tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post3289470675832496930..comments2023-10-15T16:28:31.347+01:00Comments on The Joseph Report: Requiem for Slurp. What lessons do the collapse of a glitzy online wine retail website have for UK independents..?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-28344289029142215652013-07-01T12:21:07.216+01:002013-07-01T12:21:07.216+01:00Not undercutting the trade customer is key - as an...Not undercutting the trade customer is key - as any sensible winery with cellar door sales knows.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-78985802492843059302013-07-01T11:03:10.682+01:002013-07-01T11:03:10.682+01:00Good points Robert, which i agree with and it is p...Good points Robert, which i agree with and it is plain to see why a wholesaler would see a retail arm as an attractive add on. Bibendum do both, but their retail arm's prices rarely undercut the RRP of their trade customers (summer & winter sales excepted)Adrian Bucknallhttp://www.wineunearthed.co.uk/Wine-Tasting-London.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-80434755805780299802013-07-01T08:40:16.369+01:002013-07-01T08:40:16.369+01:00The problem, Adrian, is that the UK environment is...The problem, Adrian, is that the UK environment is basically a very difficult one. It's easy to look at the independents as an attractive market, but they're hard to service:<br />a) there are around 1000 serious independents few of whom can buy significant volumes of any wine. To sell a bottle a day of any premium wine would be extraordinary - but that would only represent 25 cases.<br /Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-82448404792623840532013-06-30T18:52:18.487+01:002013-06-30T18:52:18.487+01:00Re the last point, I use Enotria as one of my supp...Re the last point, I use Enotria as one of my suppliers at wine tastings and like their wine range - my prime business is not selling wine, so being 'undercut' by Great Western is less of an issue for me , but i can imagine that a number of independents that Enotria supply will not be too impressed if Enotria use Great Western as a shopfront for their whole range Adrian Bucknallhttp://www.wineunearthed.co.uk/Wine-Tasting-London.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-60538465492085774292013-06-27T07:10:35.787+01:002013-06-27T07:10:35.787+01:00Yes, it was a faulty model in more ways than one.....Yes, it was a faulty model in more ways than one...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-88986968452013040292013-06-27T07:10:09.076+01:002013-06-27T07:10:09.076+01:00And doing so very well...
And doing so very well...<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-51497993967137454432013-06-27T06:59:01.410+01:002013-06-27T06:59:01.410+01:00Thanks for a great response Damien. It's also ...Thanks for a great response Damien. It's also interesting to see that Jeremy Howard is now running Slurp Hong Kong.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-9830251992742018932013-06-26T09:48:55.087+01:002013-06-26T09:48:55.087+01:00Great Western is now retailing Enotria's list ...Great Western is now retailing Enotria's list with big discounts and a low threshold for free deliveryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-16224220554048152692013-06-25T19:23:44.823+01:002013-06-25T19:23:44.823+01:00Perhaps one of Slurp's mistakes was to rely he...Perhaps one of Slurp's mistakes was to rely heavily on on-trade suppliers' wines for their catalogue. Wines that are a hand-sell with sommeliers, let alone from a simple web-based interface. That and the fact they were often operating at 10%GP; a fact I often pointed out to my suppliers - not good when an account can buy from Slurp (inc VAT) at a lower price from said supplier's DPD (Free Run Juice - Damienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06330378809564209208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-36105589114497965692013-06-25T18:08:57.695+01:002013-06-25T18:08:57.695+01:00Thanks Richard. We'll see. Small limited cuvée...Thanks Richard. We'll see. Small limited cuvées may well remain the preserve of indies in the UK - but Costco has showed that it can buy - and sell - those kinds of wines in the US.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-52876662067569996162013-06-25T18:06:51.616+01:002013-06-25T18:06:51.616+01:00I agreeI agreeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-68854419913055986942013-06-25T18:06:37.510+01:002013-06-25T18:06:37.510+01:00Different strokes for different folks. Whatever wo...Different strokes for different folks. Whatever works for you and your customers...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-26666611587768276602013-06-25T18:04:15.985+01:002013-06-25T18:04:15.985+01:00I've seen the same thing - and been similarly ...I've seen the same thing - and been similarly impressed by the enthusiasm of the attendees.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-13615359481538183962013-06-25T18:03:17.579+01:002013-06-25T18:03:17.579+01:00Thanks PeterThanks PeterAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-90374721151081709822013-06-25T18:03:05.032+01:002013-06-25T18:03:05.032+01:00Thanks Jonathan. And as I say, bear in mind the wa...Thanks Jonathan. And as I say, bear in mind the way that companies can shape-shift. Tesco could own a chain of wine shops, just as it now owns a chain of garden centres (Dobbies) and family-friendly restaurants (Giraffe).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-29955095760793079402013-06-25T14:00:52.812+01:002013-06-25T14:00:52.812+01:00Excellent piece, Robert. Irrespective of one'...Excellent piece, Robert. Irrespective of one's wine preferences, the wine sector is business. It's just often not run like one. <br /><br />Your point about the romance of wine is underplayed. There are far too many examples of Indies focusing on the fine wine market, and failing. Just to add to your examples, remember a certain Lot (which will remain nameless) of business that tried to WineBusProfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07092414614291970610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-38093180313362598662013-06-25T09:36:17.953+01:002013-06-25T09:36:17.953+01:00Richard W. H. Bray @RWHBray wrote on Twitter
@rob...<b>Richard W. H. Bray @RWHBray wrote on Twitter </b><br />@robertjoseph @mattwallswine @winematcher The most successful independents in last decade succeeded because they knew not to compete with the supermarkets, but to simply provide the best possible experience (and selection) the idea of the supermarkets actively taking them on on their own ground is scary, but I’m not sure Tesco and the likeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-75732452769680489562013-06-25T09:34:10.282+01:002013-06-25T09:34:10.282+01:00Matt Walls @mattwallswine
@winematcher @robertjose...<b>Matt Walls @mattwallswine<br />@winematcher @robertjoseph wrote on Twitter </b> Great piece Robert. Naked Wines held very differently in the view of its customers vs Slurp though I suspect.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-29638335137036879102013-06-25T09:33:38.964+01:002013-06-25T09:33:38.964+01:00Planet of the Grapes @planetotgrapes wrote on Twit...<b>Planet of the Grapes @planetotgrapes wrote on Twitter </b><br />Planet of the Grapes @planetotgrapes<br />@winematcher @robertjoseph @NakedWines some of us indys dont fret about our websites, we like to drink with our customers. Much more fun!some of us indys dont fret about our websites, we like to drink with our customers. Much more fun!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-21214286105450718382013-06-25T09:32:45.290+01:002013-06-25T09:32:45.290+01:00Fiona Beckett @winematcher wrote on Twitter
Intere...<b>Fiona Beckett @winematcher wrote on Twitter</b><br />Interesting. Have just been to a v well attended (400+) @NakedWines tasting in Bristol. They're clearly doing something rightAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-89332799398184663562013-06-25T09:31:37.589+01:002013-06-25T09:31:37.589+01:00Sally Marden replied on Facebook The second genuin...<b>Sally Marden replied on Facebook</b> The second genuine laugh I've had today. (I live a slow life.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-35528390619954698492013-06-25T09:31:04.071+01:002013-06-25T09:31:04.071+01:00Chris Kassel wrote on Facebook Also a lesson for ...<b>Chris Kassel wrote on Facebook </b> Also a lesson for the caffeine industry, which is why I have patented a smokable form of coffee. Crystalline, fully-legal crack caffeine. All the uplifting energy buzz without having to go wee-wee every ten minutes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-52527678285996031082013-06-25T09:30:25.773+01:002013-06-25T09:30:25.773+01:00Chris Kassel Bears replied on Facebook ??? I thou...<b>Chris Kassel Bears replied on Facebook </b> ??? I thought it was the Pope.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-28211514331214886862013-06-25T09:29:44.717+01:002013-06-25T09:29:44.717+01:00Not precisely Mark. My point is that if you can co...Not precisely Mark. My point is that if you can combine convenience and quality you can score. I have reservations about Nespresso, but the coffee tastes good and reliable and it's as simple as instant. Or nearly. The wine industry revels in being inconvenient. From the need for a corkscrew downwards... And a lot of the inconvenience has nothing to do with the quality of the stuff in the Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31735534.post-53385084848684440602013-06-25T09:29:29.290+01:002013-06-25T09:29:29.290+01:00The Sampler is a VERY different model to Slurp. I ...The Sampler is a VERY different model to Slurp. I love it too, but I'm not sure how scaleable it is - any more than I can imagine opening a chain of Vinoteca wine bar-restaurants. I'd say that the Sampler fits directly into my first point - of indies having to fear other good indies: I wouldn't want to be a less interesting Kensington wine retailer along the road from the Sampler.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489507739203968378noreply@blogger.com