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 drinks brands get listed on Amazon without their own premises license?
Getting on Amazon without a personal premises license is difficult but members have found a few workarounds—though none are straightforward. **Key approaches members have used:** - **Get a premises license in your own name** — One member resolved Amazon's rejection of their LCB storage license by applying for a premises license at their flat in their personal name rather than their Ltd Co, and Amazon eventually accepted it. They noted this required convincing the local council (in their case Lambeth) of the business case. - **Use a fulfilment/agency partner** — Members recommend **Rosetta Brands**, which handles Amazon compliance and fulfillment for brands; they offer tiered packages depending on SKU count and marketing spend. At least one member hired an agency to handle the Amazon application but they gave up after 2 months. Other members mention working with agencies but note it's "pay to play" and have shelved the idea as a result. Some members have been offered introductions to other "great" fulfilment companies via direct message that can handle this, though details remain confidential within the group. - **Try persistence and escalation** — One member reported success by resubmitting their application entirely in capital letters and getting approved; another noted that back in 2020, repeated escalation requests to a manager eventually worked. **Important caveats:** - Amazon's acceptance criteria are opaque and inconsistent. Multiple members have had applications rejected despite having valid premises and personal licenses in the correct name, and Amazon has refused to explain why. - Amazon's support is largely automated; you need to be doing £250k+ annually before a human account manager will engage with you. - Several members report their account managers have stopped responding to emails and describe the whole process as "frustrating" and "impossible to speak to anyone." - Even with premises licenses, some members' applications were rejected without clear explanation.
Is Amazon Vendor Central (1st party selling) worth pursuing, and what are the pros and cons?
Amazon Vendor Central, also known as 1st party selling, is generally considered worth pursuing. Here's what members reported: **Advantages:** - No stock issues — Amazon holds inventory - Access to promotional opportunities including Deal of the Day participation - Possibility of having a dedicated UK-based vendor manager (buyer) to discuss promotions and joint business plans **Disadvantages:** - Amazon may use pricing power to compress your margins — members warned they "might price gouge you for the privilege" Members recommended treating a Vendor Central email as a positive signal and exploring the opportunity, while being prepared to negotiate firmly on commercial terms.