The holiday season is almost here, and that means the time for dinner parties, weekend brunches, and just all-around get-togethers with friends. It’s always good to have a few bottles of your favorite wines stored at home for those last minute dinner parties and impromptu friends’ visits.

Carrying wine home from the store is so old-school. Check out these companies that have your holiday party beverages covered and sent directly to your doorstep.

Signature Wine Club

Their motto is “convenience, quality, value”. By becoming a member of Signature Wine Club you receive three different wines a month all year long, giving you interesting bottles to try from around the world. If you really like a particular wine, their website offers the option to reorder at a discounted members-only price.

http://www.sigwine.com/gold-and-silver/

China Wines and Spirits

China Wine and Spirits (CWS) is known for supplying wine to a number of hotels and restaurants in Beijing. What they’re lesser known for is their online WeChat shop that’ll ship directly to your house. With wines starting at less than RMB 100, they’ve got deals for parties of any budget. Scan the QR code below to browse through their online shop.

All In Wine

WeChat group All In Wine offers free shipping and weekly wine deals for its members. To be added in one of their wine deal groups, WeChat Fani (fanigurevich).

Cheers

Cheers makes you smile. With stores all over the county, Cheers is synonymous with vino loving for every budget. Their new WeChat MiniApp lets you browse through their extensive supply of wine that can be delivered to your doorstep in less than an hour. Perfect for house parties, Cheers is offering “buy 5 get 1 free’ deals as well as selected bottles this month.

Cheers is devoted to wine education and drinking for wine lovers of every budget. To stay up-to-date on their monthly offers and activities follow them on WeChat.

Photos: courtesy of vendors, unsplash

We dedicate this special section to the makers of Beijing – the entrepreneurs, crafters, and the movers and shakers who provide new ways of experiencing this great city. We know there are many out there who have exciting endeavors in mind but are just waiting for the right moment. So we hope that you find inspiration in each maker whom we’ve invited to participate in this feature.

Claudia Masüger
CHEERS Wines

“Cheers!” Let’s raise a glass to… good health? Check. Long life? Yes, of course! Wine in moderation may be good for the health, at least that’s what some studies have suggested, so some people like to drink it to stay youthful and gorgeous. Those qualities are obvious when you see Claudia Masüger, founder of CHEERS Wines, whose infectious laughter and grin will keep you sparkling! Aside from the smiley “ü” in her name, Masüger has embodied this joy and brought it to many people with her affordable imported wines, available from her 66 franchise outlets all over China.

beijingkids: What made you bring Cheers to China?
Masüger: In 2008 I traveled to Beijing with two suitcases of wine samples. I was looking for an adventure and I thought China would be the perfect place. After doing research and wine tastings on the streets, I have realized that there is a big potential in China for great price/value wines from all over the world. The idea of making wine drinking fun and affordable was born.

How did you face the first few challenges that came along your way?
Challenges for an entrepreneur like me is a driving motor that makes me learn and grow on a daily basis. I mostly face tough moments with a smile and an open mind. I believe that there is always a way to solve it when I stay positive. Most major challenges turned out to be an awesome opportunity at the end. One of my first big troubles was when the entire warehouse of the B2B wine distribution company that I was running burned down back in 2010. Thanks to that unwanted break, we had time to develop a new concept and created the CHEERS retail stores with which we changed the wine market in Beijing. Sometimes when challenges get too much I would open a bottle of wine and all will be fine!

How do you involve your customers in building your brand better?
The most important part for CHEERS success has been the people who stand behind the brand. Our mission, “Cheers makes you smile,” goes through the product selection, the service in the stores and online channels as well as the fun wine education we provide. The constant positive feedback I receive from our communities around the stores and from the market is overwhelming and touching. Since we allow our customers to open own retail stores with our franchise concept, we have grown up to 66 stores.

We know that Beijing is a land of opportunities so what can you tell people who are planning to set up small businesses here?
Love what you do, be persistent, stay positive, flexible and open minded and always smile!

What’s that one thing that makes you stay in Beijing?
China is a dynamic market and changes constantly. I love the adventure and especially the people!

Say cheers to a good life with CHEERS Wines! Contact them at 400 005 5500 or cheers-wines.com.

This is the digital version of the Making the New Beijing feature article in the beijingkids November 2018 Beijing Makers issue
Photo: Lens Studio

Last Saturday, a charity party took place took place to celebrate three years of clothing auctions in Beijing. I have spoken about clothing auctions before and this movement has taken over the female international community in Beijing. If you have not attended a clothes auction yet you are missing out.

Around 50 women came together in Hotel EAST in Lido to raise money for the Starfish Project, a nonprofit organization that helps women in need. Clothes auctions have been sponsored by Cheers for a whole year and this party was no exemption, Hotel EAST gracefully sponsored us with a perfect venue in the bar private area. We had two amazing photographers, Lalita Khametova and Yiman Lau, who captured the many moments of laughter. We raised over RMB 6,000 during the auction.

Slow and Ethical Fashion
Reusing and repurposing clothing is best for Earth. We try to empty our closets of things we don’t need and find new homes for them instead of buying new. Every piece matters and manufacturing clothing is bad for Mother Nature. So we should do our bit by reusing and re-loving.

Charity
The host of clothes auctions usually picks a charity and we donate all the proceeds to this cause. This part for me is important as I am yet in a position to give my actual money to charity. However, buying myself a new wardrobe and donating my clothes is something I can do. Although this seems little, all the auctions in Beijing have added up to a total over RMB 70,000 over three years.

Community
Being an expat is hard, but clothes auctions bring women together. I have met many unlikely friends at auctions and have laughed so much. Sharing a night together while shopping and having wine and nibbles is the grandest way to make new girlfriends. In over three years, more than 300 women have been connected in Beijing by various clothes auctions.

Photos: Lalita Khametova and Yiman Lau