Introduction
iStill Wizard ... what wizardry is that? This post explains the role of the iStill Wizard by means of an interview with Nick, iStill Wizard to Western-Europe!
Interview Nick
Nick, can you tell us a bit more about yourself?
Sure! I love my family and I love distilling. I am married and my wife and I have a son. We live in the south of the Netherlands.
Over the last years I have gained quite some experience in distilling. I help distillers out by consulting with them on their distillery set-up and product development, especially resources. Currently, through the iStill channel, I help distillers by importing things like molasses for rum as well as disinfectants for distillery sanitation, bacterial, fungal, and fruit fly control.
What's your connection to iStill?
Odin and I help manage the Dutch Distillers Forum. Very soon after I got to know iStill, I got to work with them. At customers and at the iStill Center. Soon after that, Odin asked me to help manage the iStill Forum, and we started to give the iStill Workshops together.
My latest project is just starting up: helping with the automation of the iStill 100 NextGen. The iStill 100 NextGen is a great unit, but given the expenses of professional PLC-based automation on the iStills 500, 2000, and 5000 NextGen, It came out without automation.
I know iStill is working on a fully professionally automated and mobile PLC-box for the 100 that will be released soon, but that'll add EUR 5.000,- to the price tag. My project is to dive in from a Do It Yourself angle and - together with the help of other iStill 100 NextGen users - create a cheaper, partial automation.
And of course ... I am now the iStill Wizard to Western-Europe!
Can you tell us more about your role as iStill Wizard?
iStill is an innovative company. We feel we want to help potential customers by providing regional support. Distillers that know their trade and that know what iStill brings to the table. You can see us as referrals. If a Craft Distiller wants to get insight on how it is to work with iStil as a company or with their unique machines, the iStill Wizards have the hands-on experience to share practical information.
iStill is a growing organization. The move to introduce iStill Wizards is also a very practical one. So far Odin has been the one answering each and everyone's questions. With us producing four distilleries per week, we need to support him and take some of the workload of off his shoulders.
We didn't want to take the traditional road of setting up regional sales office. First of all, because we feel iStill is something you inform people about as well as one can. We don't try to sell, to convince. Instead, we want to share our information and experience, so the Craft Distiller interested in advanced distilling can make a better educated decision. We want customers that fit our company, we don't persuade people to buy into our story, philosophy, and designs. If a Craft Distiller wants to buy copper fruit brandy stills, that's what we will advice him to buy!
Secondly, regional offices are incredibly expensive, especially when they are third party run. iStill wants to be able to deliver high-end distilleries at fair prices. If we were to set-up sales offices, costs would rise by as much as 30 to 40%. iStill Wizards come from a distilling background and they understand Odin's approach completely. By head and by heart. We are not in it for the money, we are in it because we believe iStill is changing the world of Craft Distilling in an amazing way. Well, I am! And I want to be part of that and help others decide if they want to be part of that as well.
So ... tell us ... how would the procedure of buying go, if I were a Craft Distiller interested in iStill?
The best answer is probably: "In the way that's most comfortable and informative for you." Many contact Odin directly. Where needed, he may refer you to an iStill Wizard.
You may also contact an iStill Wizard directly, for instance if you want to tap into his first-hand experience or visit our distilleries (in my case the Amsterdam iStill Center). If you have all the information you need and when you have taken the opportunity to work with an iStill, Odin & Team will draw up the quotation, contract, and invoice.
When you purchased an iStill distillery, you may want additional training or help setting things up. Depending on how busy we are, it's either the iStill Wizard or Odin & Team from Amsterdam that help you land on your feet!
Nick, iStill Wizard ...
www.iStill.eu