Advice for a new Merchant !

[vinvinodirect]

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Hi - we're looking at starting an Affiliate programme for Vin Vino Direct (Midlands internet wine retailer) - I'd be very interested in advice on who the best providers may be for the UK market, and some of the pitfalls to watch out for !
More specifically...
1. Pro's and cons of various Networks ...who should we talk to first !
2. Competition in the drink / wine sector at the affiliate level
3. How does our website "www.vinvinodirect.com" stack up on 'attractiveness' to Affiliates"

cheers, Paul
Founder

A little bit more about ourselves -
Vin Vino Direct is probably the Midlands latest best-kept wine secret ! ...

1. Vin Vino Direct Ltd, are a very young and enthusiastic internet wine merchant based in the Midlands …we specialise in offering the retail public genuinely exclusive wines – in fact almost 1,000 different wines. Our launch in Oct'06 has finally made some previously exclusive and boutique wines widely available to the wine drinking public in the UK.
2. From Petit Château to Classified Growths, we are proud to have the most all-embracing range of Clarets in the UK on our web-site, starting from just £6.80, with over two hundred different wines from Bordeaux alone, with numerous Château exclusive to us – these are all available now to our retail customers. The foundation of our business is further supported with a staggering range of exclusive European agency wines. As our importer works closely with talented young growers and winemakers from the very best regions of France, Italy and Spain, we are the only online wine merchant in the UK who can offer these exclusive wines to the retail public.
3. Through monthly newsletters, wine tastings and regular discounts/offers, we have worked hard to ensure that our customers receive excellent service and value for money – for example, we have partnered with Amtrak and are using their specialised ‘WineTrak’ service to ensure that a customers order is cared for throughout the delivery process.

[drivetowin]

Hi Paul

Welcome to the forum.

On first glance your site looks attractive to affiliates with no glaring leakage points.

Wine merchants have traditionally done relatively well from their affiliate programmes.

I will drop you a PM with some more comments.

I will drop you a PM with some other points

[Dave@Profitistic]

Hi Paul,

Just a quick question...

How is your pricing compared to the competiton on your non-eclusive range?

[vinvinodirect]

David,
With regards to the pricing, we're in a luck position in that the wines that our importer brings into the country are are 95% 'sole supplier' - i.e. we are the only UK merchant selling these wines, which does make them exclusive. Branded Champagnes for example, we are very close to the normal (non-offer) prices you'll find on a Tesco shelf.
hope this helps,

Paul