Victor Schwartz

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.

I decided I had to step up. Yeah. I mean, it came to me in a sense. You know what I mean? I wasn't like I was looking for a law case. I want to be very clear about that.

I decided I had to step up. Yeah. I mean, it came to me in a sense. You know what I mean? I wasn't like I was looking for a law case. I want to be very clear about that.

I mean, when I first read the complaint, VOS Elections Inc. versus Trump et al., I laughed like a lunatic. I mean, in a sense, this is so crazy. This is not what I signed up for when I created my company 39 years ago.

I mean, when I first read the complaint, VOS Elections Inc. versus Trump et al., I laughed like a lunatic. I mean, in a sense, this is so crazy. This is not what I signed up for when I created my company 39 years ago.

I just wanted to find interesting wines that are really delicious, find a community of like-minded people on this side of the pond, and sell them these delicious wines and have a happy life. That's all I wanted to do. and not pay high tariffs for it. I am sure there are definitely some trade issues. I'm not, like, completely anti-tariff in some way.

I just wanted to find interesting wines that are really delicious, find a community of like-minded people on this side of the pond, and sell them these delicious wines and have a happy life. That's all I wanted to do. and not pay high tariffs for it. I am sure there are definitely some trade issues. I'm not, like, completely anti-tariff in some way.