Macclesfield: Meet the charismatic Head of Sales for Wincle Brewery
Macclesfield Nub News was started on principles of supporting our community. This includes promoting Macclesfield shops, businesses, charities, schools and sports clubs. We profile some of these businesses and organisations in a regular feature called UP CLOSE, finding out they key figures behind them and what makes them tick.
Examples of UP CLOSE articles include profiling an award-winning brewery in rural Macclesfield, the secrets behind a Macclesfield apple cider company, and a chat with the Headteacher of Wincle Primary School.
Today we meet with a real local character who is employed by a Macclesfield Nub News sponsor, and Wincle Brewery.
John Smith - unrelated to the John Smith's Brewery - is Head of Sales for Wincle Brewery.
John has just celebrated his fourth anniversary with the rural Macclesfield brewers.
"My first assignment was to drive up to Cumbria and deliver some bottles sold online, right at the beginning of COVID," he said.
"My main duties are to flog the beer. Primarily to pubs.
"On a Sunday I will email all the pubs and bottle shops to tell them what we have available. And on a Monday, I will ring around all the different pubs, get orders, and seeing how they are.
"We have a very great base of loyal customers.
"On a Tuesday afternoon and another half-day, I will go out and visit pubs."
John who has previously worked for a ladies underwear firm in Macclesfield and as a transport director in Bollington, has a long career in sales.
"Meeting with people and talking to them is my favourite part of the job," told John.
"It genuinely helps that I believe in the product and know how good it is.
"It is a joy to work here, we are a very small tight-knit team, every one of them is top notch. Whether it is Grant who is brewing, Chris who is delivering, there is the quality and the service, or Hayley who looks after the shop and retail sales.
"The quality of the product speaks for itself in my opinion. I drink a lot of beer, the Sir Philip Premium Bitter is my favourite with the Wibbly Wallaby Pale a close second.
"It is a magnificent place. I am past retirement age but don't have any thoughts of retiring, as why would you when you enjoy what you are doing so much?"
John is one of ten people to work at the award-winning brewery.
He is also behind the bar at the Wincle Beer Festival every July, a role which he did voluntarily for seven years before becoming employed by Wincle Brewery.
John now lives in Congleton, but lived in Wincle for 19 years, so the summer Beer Festival is almost like a social event for him rather than work.
When pressed of his favourite moments of the job, John had this to say.
"Definitely opening new accounts," he revealed.
"As a salesman, when you have been working on something and you crack it, that buzz [sic] I have never taken drugs but it is quite similar.
"But other favourite aspects of the job are when the seasonal beers come around. These are beers only available at certain times of year like the Bengal Buttress, Triple Hop and Fireside. When these come out, seeing the excitement of their customers knowing that they are coming is great as well.
"The customers are great, they really do appreciate our beer and service.
Wincle beers are made from spring water, and are CAMRA-approved.
The brewery was founded by Giles Meadows in 2008.
"Giles is an excellent boss, we have a joke, he lets us get on with it but he is there if we need help or advice," told John.
"I knew him from when he used to run The Ship Inn just up the road.
"I remember when I heard the Brewery was opening when I lived in Wincle, I thought it was great.
"When I lived in Wincle, you could walk from the field at my house to the Brewery. My family and relatives would come up from London and thought it was amazing that you could walk across the field to the Brewery for a quick pint.
"When you look at the village of Wincle, it is the Church, the School, the Pub and the Brewery. Each one of those is a real pillar of the community.
"Sitting here on a Monday or Tuesday when the hordes of walkers and locals are coming in, it is brilliant. There is a lot of rapport and banter, it is a really great environment to work in. They are here to enjoy themselves anyway, and we enjoy it too."
John prides himself on being a good listener and a good memory. Giles had this to say on what he thought John's strengths are:
"His ability to talk without a doubt," joked Giles.
"The other thing about John is, his enthusiasm is quite infectious.
"Even on a cold Monday morning, he has the ability to make you smile."
If you can't make it to their Brewery, which over five miles away from Macclesfield, their newest local client which serves their beer on tap is The Cotton Tree in Bollington.
Other Macclesfield clients include The Castle on Church Street and Sutton Hall.
Beyond Macclesfield, The Throstles Nest in Congleton and The Beer Emporium in Sandbach have been huge supporters.
It is part of a new localised strategy, which John has achieved in his four years as Head of Sales.
"When John came, we looked at the map and where the holes where, and pubs that thought ought to be selling our beers and weren't," said Giles.
"And now if you have a look, the vast majority of freeholds around us serve Wincle Beer.
"I think what John has been very successful at is introducing ourselves and building a relationship locally with these clients."
"It is a real pleasure to come work here," concluded John.
"People make business, and the people that work here make this business. Everybody is so committed, with the quality of the beer and the service we give, it would be hard to fail!"
Wincle Brewery is open from 10am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
They are currently open 10am to 4:30pm Saturday to Sunday, but tend to have longer opening hours on the weekend's in the summer.
Beers can be consumed on site in pint glasses, or purchased in bottles to be enjoyed at home.
Macclesfield: You can also buy their beers online via this link.
Please click here to follow Wincle Brewery on Facebook
Wincle Brewery is located at Tolls Barn, Barlow Hill, Wincle, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0QE.
Wincle Brewery is a sponsor of Macclesfield Nub News.
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