Your ideal customer is browsing their phone for something special to share with friends at the weekend… They’re not up for heading to the shops—they just want to put their feet up and make the most of the choice and convenience of the internet.
As a business, selling alcohol online is your big chance to meet them where they are and showcase your products. BUT (and it’s a big but), it’s a very complex market. From laws and taxes to logistics, there are lots of hurdles to overcome—especially for smaller producers.
The good news? With the right approach, you’ll be able to handle legal hurdles, build a loyal customer base, and create a great business. At Tipple, we’ve been in your shoes, and we can help. Let’s take a look. This is part 1 in a series of ALL the things you need to do, to not only sell online, but be successful.
Our industry has never been more exciting. Every week sees the launch of a fantastic new beer, spirit, or wine on the market, but the hard truth is that their survival depends on generating lots of sales.
However, generating lots of sales, requires brand awareness.
Brand awareness isn't cheap, the most cost effective way of generating brand awareness is by selling online.
Selling alcohol online successfully isn’t as simple as setting up an e-commerce website and hoping for the best. It's not even just about great marketing. There’s a lot to consider, and you need to get every detail right, or things could go wrong quickly.
There are two most common methods for selling online:
At Tipple, we began by selling our own gin. We made mistakes, and through years of experience, we understand the complexities and hurdles of selling alcohol online.
That’s why we seized the opportunity to make a difference in our industry and created plug-in software that makes it easy for alcohol businesses of all sizes to sell alcohol online across the world.
You might not have a team to deal with red tape, but you don’t need them with Tipple. And if you’re part of a bigger organisation, we can make your business more efficient. That’s a win-win if you ask us.
You want to see great numbers on your balance sheet, of course. But to sell alcohol online successfully, you need to understand the rules.
So, what are they? First and foremost, different countries (and sometimes states) have their own regulations for selling alcohol online.
For example:
These laws govern everything from who can buy alcohol to how it’s shipped.
You need to know what you’re doing, or else you’re in for a big headache and potentially big fines.
The answer is yes; in most cases, you do. However, licensing requirements vary by country and region, so doing your homework is non-negotiable. Whether it’s a national alcohol distribution licence or a region-specific one, you need to make sure you’re always playing by the rules.
For instance:
It’s tricky and time-consuming, but selling without the proper licence is risky and will inevitably lead to hefty fines or, worse, legal shutdowns.
A licence is your permit to sell. Making sure you have the right ones in place shows that you’re committed to running a responsible and compliant business.
If you’ve never sold alcohol online before, here’s how to get started.
Start with the basics—make sure you know what you’re up against. As we’ve mentioned, every country has its own regulations for selling alcohol online.
Taking the time to fully understand local laws will make sure that your business can trade confidently and save you headaches later.
Once you understand the laws, it’s time to get licensed.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Every licence comes with its own requirements, so always make sure you read the fine print.
Now, you’re ready to sell alcohol online!
Here’s a top tip. Selling alcohol online doesn’t have to be limited to traditional methods. There are an increasing number of ways to reach customers and grow your business, such as:
If you’re a small company and navigating licences feels daunting, partnering with an international retailer can be tempting. They can handle your compliance and logistics locally and leave you to focus on your product.
Benefits include:
But here’s the catch:
You could also think outside the (wine) box with these creative approaches:
Even if you’ve nailed all the previous steps, there are still common hurdles when it comes to selling alcohol online. You need to make it your business to take care of:
These days, online consumers demand complete transparency and expect reliability.
Always be clear about the following:
Shipping alcohol isn’t as straightforward as shipping other goods.
Here are some examples:
Partnering with an experienced courier could help you navigate these rules, but in truth, many couriers won’t ship alcohol across borders due to the tax that’s required at their destination.
So, how could Tipple help you navigate these challenges and take advantage of the opportunity to ship alcohol abroad?
Your Tipple account manager and brand dashboard will assist by:
In our opinion, we’re not just helping you sell alcohol (although, let’s face it, that’s the primary goal)—we’re helping you build a sustainable, global brand that stands out.
Growing your company and selling your products across the world is exciting, but it requires extremely careful planning and execution. There's a lot to consider, from understanding complex laws to making sure you develop successful sales strategies.
The good news is that Tipple makes the whole process much easier and less stressful. Book a free 30-minute consultation today to discuss how we can help you sell successfully online and grow your brand!