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.
What payment solutions work well for face-to-face events and activations?
Members recommend several contactless payment options that work reliably at events without requiring dedicated card readers. **Apple Tap to Pay on iPhone** — simple to set up and use directly on your phone. **Square App** — members use this on their phones with no additional readers needed, making it straightforward for event payments. **DOJO** — praised for reliable connection and noted for having good personal customer service support available. **Revolut Tap and Pay on iPhone** — low-fee option that works via your phone. **Shopify POS** — another low-fee alternative mentioned by members. A key practical note: you can take payments without signal for up to 1 hour, which is valuable at events where connectivity may be spotty, though signal loss beyond that window becomes problematic.
What payment solutions work for taking card payments at events outside the UK?
When a UK PDQ terminal won't work at overseas events, members recommend checking with the importer or event organiser for local payment solutions. - **Revolut** — mentioned as a potential solution; worth exploring their international payment capabilities - **SumUp or Zettle (local versions)** — the importer often has access to a local version of these services, which can process payments and handle settlement back to you - **Importer support** — ask the importer you're working with at the event if they can provide a payment solution, as they typically have local payment infrastructure in place and can remit proceeds to you Caveat: The discussion was limited; members were still actively seeking solutions at the time of conversation, suggesting this remains a pain point for the community.
How do UK drinks companies set up Euro trading accounts for export customers?
Members recommend using **Wise** (formerly TransferWise) as the straightforward, cost-effective route. It's simple to set up a Euro account through their platform, with competitive exchange rates and low fees. The online interface is praised as user-friendly. Some members explored dedicated FX account providers but found that **Wise** offered comparable rates with a better digital experience, making it the preferred choice for most of the group. Members warned against services with excessive fees—one provider was flagged for charging 6-12%, which was considered prohibitively expensive compared to alternatives.