If you own a beer & wine stop, you know you can't ignore the potential of online sales.
And given the shift in modern customers' shopping habits (which includes a hefty preference for online shopping), you have to adapt. You need to bring your store to your customers.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get your beer & wine stop online, seamlessly.
Why Take Your Beer & Wine Stop Online?
Let’s start with the basics: Why should you take your beer & wine stop online in the first place?
Customers value convenience, which means you need to give them as many options as possible to make a purchase from your business. An omnichannel shopping experience opens up more opportunities for sales — and if that experience includes an online store, you’ll reach even more customers than you would if you simply stuck to your brick-and-mortar shop.
1. Set the Stage
Before you set up shop online, you need to establish a solid foundation. This includes understanding your customers, their behaviors and preferences, and tailoring your online services accordingly.
For example, do your customers prefer rare brews and exquisite wines? Or do they like more mainstream, commercial brands? Do they shop during special occasions, or are they frequent buyers? This will help you anticipate their needs and have ready solutions.
2. Identify the Key Components
Bringing your beer & wine stop online is not only about creating a website and listing your products. You need a system that can handle inventory, process payments, manage deliveries, and perhaps most importantly, provide a seamless customer experience.
Let's dive a little deeper into what this look like:
- Reliable E-Commerce Platform: This is where customers interact with your products. A clunky and unattractive site will turn them away in a flash. Make sure to invest in a user-friendly platform that's easy to navigate, has clear product descriptions and sparkling images, and has a secure, smooth checkout process.
- Inventory Management: Your platform needs to keep accurate inventory counts. The last thing you want is customers placing orders for products that are out of stock.
- Secure Payment Processing: Ensure your customers' financial data is safe. Integrating secure payment options such as debit and credit card transactions, and Apple and Google Pay, makes customers comfortable with your platform.
- Prompt Fulfillment: Integrate an order fulfillment system that supports both pickup and delivery options. This enhances the customer experience, fostering loyalty and repeat business.
3. Don’t Stop at Sales
Remember that online selling platforms aren't just about sales; they're also about connecting and creating a community with your customers! Think of online reviews and ratings, announcements about new products and special deals — maybe even a blog about various topics like teaching customers how to appreciate craft beers, or how different types of wine grapes produce distinctive varietal characters.
4. Automate the Process
Getting your beer & wine stop online might seem challenging — and it can be if you're not using the right tools. That's where a solid point of sale (POS) solution comes into play.
Look for a POS system that has an integrated e-commerce platform. This provides a one-stop-shop for managing your beer & wine stop's online presence, with real-time inventory updates — ensuring no customer is left disappointed.
You don't have to worry about late-night sales, either. Thanks to a built-in automatic purchase order system, each product's stock level is well maintained. And when it comes to keeping your customers in the loop, the real-time dashboard notifications come in handy, broadcasting up-to-date info about special offers or limited stock.
Set Up Your Online Beer & Wine Stop With Bottle POS
To keep up with the competition in the competitive beer & wine industry, you need to have the right tools in place — and that includes an industry-specific point of sale system.
But embracing an online store isn’t just about crushing your competitors — it’s about expanding your reach, connecting with your customers, and improving your services.
If you’re ready to get your online beer & wine stop up and running, schedule a demo to see how Bottle POS (and our e-commerce platform BottleZoo) can seamlessly smooth out the process today!
