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.
Is Faire an effective platform for drinks brands to reach UK and international retailers?
Members report that Faire presence alone generates minimal organic traction—you must actively drive your own sales through the platform. Faire works best as a commission-based sales channel rather than a passive listing. **Key findings from members' experience:** - **Faire listing** — Several brands (including English Whisky Co and Bloody Bens) are listed but report zero to minimal organic inbound interest; one member got a single sample request from a small US shop despite being on the platform for a couple of years. - **Commission model** — Faire charges commission on sales, which members noted as a trade-off for access to their retailer network. - **Active promotion required** — The only traction members achieved came from their own marketing and relationship-building efforts, not from Faire's organic discovery. Passive listing does not drive sales. - **Platform limitations** — Members question whether Faire has meaningful UK retailer presence, suggesting the platform may skew toward international (especially US) retailers rather than domestic stockists. **Caveats:** The sample size is small and experience is mixed; some brands may have different results depending on category, price point, or active engagement. Faire appears to work best as one channel among many rather than a primary wholesale route.
Should a local drinks brand participate in major food and drink trade fairs like Blenheim Palace, and what ROI factors should we consider?
Trade fair participation ROI depends heavily on geography and overhead costs. The key decision factor is whether the additional costs of accommodation, travel, and subsistence can be justified by expected sales and connections. **What members found:** - **Blenheim Palace Food Fair** — avoid unless you're locally based with minimal travel costs. Members advise against participating if you face significant accommodation and subsistence overheads, as these quickly erode any fair-related revenue. **Strategic consideration:** If you're operating from your local area already (e.g. London, Brighton, East Sussex), the fair becomes more viable since you avoid hotel and travel expenses. If you're further afield, the cost barrier is much higher and needs very strong pre-planned leads or retailer targets to justify attendance. **Note:** The discussion didn't contain detailed ROI calculations, lead conversion data, or cost breakdowns from other specific fairs members had tried. For rigorous planning, members should model: booth costs, travel/accommodation per team member, expected meetings/leads, and realistic conversion timelines.