Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
How can we recruit sales staff and brand ambassadors for on-trade and regional positions in a competitive market?
Recruiting sales talent in the drinks industry is currently a candidates' market with significant shortages across the sector, even for larger producers. Members recommend these approaches: - **Direct community networking** — Post your needs in the Kindred Collective Slack/WhatsApp; members may have personal referrals or know candidates directly (peer-to-peer introductions have proven effective). - **Recruitment agencies** — Several members are currently using recruiters to fill sales and distillery roles due to the competitive landscape; specifics should be requested from members actively hiring. - **Regional targeting** — Members have successfully sourced candidates by publicly requesting recommendations for specific regions (e.g., East Anglia area), with positive responses from the network. **Important note:** Members emphasised that the current market is extremely tight and even large drinks brands are struggling to fill vacant positions. Be prepared for longer timelines and consider offering competitive terms. The group is willing to share recruiter contacts privately—reach out to members currently hiring.
How do you find part-time brand ambassadors or sampling representatives for specific geographic areas?
Members recommend leveraging your existing network first — direct outreach within the community often yields results, with contacts shared via DM when a relevant person is identified. **Geographic targeting**: When posting requests, specify your target area (e.g. London, Cambridge, West London, Buckinghamshire) to help members flag local contacts. Students are mentioned as ideal candidates for part-time sampling work due to flexibility. **Direct network approach**: Rather than external job boards, members use the Kindred Collective itself — post your requirement and let the community connect you with people they know personally or have worked with. This builds trust and gives you pre-vetted candidates. **Caveats**: The excerpts show responses were informal and relationship-based rather than pointing to a specific recruitment platform or agency.