Profitability Bootcamp

Built for wine & spirits buyers
accountable for the bottom line

Included with Full Conference Pass

April 12–14, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
November 3–5, 2026 in San Diego, CA

What It Means to Be a Buyer Today

Being a wine buyer today means
more than choosing great wines.

Buyers are increasingly accountable for how beverage programs perform — not just creatively, but financially. Pricing decisions, margin mix, inventory discipline, and supplier strategy all sit closer to the buyer role than they once did.

Volatility has made the job harder. Costs shift. Guest expectations evolve. Leadership wants clarity – not just on what’s exciting, but on what works.

The Profitability Bootcamp was built to support this reality.

Built for Professionals Accountable for Outcomes

The Profitability Bootcamp is designed for professionals responsible for (or preparing to take on) wine and spirits purchasing and program performance.

What You'll Explore

Practical focus areas designed to support real purchasing and program decisions.

Margin & Pricing Strategy

Understanding contribution margins, pricing architecture, and defensible decisions.

Inventory & Cash Flow

Managing buying, turns, and working capital with discipline.

Performance Metrics

Tracking what matters and aligning teams around outcomes.

P&L Literacy

Reading beverage financials and communicating performance clearly.

Portfolio Strategy

Balancing breadth, velocity, and profitability across categories.

Sourcing Decisions

Evaluating options, managing risk, and making choices that hold up.

Buyer Round Tables

Real talk. No scripts.

Sometimes the best learning happens off the record.

Our buyer round table creates space for candid conversations about challenges that don’t have textbook answers.

Get answers you can’t Google.

Navigate tricky vendor relationships. Benchmark your compensation. Talk through scenarios where policy meets reality.

Peer-led. Confidential. Just buyers helping buyers.

Complete flexibility.
Zero additional cost.

You decide where to focus — based on the decisions you’re responsible for.

Need approval to attend?

A justification letter you can share with leadership

Choose Your Market

The Profitability Bootcamp is available at both 2026 conferences. 

Washington, DC

San Diego, CA

Questions

Who is the Profitability Bootcamp designed for?

The Profitability Bootcamp is built for wine and spirits buyers and professionals accountable for beverage purchasing and program performance — including beverage directors, beverage managers, operators, hotel and resort outlet leaders, and aspiring and future buyers preparing to take on purchasing responsibility.

Yes. The Profitability Bootcamp is included with a Full Conference Pass to SommCon. There is no additional fee or separate registration required.

The Bootcamp focuses on the real-world business of beverage buying, including:

  • Pricing and margin strategy
  • Inventory, variance, and purchasing discipline
  • Portfolio and supplier decision-making
  • Labor-aware service models
  • Demand, guest loyalty, and repeat business

Sessions are designed to be practical, applied, and immediately usable.

Yes. Buyer-only round tables are a core part of the Bootcamp experience, offering facilitated, peer-level discussions where buyers can talk candidly about challenges, tradeoffs, and decisions they can’t always unpack at work.

Yes. The Profitability Bootcamp will take place at both SommCon DC in April and SommCon San Diego in November.

Each market delivers the same buyer-focused framework, with regional context.

Absolutely. Buyers are encouraged to attend with colleagues from beverage, operations, or leadership to cover more ground and bring shared insights back to their organization.

Registration and pricing are managed by each conference. Visit the conference pages below for current pricing, pass options, and registration details:

SommCon DC
SommCon San Diego