Standing Out Against Other Local Liquor Stores: 6 Strategies

When customers crave an ice-cold beer or their favorite cocktail, they have lots of options. They can pick up their favorite bottles from big-box players like Total Wine, convenience stores, and other locally-owned liquor stores in the area.

This means you need to give customers a reason to choose your store over the competition.

In this blog, we’ll explore six ways to draw shoppers away from other liquor retailers, win them over, and keep them coming back. Let’s dive right in!

1. Start With Your Inventory

When a customer walks into your liquor store, they know exactly what they’re looking for — whether it’s their go-to bottle of Jim Beam or a celebration-worthy champagne.

That’s why our number-one tip is to make sure your selection meets (or exceeds) their expectations. If it doesn’t, they’ll turn to one of your competitors, and they might not give you another chance.

Here are three tips to create a winning product selection:

Stock popular options: Keep a close eye on industry trends and your store’s sales reports to ensure you carry the most popular beers, wines, and liquors. Stock year-round favorites like Tito’s and Maker’s Mark, as well as seasonal picks like Sam Adams Cold Snap, fruit-forward spring wines, and cinnamon-infused spirits.

Avoid stockouts: Empty shelves take a significant toll on your sales and reputation. If you can’t keep customers’ favorites in stock, they’ll rely on the store down the street. Use your liquor store's point of sale (POS) system’s real-time tracking, automated purchase orders, and low-stock alerts to maintain the perfect balance of inventory.

Offer unique products: Keeping bestsellers in stock is the foundation for steady liquor store sales, but rare and trending bottles can truly set you apart. Consider partnering with local distilleries, breweries, and wineries to offer a curated selection that customers can’t find anywhere else.

Remember: Stocking the right products — including well-known bestsellers and rare, luxury bottles — is the best way to keep customers coming back.

2. Offer Pickup and Delivery

Delivery apps have transformed the liquor store landscape. Instead of trekking to your liquor store, customers can browse your aisles virtually and have their favorite beers, wines, spirits, and mixers delivered right to their door.

Creating a virtual storefront in a delivery app like DoorDash can give you a significant edge over the competition. DoorDash has millions of daily users, giving you the opportunity to reach and sell to a completely new demographic.

Selling online might sound intimidating, but setups like the DoorDash X Bottle POS integration make it a breeze. This integration allows you to sync your inventory list, stock levels, and prices between your POS system and online storefront — saving you time and ensuring you turn a profit on every order.

3. Adjust Your Open Hours

Which liquor store will busy customers choose after work: the one that closes at 6 p.m., or the one that closes three hours later at 9 p.m.? Your store’s hours might seem like a small detail, but they can be a major differentiator.

Opening a little earlier or closing later than the competition can help you build customer loyalty — especially with the after-work shopping crowd.

Of course, expanding your open hours comes with extra work and higher labor costs, so experiment with different opening and closing times. For example, try opening an hour earlier on Saturday mornings and closing an hour later on Thursday and Friday evenings, then check your POS system’s sales reports to see if it’s worth the time and money.

4. Offer Outstanding Customer Service

When customers visit a local, independently-owned store like yours, they expect stellar customer service. Guiding them to the perfect white wine for a dinner party, offering your bourbon expertise, or pointing out your personal favorite products can help you turn one-time shoppers into lifelong customers.

Your employees are the face of your liquor store, so make sure they have the training they need to provide top-notch customer service and expert liquor and wine recommendations. This training should be ongoing rather than a one-time effort to keep them up to date on your latest offerings and promotions.

Making personalized recommendations is another way to set your liquor store apart. Use your POS software’s customer relationship management (CRM) system to track purchase history and keep detailed notes of each shopper’s preferences. This gives you and your team the information you need to make tailored recommendations.

5. Host In-Store Events

Events are a win-win strategy for liquor stores. They serve as a powerful marketing tool to bring new customers through your door — and they also help you stand out from other liquor retailers in the area.

Tasting events, mixology classes, or holiday and seasonal-themed celebrations give you the opportunity to connect with the community, showcase your product selection, and make more sales.

Use your social media pages, email or SMS newsletter, and in-store signage to promote them. Don’t forget to offer special discounts and promotions to turn attendees into paying customers.

6. Spruce Up Your Layout and Displays

Our final tip is to make sure customers can find exactly what they’re looking for through smart display choices. Cramped aisles, confusing product categories, and cluttered shelves make for a less-than-excellent shopping experience — driving customers toward big-name chains.

To make their stops quicker and easier, focus on:

Clear signage: Guide customers to tequilas, bourbons, and mixers using overhead signage.
Cross-selling: Drive sales and create a more convenient shopping experience by displaying related items next to each other, like champagne and disposable flutes or tequila and margarita mix.
Trending and impulse items: Place impulse items like disposable cups, airplane bottles, and canned ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails near the checkout counter.

A smart floor plan and well-designed displays can boost sales and customer satisfaction.

Crush the Competition With the Right Liquor Store POS System

Ready to put these strategies to work in your liquor store? Let’s make sure you have the right tools.

Bottle POS, our all-in-one liquor store POS software, includes all the features you need to stock the right products, create the perfect shopping experience, and stay profitable, including: