Looking to start a new E-commerce craft beer shop for my local area.

J890000

Hello all,
So this would be the first time i have really looked into doing something like this (And i also hope i am posting this in the right thread)
my ideal situation would be to own a brick and mortar community bottle shop selling craft beers from the around the U.K, holding monthly tasting events etc. but before i jump off the deep end and commit to starting  this as a full time gig i would like to get my foot in the door and start a local monthly craft beer subscription box with online tastings/ E-commerce bottle shop just for my local area which is something that i will be able to merge into my hopeful eventual bottle shop.
Now i presume for this i will need a premises licence on a commercial property so i am able to sell to the public which i am looking to only be for off- sales with just local delivery (public will not be able to come pick up from the premises), does anyone have experience in what kind of property would be best and likely to be granted these permissions as i obviously want to keep cost as low as possible so have been looking into small unit spaces which are relatively cheap in which if granted i can store, pack and send the boxes from. Would something like a storage unit be able to be granted these permissions. Also if anyone has any experience in subscription boxes, online alcohol sales etc. any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Savvy_Sue

No experience whatsoever but I'd say one of your biggest difficulties will be getting adequate insurance and security for the premises, whether just used for storage or for sales.

[Deleted User]

Have you made a business plan, what set up costs have you anticipated, how will it be funded ?

Sandtree

You say you will just be selling locally, does that mean it'll also just be local breweries or will you be looking wider to source your products?

Have you spoken to the local breweries about your ideas? Are they supportive or concerned you'll eat into their own direct mail order sales? Living near to the Bermondsey Beer Mile (and a bit) I spend too much time chatting to the guys and most are really friendly, approachable, helpful and at the same time honest. Its likely they're a much better source of knowledge than this forum and are your future suppliers so you need to start building relationships with them.

J890000

[Deleted User] said:

Have you made a business plan, what set up costs have you anticipated, how will it be funded ?

As for business plan it is something I am writing up as we speak
, obviously need to make sure that it is going to be worth time and money and also currently putting feelers out to see what the local market would be like and if there would be any Interest. Funding once I have worked out my business plan and have some more clear figures this first part I am hoping to initially self fund with the idea that I will then use the (hopeful) success to help put towards a business loan to open up an actual premises 

J890000

Sandtree said:

You say you will just be selling locally, does that mean it'll also just be local breweries or will you be looking wider to source your products?

Have you spoken to the local breweries about your ideas? Are they supportive or concerned you'll eat into their own direct mail order sales? Living near to the Bermondsey Beer Mile (and a bit) I spend too much time chatting to the guys and most are really friendly, approachable, helpful and at the same time honest. Its likely they're a much better source of knowledge than this forum and are your future suppliers so you need to start building relationships with them.

I would be selling beers from all around the U. K which fortunately I have worked in the hospitality trade for the last 8 years of my professional career with the last 3 working in a professional brewery with a very popular taproom so  over this course have built many Contacts and experience in dealing with buying products

J890000

Sandtree said:

You say you will just be selling locally, does that mean it'll also just be local breweries or will you be looking wider to source your products?

Have you spoken to the local breweries about your ideas? Are they supportive or concerned you'll eat into their own direct mail order sales? Living near to the Bermondsey Beer Mile (and a bit) I spend too much time chatting to the guys and most are really friendly, approachable, helpful and at the same time honest. Its likely they're a much better source of knowledge than this forum and are your future suppliers so you need to start building relationships with them.

Also what a great place to live nearby.. Just a tad bit jealous. 

Sandtree

J890000 said:

Sandtree said:

You say you will just be selling locally, does that mean it'll also just be local breweries or will you be looking wider to source your products?

Have you spoken to the local breweries about your ideas? Are they supportive or concerned you'll eat into their own direct mail order sales? Living near to the Bermondsey Beer Mile (and a bit) I spend too much time chatting to the guys and most are really friendly, approachable, helpful and at the same time honest. Its likely they're a much better source of knowledge than this forum and are your future suppliers so you need to start building relationships with them.

Also what a great place to live nearby.. Just a tad bit jealous. 

It is, though its questionable if my mortgage or beer tab each month is the more painful.

I'm not yet sold on the idea of beer by subscription... too many stouts and sours etc that I am not keen on but certainly there are enough people trying to make it work. There is the one that claims to be using expert judgement on a personalised pack for you and giving discounts left right and centre (including on here) but their selection wasnt too exciting.

I did like some of the breweries that did a food (eg cheese) and beer pairing pack along with a live stream session, though again wasnt enough of a pull to get my card out my wallet

oldbikebloke

J890000 said:

Now i presume for this i will need a premises licence on a commercial property so i am able to sell to the public which i am looking to only be for off- sales with just local delivery (public will not be able to come pick up from the premises), does anyone have experience in what kind of property would be best and likely to be granted these permissions as i obviously want to keep cost as low as possible so have been looking into small unit spaces which are relatively cheap in which if granted i can store, pack and send the boxes from. Would something like a storage unit be able to be granted these permissions. 

I doubt anyone on here will be willing to share answers since they will be your competitors (there is no such thing as "local" when selling online)

I note your background and claim for contacts. Re licence this seems a reasonable start point for actual answers
.https://www.innpacked.com/sell-alcohol-online/#:~:text=To%20sell%20alcohol%20online%20you%20will%20require%20a%20Premises%20Licence,Designated%20Premises%20Supervisor%20(DPS).

as for commercial premises you will need to contact the vendors since they will know what planning restrictions apply to their own premises. 

In principle it may not need to be a commercial premises, it could be your home, but obviously getting a premises licence for that comes down to the attitude of your council and that is not something over which anyone else's experience is relevant unless they too are in your council area.

this makes amusing reading:
https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/threads/wholesale-distance-selling-alcohol-from-home.377849/

as for a bricks and mortar craft beer local off licence, the one in my nearest "big" town lasted 3 years before bankruptcy as it did not sell anything that could not be bought direct from the brewer for less or the same price. It was occasionally useful for draft keg beer for a party, but the price was astronomic particularly when the mirco breweries broke through to get their own distribution set ups  (or in the case of Hogs Back brewery went "mainstream" and got into supermarkets)

Sandtree

oldbikebloke said:
I doubt anyone on here will be willing to share answers since they will be your competitors (there is no such thing as "local" when selling online)

In the world of Covid a number of tap rooms and other specialists started selling online for the first time but only doing local delivery, at least in London. Natoora who only normally do restaurant trade deliveries opened their app up to anyone in up to zone 3 (think they have since expanded it) for example. 

Others that already have a national distribution network also started doing local deliveries... so Clearwater for a while you could order online for national delivery with dispatch by courier in 3-5 days and usual joys of DHL etc or if you were in 2 miles of their tap room you could get them to deliver it for free on a specified day (initially same day was available before it got too popular).

Bottleshops are difficult and whilst a romantic idea to run one, similarly a restaurant, I wouldnt like the reality. We have several around our way and a few have folded and others have lasted a long time... not sure the differentiaters. However the largest one that collapsed has spurred a lot of hard feelings as breweries weren't paid and some have postulated that it was intentionally run into the ground with the owners having done very nicely out of it. I've no idea the truth of the matter... official story was they lost a big trade account and a few important breweries refused to give credit which killed their cashflow. Was sad looking at all the great beers going to waste in their shuttered shop.