What Happens When Shopify Runs Your Store—and Activ8 Runs Your Winery Your winery has two very different jobs to do. One is running the business: managing inventory, pricing, wine clubs, allocations, wholesale, point of sale, compliance, and customer data. The other is selling online: creating a beautiful storefront, delivering a great shopping experience, and taking advantage of the latest ecommerce innovations. The problem is that most platforms try to do both—and often excel at neither. That’s why more wineries are combining Activ8 Commerce with Shopify. Activ8 Commerce runs the day-to-day operations of your winery, distillery, meadery, brewery, or cidery, while Shopify powers your online storefront. Together, they stay perfectly synchronized in real time, with Activ8 serving as the master database for your entire business—including all Shopify-generated data. The result is a modern ecommerce experience your customers expect, backed by an operations platform designed specifically f

Your Tasting Room Is Your #1 Club Acquisition Channel. Here's What Top Wineries Do Differently. A guest walks into your tasting room. They're already engaged. They're already drinking your wine. They're already emotionally invested in the experience. And then they leave without joining your club. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. SVB's Direct-to-Consumer Wine Survey benchmarks conversion rates at 8 to 10% for top-performing tasting rooms, but the average is significantly lower. That means most wineries are leaving signups on the table at the exact moment guests are most ready to say yes. With tasting room visitation down roughly 8% year over year and wine clubs now accounting for 39% of total DTC sales, the pressure to convert visitors into members has never been higher. The good news is that the wineries growing their clubs aren't doing anything mysterious. They're executing three things consistently. Here's what to focus on. 1. Make the ask easy in the moment T

Protea Financial provides outsourced operational accounting for wineries and select beverage businesses. We support everyday operations and real-world challenges by functioning as an integrated accounting department, providing the depth of support typically found in larger internal teams, without requiring a winery to build one from scratch. Our motivation is simple: to provide accurate, timely financial information so business owners can make confident, informed decisions. Everything we do supports that goal. Everyone deserves better accounting, and we are here to help you meet that goal. Full-Spectrum Operational Accounting We are your full operational accounting team. We support a broad spectrum of services, from transactional accuracy to cost accounting, financial management and reporting, and forward-looking financial insight. Core Accounting & Close Strong reporting begins with disciplined execution. We manage: Transaction processing and bookkeeping Accounts receivable proce

Sorren, a Top 50 national tax, accounting, and advisory firm, announced today that Connected Accounting, an innovative technology-forward accounting firm with deep roots in Los Angeles, has joined the organization. Founded in 2019 by Marie Greene, Connected Accounting is recognized for leveraging technology to streamline accounting processes, improve operational efficiency, and deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes for clients. By bringing together two firms committed to innovation and client service, this expansion strengthens Sorren’s footprint in California and its ability to deliver scalable, technology-driven solutions without compromising the personalized attention clients value. “Connected Accounting has built a strong reputation by combining trusted relationships with forward-thinking technology and efficient processes,” said Josh Tyree, CEO of Sorren “Their approach aligns closely with our strategic priorities and ongoing investments in integrated

What your tech should make easier Winery teams are busy enough. Technology should reduce friction — not quietly create it. But over time, many wineries start to accept things like: Extra steps at checkout Manual adjustments before club runs Reports that require exporting and reconciling POS, online, and club data that doesn’t quite match End-of-month accounting cleanup None of these feel dramatic. They just add up. And when friction becomes normal, growth feels harder than it should. The issue usually isn’t effort. It’s structure. When systems aren’t truly unified, teams compensate with: Workarounds Spreadsheets Extra training Extra time Activ8 Commerce was built to remove that friction. One unified system across POS, clubs, eCommerce, CRM, and reporting — plus a data-centric Shopify integration built around Activ8’s unified customer records, and direct QuickBooks integration — so operations stay aligned instead of stitched toget

Sorren, a Top 50 national tax, accounting, and advisory firm, has announced that Hess & Rohmer, a well-respected full-service CPA and advisory firm, has joined its national network. The partnership reinforces Sorren’s growth in Texas, building on its existing Houston presence while uniting Hess & Rohmer’s local legacy and trusted client relationships with Sorren’s national resources and expertise.   Established in 1999 by Brian Hess and Melody Rohmer, the firm was founded on a relationship-driven approach to client service. This philosophy, rooted in the belief that the firm’s success is directly tied to the success of its clients, has supported steady growth and service expansion over time.   “From the beginning, it was clear our firms share a common approach to serving clients and supporting our people,” said Josh Tyree, President of Sorren. “Together, we’re strengthening our ability to serve Texas businesses with the

[Meridian, Idaho] – January 20, 2026 — Sorren, a Top 50 national tax, accounting, and advisory firm, has announced the appointment of Josh Tyree as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 20, 2026. Tyree previously served as President of the firm and steps into the CEO role following a planned leadership transition.  The appointment reflects a long-established succession plan designed to support Sorren’s growth and integration as a national firm. Michael O’Donnell, who has served as CEO during Sorren’s initial formation and integration period, will transition to Executive Chairman, where he will continue to provide strategic guidance and leadership counsel.  “This transition was planned from the beginning,” said O’Donnell. “Josh has demonstrated exceptional leadership, operational discipline, and a clear vision for the firm. The progress Sorren has made over the past two years exceeded expectations, and Josh is well pr

Sorren, a Top 50 national tax, accounting, and advisory firm, has announced that Casey Neilon, an accounting consultancy, has joined its national network. This partnership enhances Sorren’s presence in the Western region and combines Casey Neilon’s dedication to trusted relationships and long-term client success with Sorren’s national resources, advanced technology, and broad industry capabilities.   Founded in 2006, Casey Neilon was established on a clear and enduring philosophy: to go beyond basic compliance by serving as a trusted, long-term advisor to entrepreneurs and their families. Since then, it has stayed true to that mission, earning a strong reputation for guiding clients toward their financial goals and supporting their long-term success.   “Joining Sorren is a meaningful step for our team and our clients,” said Darsi Casey, Shareholder at Casey Neilon. “We remain committed to the personal, advisory-focused service our clients r

Winery health isn’t defined by one metric. It’s a reflection of how well a winery performs across three key dimensions: financial resilience, operational excellence, and cultural strength. Every year, InnoVint surveys hundreds of winery professionals to understand what truly drives a healthy winery. In the 2025 State of Winery Health Report, our statistical analysis confirmed that all three dimensions matter, but financial performance stands out as the clearest signal of overall business health. Profitability, sales growth, and pricing confidence consistently separate the strongest wineries from those struggling to keep pace. But the story doesn’t end there. Operational practices, technology adoption, and team culture all play vital roles in supporting long-term success. What Does “Winery Health” Mean in 2025? At its core, winery health represents a winery’s ability to stay profitable, efficient, and resilient — even as the industry faces

Let’s Build a Smarter Winery Operation At Azmera, we help wineries modernize their operations — integrating odoo with DTC and winemaking platforms to create one connected, data-driven business. → Talk to our team about streamlining your winery’s accounting, production, and sales with odoo for Wine. → To see a detailed side-by-side comparison of QuickBooks vs odoo for Wine click here to read on our site. Find the right system to manage your winery’s growth — from bookkeeping to full-scale operations. Running a winery means more than making great wine — it’s balancing artistry, agriculture, and business. From vineyard management to bottling, from tasting room sales to club shipments, every part of your operation needs to work in harmony. The right software can make that possible. QuickBooks is a trusted solution for wineries that need reliable accounting and basic inventory control. It’s simple, familiar, and perfect for