Harmon Skurnik on Integrity, Opportunity, & Resilience

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Harmon Skurnik is the President of Skurnik Wines, an importer and distributor of fine wines and spirits headquartered in the heart of New York City.

Harmon has been the President of Skurnik Wines since he joined his brother, Michael, at the company in 1989 to run the now 33-year-old successful fine wine and spirits importation and distribution company.

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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

  • Why Harmon Skurnik left his job in a marketing agency to join his brother, Michael, to run Skurnik Wines 

  • Harmon talks about his family’s values that have influenced the success of Skurnik Wines 

  • The secret behind Skurnik Wines’ dynamic growth 

  • Understanding the Independent Restaurant Coalition and the recently-proposed Restaurant Act

  • Lessons on resilience Harmon has learned in the 31 years that he has been running Skurnik Wines

  • Harmon discusses the state of tariffs on wines imported from Europe and the looming tariff threat to the wine industry

  • How tariffs impact American Wineries 

  • What’s next for Skurnik Wines?

In this episode…

The wine industry is grappling with a massive drop in business since the outbreak of COVID-19. While companies struggle to get a respite from that by pivoting their businesses to focus online retail sales, there is still the 25% tariff on wines imported from Europe to contend with. With seemingly continuous challenges posed against the industry, can wineries and other industry players still survive?

For Harmon Skurnik, President of Skurnik Wines, what businesses need to emphasize right now are three things: integrity, opportunities, and resilience.  He also encourages everyone to learn more about the tariffs imposed on the wine industry in order to make informed comments and join in the conversation on the USTR website before July 26.

Join Alexi Cashen on this episode of the Alexi Cashen Podcastas she talks with Harmon Skurnik of Skurnik Wines about his company’s success for the past 33 years, how the wine business is pivoting in light of the coronavirus pandemic, and why it’s important for stakeholders in the industry to take part in the conversation about tariffs that are imposed upon them. Stay tuned.

Resources Mentioned in this episode

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Elenteny Imports is an alcoholic beverage logistics and compliance service that alleviates back-office work so that clients can focus on what they do best: sourcing and sales. Elenteny works with importers of all sizes, distributors, marketing agents/brokers, and wineries, and they guide their partners through a myriad of intricacies of the three-tier system offering logistics, consolidation, importing, customs, freight, drayage, and back-office administration for inventory management, invoicing, collections, and compliance. 

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