THE WINE MERCHANT. An independent magazine for independent retailers
Issue 113, May 2022
Dog of the Month: Cleo Museum Wines, Blandford
How can we compete with Wine Society free delivery? Independents look for ways to reduce courier costs as their number one competitor drops its shipping charges
T
he Wine Society has dropped all
in Great Horkesley, Essex. “How can anyone
companies who who put these limitations
problematic for independent merchants,
problems obtaining competitive rates from
multiples.”
delivery charges to its customers in a move that could prove
who are already battling to mitigate rising costs.
“They’re the new Amazon of wine,” says
Anthony Borges, owner of The Wine Centre
compete?”
Borges says small businesses like his face
couriers. “Either our turnover is too small
and the big boys just aren’t interested – or
alcohol and liquids are prohibited,” he says. “The strange thing is, the same
on their courier services seem to
be distributing for the major drinks
For more than 20 years, Borges has
used a local courier, Tendring Express, a franchise of the national APC network.
Although Borges argues that its rates are
higher than he would like, “I lived with it, since website sales were always small”. He adds: “However now, with a new
website, and the increased effort in making it work better for us, I feel a stronger need to be more competitive with our courier charges.
“We charge £9.99 per address, up to
45kg. On small packages of one or two
bottles we make £1-£2 profit. Obviously
we make more on 12 bottles because of the increased margin in cash terms.
“A £9.99 charge on a small £30-£50 gift
is too high – we know that. But we have no
choice because of our high costs. Even on a case of wine of £120-plus it is considered high. We know for a fact we have lost custom because of it.” Hugo Meyer Esquerré’s Provisions business – a combination of wine shop and deli – has opened its second branch, located in Hackney, north London. Read our interview on pages 22-23. Only about half of revenue comes from walk-in custom
Borges is hoping there could be a way of
indies pooling their buying power to obtain better courier rates to compete with larger players like The Wine Society.
Julia Jenkins of Flagship Wines in St
