Victor Schwartz

So I read that. And of course, I'm completely confused because I don't know the legalese or the summary judgments. Is that good? Bad? I don't know. I immediately got in touch with a friend of mine who's a lawyer. He explained it, that it was very good. So just kind of been off to the races.

So I read that. And of course, I'm completely confused because I don't know the legalese or the summary judgments. Is that good? Bad? I don't know. I immediately got in touch with a friend of mine who's a lawyer. He explained it, that it was very good. So just kind of been off to the races.

Because I'll tell you, I'll tell you, it is also strange and backdoor. It's like unintentional. This is in March. We're at brunch and we're talking about the tariffs because that was on everyone's mind. We're having a conversation with a cousin of my wife's. And He brought up the fact that his former law professor was bringing a case against the tariffs.

Because I'll tell you, I'll tell you, it is also strange and backdoor. It's like unintentional. This is in March. We're at brunch and we're talking about the tariffs because that was on everyone's mind. We're having a conversation with a cousin of my wife's. And He brought up the fact that his former law professor was bringing a case against the tariffs.

And I said, wow, this is great because I wanted to give my two cents about what was going on in my business and in the wine business. You know, I got in touch with him right away and he got right back to me, got right back to me. And we had a wonderful conversation. I told him my tales of woe about being in the wine business and an importer in the world of threatened tariffs.

And I said, wow, this is great because I wanted to give my two cents about what was going on in my business and in the wine business. You know, I got in touch with him right away and he got right back to me, got right back to me. And we had a wonderful conversation. I told him my tales of woe about being in the wine business and an importer in the world of threatened tariffs.

And he said, OK, fine. That sounds good. And then three days later, they asked if I would be the lead plaintiff. And that's when I got nervous. Well, what does that entail? Yeah. Let me talk to my wife and kids. And of course, they were all kind of nervous because the administration is known for being vengeful. And, you know, we're a heavily regulated business.

And he said, OK, fine. That sounds good. And then three days later, they asked if I would be the lead plaintiff. And that's when I got nervous. Well, what does that entail? Yeah. Let me talk to my wife and kids. And of course, they were all kind of nervous because the administration is known for being vengeful. And, you know, we're a heavily regulated business.

We have a lot of business in front of the government, whether it's importation, FDA rules, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, label requirements. So it's like, well, should I do this? Should I not? You know, I don't really want to stick my neck out. And then I thought about all the billionaires that I'm just so pissed off about doing nothing. And I'm going, we're all sitting around.

We have a lot of business in front of the government, whether it's importation, FDA rules, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, label requirements. So it's like, well, should I do this? Should I not? You know, I don't really want to stick my neck out. And then I thought about all the billionaires that I'm just so pissed off about doing nothing. And I'm going, we're all sitting around.

We're all complaining. We're all saying, hey, what can we do about this? You know, what can I do? Everyone's feeling powerless. And I said, this just landed on my plate. If I don't step up, then how can I expect anybody else to? And I just felt it was incumbent upon me to do it and let the chips fall where they may.

We're all complaining. We're all saying, hey, what can we do about this? You know, what can I do? Everyone's feeling powerless. And I said, this just landed on my plate. If I don't step up, then how can I expect anybody else to? And I just felt it was incumbent upon me to do it and let the chips fall where they may.

Well, first of all, understand, you know, number one, we're a very heavily regulated business. So, for instance, we have to post our prices, our discounts, fixed with the state over a month in advance before we start selling. And we can't change them. So if, like, I've got a five-case price, $120 a case or something like that, I can't say, oh, it's a tariff. I'm going to change that to 150.

Well, first of all, understand, you know, number one, we're a very heavily regulated business. So, for instance, we have to post our prices, our discounts, fixed with the state over a month in advance before we start selling. And we can't change them. So if, like, I've got a five-case price, $120 a case or something like that, I can't say, oh, it's a tariff. I'm going to change that to 150.

It's done. It's fixed. So the tariff liberation, quote unquote, liberation day, I call it strangulation day. So we had to really jump on this right away and try to make some decisions in a very unclear situation. So there's that. Plus, where is the tariff money going to come from? Those tariffs have to be paid up front.

It's done. It's fixed. So the tariff liberation, quote unquote, liberation day, I call it strangulation day. So we had to really jump on this right away and try to make some decisions in a very unclear situation. So there's that. Plus, where is the tariff money going to come from? Those tariffs have to be paid up front.

As I put it, it's worse than a tax because a tax usually happens after the event. This happens before anything, before we sold a bottle. So even if our commander in chief says, it's not a big deal, just raise your prices. If I raise the price on a container, I don't see the revenue from that container for months down the road. We have to sell it all. We have to collect it all.

As I put it, it's worse than a tax because a tax usually happens after the event. This happens before anything, before we sold a bottle. So even if our commander in chief says, it's not a big deal, just raise your prices. If I raise the price on a container, I don't see the revenue from that container for months down the road. We have to sell it all. We have to collect it all.

So where is that capital going to come from? It's a real problem. cash flow killer. That's the real challenge. And when you're a small business, cash flow is always a challenge.

So where is that capital going to come from? It's a real problem. cash flow killer. That's the real challenge. And when you're a small business, cash flow is always a challenge.