EDMONDS — Through the pitches and rolls of the economy Ruth and David Arista have guided their Arista Wine Cellars up the path of slow and steady growth.
The couple started the business in downtown Edmonds in 1997 and expanded over the years, moving in 2006 to their current Fifth Avenue and
Alder Street location.
Q: How, or why, did you decide to open your business?
A: After years supervising multiunit operations in the restaurant industry, David wanted to create something of our own. I loved the idea he had, to work a part of the food industry that could be run by the two of us, namely to focus on retailing wines and beers from all around the world. Luckily we had been married for 10 years so cooperating on a new business was something we knew we could work on together.
Q: What convinced you that this was the job for you?
A: Both having worked in restaurants, and I had worked retail in other situations, we knew we enjoyed working with people. We knew that the keys to having a successful shop is taking care of customer needs, keeping informed and up to date on our product and contributing to the community in whatever way we can.
Q: What does it take to blend your passion with your livelihood?
A: One thing it takes to blend one’s passion with one’s livelihood is to carry appreciation into the workplace everyday. This is appreciation of co-workers and their unique talents and appreciation of our customers every minute. We never want to take it for granted that they support our business. They are the reason we are here and they make it possible for us to do what we love.
Q: What are the crucial elements for success for your business?
A: Three crucial elements for success in our business are: a willingness to learn something every day; to take on the less-fun chores to ensure we get to do the fun activities later; and to do our best to take care of folks and fix something if we have not taken care of them in a way they needed.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge and how did you meet it?
A: Our biggest challenge has been to work our way through two economic downturns, one just a couple of years after we opened and through the current recovery. Meeting these downturns required focusing on taking good care of our customers, finding them the best value for their dollar and working with our suppliers for good sourcing options. These options can be passed to the folks shopping here.
Q: How did your friends and family react when you told them you were getting into this business?
A: Most were excited for us. Sure, a few were wondering why we would stick our financial necks out on our own, but they supported us in whatever way they could.
Q: What personal abilities do you think are needed to excel in this business?
A: It sure helps to have a person in the business with a practical outlook and another in the business who is an idea generator. Then it is key to have the willingness to hear out each side and bring components of each perspective into the operations.
We also all believe this business can be a vehicle for helping in the community. This takes place in cases such as when our manager Roger Clayton helps with the wine garden at A Taste of Edmonds and the Edmonds Public Education Foundation events, or as we contribute our time or items to school and community fundraisers and serving on local boards such as the Edmonds Community College Foundation.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
