Job Q&A
by Michele Marrinan
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Monster.com: How did you get your job at Secretcellars.com?

Gwen Severson: I found it online at Smartwine.com on the job posting board. I posted that I was an Internet professional looking for a sales and marketing job in central California's wine business. My boss sent me a note, and the rest is history.

Mc: What prepared you to work for a dotcom?

GS: I spent five years in the sports marketing business working with professional athletes and their sponsors, doing a lot of marketing and a promotions work. Then I went to the Internet, where my experience helped me build a team of strategic account managers at Infoseek, now GO.com. I worked there for over a year and a half and learned a lot. Working with clients at GO gave me the experience to see different dotcom companies' marketing plans working and not working.

Mc: What do you like about Secretcellars.com?

GS: I love Secret Cellars, the people and the environment. And you can't go wrong with the product: wine. It's a fantastic product, and it always makes people smile when they receive a special gift from us. Our site is welcoming and allows users to find what they need in very little time. They can learn about wine, find a great recipe or simply browse our product offerings. There is a bit of everything for them, and we are building more so it will only get better. I'd love for it to be real time.

Mc: What is a typical day like?

GS: Listening to new advertising possibilities, researching new sites and publications to advertise in, and trying to track performance of all current marketing programs. We taste a few different types of wine when we're off duty. When we speak to customers we know what we're talking about, and we can help them find the wine they're searching for.

Mc: How is working for a club-type dotcom different?

GS: It is very challenging to build a club, but if you have a product that can sell itself, you're halfway there. The next half is building an enticing program that people want to join and are excited about. Secret Cellars has a fantastic one. Once you join, you wonder where all these wonderful wines have been hiding.

Mc: What advice would you give someone who wants to work for a dotcom?

GS: Make sure you are interested in the job itself and that you are excited about the product and the people you will work with. Every company has the opportunity to become a great success, but it isn't easy. You need to be passionate about what you are working towards and who you are doing it with. Every job I really wanted, I got. The reason was I interviewed for jobs I knew fit my talents, skills and desires. I didn't rest until I got the interview. If you love what you are doing, people around you can see that. You will turn heads, and your career will take off.

Mc: What's the best part of your job?

GS: I like doing something I am passionate about, like working with wine and people. We are building a corporate gift plan that will allow me to build custom gift programs for large companies in need of unique and memorable gifts. I love this!

Mc: What do you like least?

GS: Not having a sophisticated palate. But I'm getting there.

Mc: Are you a wine drinker?

GS: I've always been passionate about food and wine, but more recreationally. I've learned more over the years as my interest grew, and moving to the central coast to get involved with the wine business has really ramped up my learning curve.

Mc: Do you get free samples?

GS: Yes.