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.
Who can recommend a Shopify store designer or developer for drinks brands?
Members have recommended several reliable contacts for Shopify redesign work: - **Harry at Digital Touch** — currently working with a member, praised as "great". Contact: +44 7473 493007 or info@digitaltouch.org - **SBS** — described as "decent" for Shopify work - **Oliver (designer)** — oliver@middlename.co.uk was used by a member and can be approached for design work - **South Africa-based web agency** — highly recommended by multiple members for cost-effectiveness due to exchange rates, reported to have built "half of Kindred Shopify stores". Available via direct introduction from community members. Members suggest clarifying whether you need a designer, developer, or both before reaching out, as requirements differ. The South African agency option is worth exploring if budget is a priority.