Nearly a quarter of all retail purchases now happen outside the walls of a physical store.
If your liquor store hasn’t caught up with this massive shift toward e-commerce, you could be losing customers and sales to your tech-savvy competitors.
But have no fear: we’re here to help you master the art of selling liquor online. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about launching your online liquor store, including how to stay compliant with the law, build your website, and manage orders like a pro.
Selling Liquor Online: The Sales-Boosting Benefits
One key benefit of selling liquor online is that it expands your store’s potential customer base beyond the nearby area.
While your local customers will certainly still enjoy convenient pickup and delivery options, the world of e-commerce allows shoppers across the country to browse your curated selection of spirits and patronize your small business.
This larger customer base will bring higher sales, boosting your liquor store’s overall bottom line.
Selling liquor online also acts as a marketing strategy by increasing your store’s visibility. When potential customers head to their browser to search for a nearby liquor store, your business is more likely to appear in their search results if you have an e-commerce website.
To recap, let’s take a look at the main reasons why you should consider selling liquor online:
- Expand your liquor store’s customer base
- Make more sales
- Give your customers a more convenient shopping experience
- Build your liquor store’s online presence
Now, let’s explore how you can make these benefits a reality for your liquor store.
1. Understand the Laws Regulating Online Liquor Sales
The most important part of your liquor e-commerce plan is legal compliance.
Failing to follow all federal, state, and local laws regarding alcohol sales can be disastrous, with consequences ranging from hefty fines to the loss of your store’s liquor license.
Laws that specifically regulate online alcohol sales vary from state to state, so do your research before taking your first steps to launch your e-commerce site. Here are a few key topics to look into as you research:
- Which types of beverages can you sell? Some states allow all alcohol to be sold via e-commerce, while others restrict online sales to wine only.
- Do you need a special license? You might need an additional license or permit to sell liquor online in your area.
- What quantity restrictions apply? Some states limit the quantity of alcohol you’re able to sell via e-commerce.
- How will you verify customers’ ages? You need a solid plan in place to prevent online liquor sales to customers under the age of 21.
Taking the time to fully understand these laws will ensure you’re set up for success and ready to legally sell liquor online.
2. Invest in the Right Liquor Point of Sale and E-Commerce Software
Now that you’ve done your prep work to understand the laws and regulations governing online liquor sales, it’s time to talk logistics.
Selling liquor online requires one critical tool: A powerful point of sale (POS) system with e-commerce integration, an all-in-one system that lets you make in-person and online sales.
Since selling liquor online comes with unique challenges like age verification and complex inventory management, we recommend choosing a POS and e-commerce solution designed specifically for liquor stores. Here are the main features your system should include:
- Real-time inventory tracking that ensures that your customers’ favorite spirits are always available
- A built-in loyalty program that rewards customers every time they shop with you, whether they stop by your store or place an online order
- Reporting and analytics tools that show you how your store is performing overall and give you insights into your shoppers’ preferences and habits
- Built-in age verification that keeps your store’s liquor license in good standing
The right POS system and e-commerce platform should make selling liquor online effortless, enabling you to grow your loyal customer base, make more sales, and keep your business running smoothly.
3. Spruce up Your Liquor Inventory Management Strategy
One of the most common pitfalls when it comes to selling liquor online is inventory management.
Between your in-person and online shoppers, bottles will be flying off the shelves — which is why you need to revamp your inventory strategy.
Here are a few tips to keep your store well-stocked:
- Rely on a POS and e-commerce solution with stock tracking that accounts for your in-store and online sales.
- Simplify your restocking process by leveraging your POS system’s automated purchase order and receiving features.
- Optimize your inventory strategy using your sales reports to stock more of what your customers want and less of what they don’t.
Implementing a strong inventory management plan at the same time you launch your e-commerce site will prevent costly stockouts, keep your customers satisfied, and protect your store’s bottom line.
Start Selling Liquor Online With Bottle POS
Ready to start your liquor e-commerce journey? We can help!
Bottle POS is a powerful POS solution designed for liquor stores just like yours. With seamless e-commerce integration, robust inventory management tools, a built-in customer loyalty program, and insightful reporting, Bottle POS has everything you need to make selling liquor online a breeze.
Chat with one of our liquor industry experts about how Bottle POS can help you get into the e-commerce game by scheduling a live, personalized demo today.
