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Creativity among independent retailers is not only a natural product of many proprietors’ entrepreneurial spirit, but increasingly a necessity to help them negotiate the laundry list of financial headwinds they face. Many indie merchants have shown great adaptability, both in terms of in-store and online retail settings, exploring new revenue streams and reinvigorating existing ones to help weather the storm.
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Published: 07 March, 2025
As the usual business headwinds seemingly turn to a howling gale, we once again
ask the independent merchants’ sector for their take on what the year ahead holds.
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Published: 10 January, 2025
Once again we reveal our 50 Best Indies, highlighting the most dynamic merchants in the wine and spirits world.
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Published: 08 January, 2025
Each year our 50 Best Indies entries reveal a wealth of innovative ideas and interesting initiatives. Ahead of the big reveal in January, we shared just some of those – both serious and more fun – that caught our eye.
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Published: 06 December, 2024
Next up in our end of year trade talking heads is Archie McDiarmid, manager at Luvians Bottleshop in St Andrews, as he reflects on a tough ride for the trade.
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Published: 04 December, 2024
Liberty Wines’ first ever Independent Off-Trade Wine Report paints a cautiously optimistic picture for the future. Jo Gilbert reports
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Published: 22 November, 2024
Entrepreneur, cheese enthusiast and media personality Jessica Summer has opened her first shop and bar in the London Borough of Harrow.
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Published: 15 October, 2024
The government’s proposed ‘biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation’ could stifle job creation in independent shops and place further financial pressures on already struggling retailers, the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has warned.
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Published: 02 October, 2024
With costs up and margins squeezed, Andrew Catchpole assesses the pros and cons of sharing on smaller shipments of wine.
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Published: 30 August, 2024
With a generational fall-off hitting the trade, Andrew Catchpole looks at what steps indie merchants are taking to pull in younger punters.
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Published: 28 August, 2024
The National President of the Fed (Federation of Independent Retailers) has written to the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade to highlight the impact of higher wages on smaller businesses.
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Published: 21 August, 2024
Amathus, the drinks importer, distributor and retailer, is expanding its retail presence from nine to 14 locations, with the introduction of its first Wine Warehouse in East Sheen, South West London.
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Published: 21 August, 2024
For the thirteenth year running, July saw the UK trade dedicating the month to German Riesling, with 135 venues nationwide participating in a series of events, including German Riesling masterclasses, in-store promotions, wine dinners and social media initiatives.
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Published: 02 August, 2024
James Lawrence looks to the evolving role of indie buying groups in response to recent trends.
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James Lawrence finds that ‘hybrid’ wine shops with a food and drink-in offer are not always a panacea.
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In the second of our spring indie surveys, Andrew Catchpole invited feedback on service and the foibles of the punter.
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Yapp Brothers is to leave it’s Wiltshire HQ this month for new premises in Somerset, marking a milestone in the company’s 55-year history,
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The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is calling on independent retailers to participate in a brief survey regarding the scheduled end of the temporary wine duty easement next February. This measure, introduced in August 2023 as part of the government's alcohol duty review, allows wines with an alcohol content between 11.5% and 14.5% abv to be taxed at a standardised rate of 12.5% abv. Once the easement ends, wines will be taxed based on their actual alcoholic strength.
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Published: 28 March, 2024
After over one hundred years of being a wine-front merchant, a spirits fascia bearing the name Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) is days away from opening to the public on the hallowed pavements of St James’.
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Published: 04 March, 2024
Andrew Catchpole drops in on ‘H’ at east London’s very individual Wapping Wines.
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