Interviewer
Madeline Hagan
Description
In this interview, Doug Ness talks about Missoula Wine Merchants, a business he founded in 2015 in Missoula, Montana. Despite having yet to experience running a business or selling wine, Ness successfully launched a wine club for the store's customers. He explains how offering discounts to wine club members upon order pickup contributed to an increase in sales. Additionally, an article about the shop published in the Missoulian newspaper significantly boosted its visibility and sales. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Montana permitted alcohol deliveries, which had previously been illegal. This change was crucial for the survival of Missoula Wine Merchants. Ness also discusses securing a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan—one of the first loans offered to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Loading...
Document Type
Oral History
Original Date
4-15-2021
Time Period
Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Wet Missoula: COVID-19 and Alcohol Oral History Project, OH 478, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 478-006
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:49:38 minutes
Local Filename
OH_478_006_use_audio.mp3; OH_478_006_transcript.pdf
Citation
Ness, Douglas, "Douglas Ness Interview, April 15, 2021" (2021). Wet Missoula: COVID-19 and Alcohol Oral History Project. 2.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/wetmissoulacovid19_oralhistory/2