Harpers' Indies Uncovered research: consumers willing to spend more with indies

Published: 27 February, 2012

A fifth of shoppers at independent wine merchants are spending £30-£40 at a time on wine, according to Harpers' exclusive Indies Uncovered research.

A fifth of shoppers at independent wine merchants are spending £30-£40 at a time on wine, according to Harpers' exclusive Indies Uncovered research.

In the largest survey of the sector to date, more than 130 merchants across the country told Harpers that a mere 3% of customers spend less than £10 in a single purchase.

The results show consumer spending in the independent sector has not been curtailed by the economic downturn, with the average bottle spend at £8-£12 for 62% of wine merchants.

Shoppers are happy to dip into their pockets and spend a bit more in independently owned shops because they know the wines have been "hand-picked personally and we are passionate about what we sell", according to Matt Ellis from the Smiling Grape Company in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.

For more results and analysis, see this week's Harpers magazine.

The Specialist Importers Trade Tastings get underway this week - today in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and on Wednesday in London's Honorable Artillery Company. Visit sittastings.com for more information.

Printer friendly version