General Manager at Hamley & Co.
Richland/Kennewick/Pasco, Washington Area
- Current
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- General Manager at Hamley & Co.
- President at Veraison Consulting, LLC
- Past
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- Proprietor at 8th Street Wine Company
- Proprietor at Bungalow Restaurant & Lounge
- Proprietor at Richard's of Hyde Park
- Proprietor at TASTE - wine & sushi
- Partner, Vice President at Wild West Wines & Spirits
- Corporate Wine Buyer at Cost Plus Wold Market
- General Manager/Sommelier at Third Street Grill & Wine Shop
- Education
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- Linfield College
- Dominican University of California
- Recommended
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12 people have recommended Erik - Connections
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94
connections
- Industry
- Wine and Spirits
- Websites
Erik McLaughlin’s Summary
Erik McLaughlin is one of the country's leading experts on the Wine and Restaurant industry. Erik has worked in all tiers of the wine industry and is one of the few wine professionals with the unique expertise to manage projects through all stages of the life cycle.
Erik's career started working as a cellar rat for Oregon wineries while he earned his undergraduate degree. Since then, he has worked in wineries, retail, restaurants, and distribution. Erik has served as Corporate Wine Buyer for one of the largest retailers in the country and Vice President/Partner for the largest wine Brokerage Firm in the mountain west. Currently, he is the General Manager for Hamley and Co., a multi faceted Steak House and special events company on the edge of the Walla Walla appelation.
Erik conducts speaking and educational engagements for industry, public, and Universities and has written on wine and business for numerous publications.
Erik is based on the Walla Walla area.
Erik McLaughlin’s Specialties:
Retail and Restaurant Management and Development, Winery Management and Development, Vineyard Site Analysis and Development, Brand Management and Development, Property Development, Packaging and Marketing, Wholesale and Distribution, Import/Export, Supplier Relations, Product Assortment, Multi-Unit Operations, Multi-State Operations, Alcohol Beverage Law, Education, Speaking Engagements, Wine Writing
Erik McLaughlin’s Experience
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General Manager
Hamley & Co.
(Restaurants industry)
August 2008 — Present (3 months)
Hamley & Co. is the premiere brand of the American West. Founded in 1883 as a saddle company, Hamley is still the oldest saddle maker in the West and considered one of the finest saddle makers in the world.
In 1905, the Hamley brothers opened their now famous Western Store in the wild west town of Pendleton, OR where it is still based.
Fast forward to 2007. Hamley & Co. made a dramatic expansion with the opening on Hamley SteakHouse, Hamley Coffee and Wine, and Hamley Custom Events next door to the Western Store. This combined operation offers one of the finest Steak House experiences in the West, a comfortable Coffee and Wine Bar, and Custom Events in a choice of four private dining venues.
In addition to carrying products from some of the finest ranches, farms, brands, and designers, Hamley & Co. offers custom saddles, leatherwork, silverwork, western apparel, arabica coffee, and ultra-premium wines under the Hamley name. -
President
Veraison Consulting, LLC
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Wine and Spirits industry)
2001 — Present (7 years)
Veraison Consulting LLC is a diversified consulting company with local, national, and international clients ranging from vineyards, wineries, property developers, retailers, distributors, importers, exporters, and restaurants.
Services include vineyard site analysis, vineyard and winery feasibility, business plan development/analysis, organizational structure, marketing, brand creation and development, graphic and label design, merchandising, floor/fixture/equipment/lighting planning, product assortment, real estate analysis, commercial development, legal compliance and license acquisition, supply and distribution chain development.
"Veraison" (pronounced veh-ray-zohN) is a French viticultural term for the stage of wine grape berry development which marks the beginning of the ripening and sugar development, when the grapes change from the hard, green state to their softened and coloured form. -
Proprietor
8th Street Wine Company
(Restaurants industry)
2006 — August 2008 (2 years)
8th Street Wine Company one of the Northwest's most exciting Food and Wine Concepts with a combined Retail Wine Store, Full Service Restaurant, Full Service Catering, and a Wine Education program. The 8th Street Wine Co. was rated as one of America's TOP 15 "Most Amazing Wine Experiences" on the cover of FOOD & WINE Magazine.
The 8th Street Wine Company offers over 70 wines by the taste or glass, over 1000 wines by the bottle, and a full menu as well as both on and off-site catering. -
Proprietor
Bungalow Restaurant & Lounge
(Restaurants industry)
2007 — February 2008 (1 year)
Created this upscale, neighborhood-casual restaurant featuring Regional New American cuisine with a focus on local, natural, and organic ingredients.
Sold Restaurant in Feb 2008 -
Proprietor
Richard's of Hyde Park
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Restaurants industry)
2004 — 2007 (3 years)
Award winning Fine Dining restaurant with a focus on local, seasonal, organic ingredients. Richard's of Hyde Park was a socially and environmentally sustainable restaurant, winning the Mayor of Boise's Enviroguard Award in 2006 for environmentally sustainable business. Richard's won numerous awards for their Fine Dining Cuisine including "Best Northwest Cuisine" from the Idaho Statesman and was featured in countless local, regional, and national food and wine publications.
Richard's was closed in April of 2007 to be remodeled and combined with Taste Restaurant and was re-opened as The Bungalow Restaurant & Lounge. -
Proprietor
TASTE - wine & sushi
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Restaurants industry)
2004 — 2007 (3 years)
TASTE was an award winning Wine and Sushi Bar featuring the best seafood flown in six days a week from the world's best seafood purveyors. TASTE was not a Japanese restaurant; rather a contemporary Sushi Bar with modern sushi creations. TASTE also offered a groundbreaking Wine program with over 50 wines by the glass, chosen for their ability to pair with the unique Sushi of this Restaurant.
TASTE was closed in April 2007 to be remodeled and combined with Richard's of Hyde Park and was re-opened as Bungalow Restaurant & Lounge. -
Partner, Vice President
Wild West Wines & Spirits
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Wine and Spirits industry)
2001 — 2004 (3 years)
The Largest Fine Wine Brokerage Company in the Intermountain West representing over 200 of the Word's Best Wineries.
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Corporate Wine Buyer
Cost Plus Wold Market
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; cpwm; Retail industry)
1996 — 2001 (5 years)
Directly responsible for Wine and Beverage department generating over 20% of total company sales. One of the largest Retail Wine programs in the world.
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General Manager/Sommelier
Third Street Grill & Wine Shop
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Restaurants industry)
1995 — 1997 (2 years)
Collaborated with owner/investor to create all aspects of this new award winning Fine Dining restaurant and Wine Shop in the Oregon Wine Country. Featured in several local, regional, and national publications including being named Oregon's Best New Restaurant.
Erik McLaughlin’s Education
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Linfield College
BA, Cum Laude, Philosophy & Literature (majors), Speech Communication and Art History (minors)
- Activities and Societies:
- •Speech and Debate: Placed #1 in Extemporaneous Speaking and #5 in Debate in the Nation, Placed #1 in Impromptu Speaking in the Western US
•Student Lieutenant Governor (highest student office, serving all of the Western US), Pi Kappa Delta
•Student Body Senator (served 4 years)
•Business Manager for KSLC Radio (student run radio station)
•Weekly Columnist for Linfield Review (student run newspaper)
•Editor for Testmarketed Downpour (student literary magazine)
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Dominican University of California
Executive MBA
Additional Information
Erik McLaughlin’s Websites:
Erik McLaughlin’s Interests:
Sustainable Development, Organic/Biodyamic Vineyard Management, Vineyard/Winery/Commercial/Residential Integration, Development of the new Snake River Valley AVA
Erik McLaughlin’s Groups:
Chair, Marketing Committee, Idaho Wine Commission
Wine Columnist, Idaho Business Review
Director & Executive Committee Member, Downtown Boise Association (DBA)
Director, Northend Neighborhood Association (NENA)
Director, News Channel 6 and Idaho Statesman's "Vino Idaho" wine competition
Member, Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers
Member, Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
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Shopper Insights & Marketing Professionals -
Green Group -
Wines & Spirits -
Wine Business Network -
Slow Food -
Retail Industry Professionals Group
Erik McLaughlin’s Honors:
City of Boise "Enviroguard" Award for Environmentally Responsible Business
"Most Accomplished under 40", Idaho Business Review's "40 under 40"
"Best Northwest Restaurant", Idaho Statesman annual Best of Idaho
Silver "ADDY" Award (first place in Northwest, National finalist), Interior Design and Signage for 8th Street Wine Company, American Advertising Federation (AAF)
Sommelier, International Pinot Noir Celebration
Guest Speaker, Wine Industry Financial Symposium
President's Circle "Oak Leaf Society", Linfield College
Featured Food & Wine Magazine's list of America's top 15 "Most Amazing Wine Experiences"
Profiled in United Airline's Hemispheres Magazine
Featured in Southwest Airline's Spirit Magazine
Featured in National Geographic Traveler Magazine
Featured in TIME Magazine
Featured in Wine Country Living Magazine
Featured in Wine Spectator Magazine
Featured in Cottage Living Magazine
Featured in Patterson's Magazine
Erik McLaughlin’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
