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.
Who are good website designers for drinks brands, and what tools or platforms work well?
Members recommend a mix of freelance designers with drinks-industry experience and DIY website builders depending on your needs. **Freelance designers with drinks background:** - **Simon at Greenbox** (simongreenbox@gmail.com) — South Africa-based, praised as easy to work with; has designed sites for El Rayo, Van Hunks, and Duppy - **Henry Davis** (https://henrydavis.design/) — specialises in web design and brand assets; recommended as "ace" by members - **Jonesinc.co.uk** — freelancer, former Creative Director at Hi-Spirits; described as "amazing" and experienced in the drinks industry (contact via DM) **DIY website builders:** - **Squarespace** — members report high-quality results, fast build times (one member completed a full site in 2 hours), and easy to use if you have design instincts. *Caveat:* basic e-commerce only; not recommended if you're planning serious DTC sales or need integration with other business tools. - **Carrd.co** — also flagged as a good option **Caveats:** If your site needs to function as a full e-commerce shop with integrations (inventory, accounting, etc.), Squarespace's limitations may force you toward a designer. Fiverr was mentioned but without endorsement. Members note that if you lack design skills or time, hiring a specialist (particularly someone with drinks-industry experience) is worth the investment.
Which industry awards should UK drinks brands prioritize entering?
The community consensus is to be selective with awards rather than enter everything — they're expensive and many feel like a racket. Members recommend focusing on the most recognized and credible ones: - **San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SF)** — consistently cited as a top-tier award worth entering; members mentioned having SF Gold medals - **IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition)** — listed among the most-recognized competitions - **Great Taste Awards** — included in the trio of awards members prioritize - **Spirits Business Awards / Scotch Masters** — mentioned with some hesitation; one member questioned whether the link to spirits press justifies the entry cost, leaning toward "probably not essential if you already have major awards" The broader advice: if you already have a major award like SF Gold, diminishing returns kick in fast. One member quoted the philosophy "the only award that matters is the empty bottle award" — i.e., repeat customers matter more than trophy collection. Budget and press relevance should guide your choices rather than trying to enter every available competition.