Problem-Solving, Barefoot Spirit Style | Skirting the Issue 👗

Our preferred approach to problem-solving involves viewing the situation from multiple perspectives. Often, defining the problem well is the key to finding the best solution. Relying solely on initial impressions can obscure potential solutions.

By viewing problems in the context of the bigger picture, we often found solutions that addressed more than the original issue. We started imagining the problem as already solved and asked what other issues would improve if the original problem was resolved.

For instance, a customer once complained about inconsistent fill levels in our wine bottles. Our production team explained that fill lines varied to accommodate air gaps for temperature changes and nitrogen to prevent oxidation. Despite this, we adhered to our motto, “The customer is always right,” and assured her we were working on a solution.

At a fundraiser, Bonnie M. Harvey admired a woman’s midi-length skirt, noting how it covered the knees and showcased the calves. This sparked the idea to cover the fill line with a longer closure. It took two years to implement the technology, but it worked—no visible fill lines, and customers always got a “full measure.”

Additionally, hiding the fill line allowed us to reduce horizontal lines on our packaging, giving our product a cleaner, more distinctive look on retail shelves.
We valued the customer’s feedback, recognizing that for every person who spoke up, many others shared the same concern. By addressing it, we improved both our packaging and marketing images.

We always believed in finding a solution and examined the problem from all angles, awaiting inspiration from even the most unlikely places!