2-4 hour time blocks, and getting through them feels like you’re checking part of your day off your list. It helps to feel like the day is progressing vs. is just stagnant in your home working environment.

Take Coffee Breaks

It’s so easy to just heat up your coffee and continue doing you work, but give yourself a 5-10 minute break to just SIT and enjoy your coffee! Those little breaks with a coffee in hand are crucial to giving your eyes a rest and getting off the computer for a few minutes.

Voice Memo Your Friends

I do this ALL THE TIME. Some hate it, some love it. But recording memos for your friends and receiving them is a great way to keep in contact throughout the day when a story is too long to text and you don’t have a moment to get on the phone to catch up. It’s a fun way to go back and forth and it makes you feel like you are really keeping up with those connections throughout the day, especially during your most stressful times.

Best Ways to Support the Wine Industry During Social Distancing | Virtual Wine Wednesday

Couple days in to self-quarantine and one thing that’s on the mind? Wine! Wineries in California, Oregon and Washington have had to close their tasting room doors this week in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. While this is a difficult and unprecedented time for wine lovers and wineries alike, there are several ways that we can all support the wine industry (and our love of wine!) while we practice social distancing. Some ways to support include purchasing wine online directly from wineries or online retail partners, purchasing tasting room gift cards for future visits and sending wine as gifts to friends and family.

To promote online wine sales as America heads inside, wineries are providing special deals for online purchases.

• La Crema (Russian River Valley, CA)

  • @LaCremaWines

  • Link to Purchase: https://www.lacrema.com/wine/ 

  • Promo Code: LCNOW

  • Promo: Free ground shipping and additional 15% off on all orders! 

• Penner Ash (Willamette Valley, OR)

  • @PennerAshPinot

  • Link to Purchase: https://www.pennerash.com/our-wines 

  • Promo Code: ONLINE100

  • Promo: Free ground shipping on all orders

• Cambria Estate (Santa Barbara, CA)

  • @CambriaWines

  • Link to Purchase: https://www.cambriawines.com/wine 

  • Promo Code: No code necessary

  • Promo: Free ground shipping on all orders

These wines can also be purchased on great online retailers and delivery services, such as Wine.com, Drizly, Instacart and Total Wine & More.