Sean Dunn has this message for wine producers, "Wineries struggle to sustain DTC/club growth. Rob’s “2025 State of the US Wine Industry” details why. However, taking a customer-centric approach (on and off property) is how many Napa and Sonoma brands will survive."

Every wine client believes their club model is sacrosanct. However, a majority know the model is fading. One executive recently said, “The canary died in the coal mine while we were in the vineyards.” Said another, “Hope is not a plan, but we hope not to need another plan.” Well, we have another plan.

UmeSales, powered by Wingman, creates trusted partner relationships. It helps organizations optimize every sales opportunity to ensure the full value of the brand is present in every sales call. Empower internal and external stakeholders to become your best brand representatives.

Roman talks about how the consumer goods industry is at a turning point—AI is breaking barriers, empowering brands to compete on personalization, not scale. It’s no longer about being the loudest in the room; it’s about building authentic, meaningful connections.

At Umego, we believe the best technology is the kind you don’t even notice—because it’s quietly doing the work for you. In this post, Larry shares how we’ve designed Umego’s AI to stay behind the scenes, doing the heavy lifting so brand ambassadors can focus on what truly matters: building trust, strengthening relationships, and connecting with people in a more human way.

How can businesses balance AI's efficiency with the authenticity of human connections? Jeff shares insights from a personal experience, exploring how AI can enrich—not replace—genuine customer relationships.

Josh has a futurist view of UX and how it needs to adapt to customer-centric experiences.

Sally explains why brand loyalty is more emotional than rational at its core, and how that impacts today’s industry as we incorporate AI into our daily lives. From AI to identity to shared values, real connection goes deeper than features.

Rob McMillan, EVP and founder of SVB Wine Division, opens the State of the US Wine Industry 2025 report by asserting that consumers envy the wine industry. Given the industry's current state, this assertion is not only incorrect, but it's also dangerous for wineries that must reset their roadmaps.

For over a decade, we have told clients, “Your business is not in a relationship with a billion people. Your business is in a billion relationships. How you attract, nurture, support, and embrace those relationships will determine your success.” How did technology respond?

The digital economy prioritizes transactions over relationships, manipulating human vulnerabilities. Umego flips the model, replacing data-driven persuasion with customer-centric engagement.‍ We prioritize human interaction, building trust, empathy, care, and anticipation.

True loyalty comes from human relationships, not algorithms. Umego pairs customers with brand ambassadors (sales reps, influencers, personal shoppers) who provide personalized service and long-term engagement.‍Instead of generic email blasts and push notifications, Umego creates live, meaningful interactions, ensuring customers feel understood, valued, and respected.

Our unique behavioral and social science strategy powers customer-centric intelligence through authentic human connection. Most importantly, we answer the critical question that has eluded brands since the start of the digital revolution—“Why do consumers do what they do?”

Forget cookie tracking and predictive guesswork—the most valuable insights come directly from customers. Our platform captures first-person intelligence—needs, behaviors, preferences, and values—through authentic interaction. Umego isn’t just changing retail. We’re redefining it.

According to Tim Cook, customer data is being “weaponized with military efficiency... into a data industrial complex,” Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook users know the trade-off. “People want a free service and are happy to see ads to get it." So, how does it feel to be the product?

We envision a future rooted in customer-centricity, trust, and authenticity. Advertisers will do less and better. Big-net fishing will no longer be required (or valued.) Brands will optimize growth forecasts based on customer synergy. We're not naive. This world is not for everyone. Is it for you?