Alcohol e-commerce is here to stay.
Experts predict that online alcohol sales will grow 20% over the next five years, which means that embracing this shift is make or break for your liquor store.
Using delivery apps and selling bottles online can significantly grow your customer base and revenue — but avoiding e-commerce could cost you hundreds of dollars in sales each month as these apps get more popular.
Whether you’re excited or apprehensive about this trend, one thing’s for sure: It isn’t going anywhere. Here’s what Kevin Patel, our liquor industry expert, says:
“As younger generations increasingly engage online and platforms like Amazon have become mainstream, customer expectations have shifted. Shopping from a phone or computer is now second nature. For liquor store owners who have traditionally relied on in-store business, expanding into online sales is no longer optional — it’s nonnegotiable.”
Ready to future-proof your liquor store and unlock higher earnings? Let’s dive in!
Many liquor store owners have decided against selling online because of common (and understandable) concerns.
They’re worried about protecting their liquor licenses, providing a consistent experience for online and in-store shoppers, and handling the increased workload that comes with e-commerce.
However, these fears shouldn’t hold you back from experimenting with liquor delivery apps. Let’s look at four things you need to know about selling online.
Many liquor store owners fear that selling online will reduce their in-store foot traffic, leaving them with an expensive retail lease and a stagnant customer service staff.
But experts report that e-commerce actually has a positive impact on in-store foot traffic, since 42% of online orders involve a physical store. For example, customers might use a delivery app to place a liquor pickup order, then come inside your store to grab mixers or cold beers.
You might worry that your loyal in-store shoppers will switch to online orders, but delivery apps are more likely to help you reach new customers who wouldn’t have visited your store in the first place.
Pro tip: In the e-commerce age, customers value excellent service and unique shopping experiences more than ever. Keep your in-store foot traffic high by continuing to provide expert recommendations, delicious cocktail recipes, and fun promotions and events.
Protecting your liquor license should be your top priority whether you’re selling online or in person, so it’s critical to know and comply with your state’s laws.
Here are a few steps to follow:
Above all, we recommend partnering with an app designed for alcohol delivery. Built-in compliance tools and processes make it easy to ensure every online sale is safe and legal.
Related Read: Do You Need a License To Sell Alcohol Online?
Who’s your toughest competition?
Whether it’s the big-box store down the road or the other locally-owned bottle shop in town, delivery apps can help you stand out and capture more sales.
Customers might be tempted to order from mega chains like Walmart or Costco since they offer one-day delivery on alcohol — but offering the same convenience can help you compete with these retail giants.
Plus, being the first local store on apps like DoorDash can help you become your neighborhood’s go-to business for liquor delivery.
Let’s address two of the biggest concerns about selling alcohol online: how much it costs and how long it will take.
While building a website from scratch and hiring a fleet of delivery drivers is impossible for most liquor store owners, delivery apps bridge the gap by making it a breeze to create a virtual storefront and transport bottles from the shelves to customers’ doors.
With delivery apps like DoorDash, all you have to do is set up your account, list products for sale, and fulfill orders when they come in. That’s it! DoorDash’s drivers will handle the rest — from picking up the orders to checking customers’ IDs upon delivery.
While you still have to pay a commission, usually between 15% and 30% per order, you can keep costs low through strategic markups on popular bottles or order minimums to maximize revenue.
We’ve explored the why behind selling online — now let’s talk about how to get started with delivery apps.
The most important step is choosing the right delivery app.
Our number-one tip is to look for a delivery app that integrates with your liquor store’s point of sale (POS) system. This lets you see data across your online and in-store operations — minimizing manual reconciliation and record keeping.
DoorDash is our top pick for liquor stores. Here’s why:
DoorDash is well-known for its user-friendly interface, and our team of liquor store experts is available to help. In short, selling online using a delivery app is likely much easier than you think.
There’s never been a better time to start selling online — and we’re here to help.
Bottle POS, our all-in-one POS solution, is designed specifically to help liquor store owners like you launch, manage, and grow their businesses. Along with all the essential features you need like secure payment processing, built-in age verification, and case-bottle inventory tracking, our software seamlessly integrates with DoorDash, helping you take advantage of the online alcohol trend.
Ready to take your business to the next level with Bottle POS and DoorDash? Schedule your personalized demo with one of our experts today!
Bottle POS was designed to be smart and simple. Instead of having hundreds of features that liquor store owners won't use, we concentrate on the features that really make a difference.
