real life business stories – Hebridean Spirits & Liqueurs

Show Distributor Meeting in Shifnal

Our 2022 Show Distributor Meeting was held last week. Update on new products, brands update, whisky sampling and cocktail party prior to Dinner.

We have been running these get togethers for many years and as they prove to be popular, will continue to do so. Hospitality is provided by Hebridean Spirts and Liqueurs. for newer Distributors, it’s an ideal opportunity to see what everyone has been doing to maximise Show sales. Only Distributors who are actively trading attend.

Here is some background to what is involved;

Available for new Show Distributors are these county groups:

Business Summary

Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales
Hereford & Worcester, South Wales
Surrey, East & West Sussex, Kent

Hebridean Spirits & Liqueurs sell direct to the public at consumer shows all around Great Britain, via Show Distributors.

View our brands on our Website:

www.hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk

The benefits of owning and running one of our Show Distributor businesses are:

Pre-start meeting to discuss Show plans and experience the brands
Steady, regular income from selling direct to consumers
In business for yourself, but not by yourself – we help you to get started and there is no pressure on you to sell more or do extra events
Designated area with full training package
Free Annual Distributor Training Day including Accommodation, Dinner, Breakfast and refreshments – meet other Distributors and exchange sales ideas. This is only for trading Show Distributors
Good margins – tasting stock supplied free so your markup is protected
No purchase or ongoing fees – all you pay for is the stock
Money back guarantee on unsold stock – no danger of being left with a garage full of unwanted goods

What else do I need to know?

No licence fees or ongoing marketing charges to pay

The Show Distributor signs Licence to sell our Brands in a specified area

All the materials required to sell the Liqueurs at a show are supplied, free of charge:

o Graphics and marketing materials

o Sample glasses and sample bottles of spirits & liqueurs

o Bags for the customers to take their purchases home

o Branded clothing to establish a professional image

The Show Distributor chooses which shows to attend, pays for them and obtains a liquor licence as appropriate. We help with this and it is a straightforward process.

Orders stock from the Hebridean Spirits & Liqueurs to be delivered prior to each show.

Depending on the size and number of shows the Show Distributor is attending, an outlay of £2,000 to £3,000 is required to get started and to keep trading.

All stock is paid for prior to each show and are delivered to you free of charge.

We offer a full sale or return guarantee on all stock.

What type of person is a Show Distributor?

Perhaps between jobs, have some spare time, retired or semi-retired with a desire to do something fun to stay busy and earn some extra income. The difference here is that as a Show Distributor, you have control over when you attend events – no-one else decides when you are to work.

Maybe working full time but looking for extra cash to make ends meet and able to spare one or two days a month at weekends.

Someone who;

would like an independent income
enjoys meeting people and getting paid for it
likes feeling useful
bored being retired

Previous occupations of our Show Distributors include Headmaster, Petrol station owner, Salesman, Computer analyst, Policeman, Business owner, Promotional staff company owner, Warehouse Manager, IT Manager, Ex Forces

Most of our Show Distributors Earn between £5,000 and £10,000 per year by selling our range of Spirits & Liqueurs at consumer shows. To achieve this level of income most of our Show Distributors will work on average, two days per month.

If you are interested please call 01436-679935 and ask for Roy Lewis, or send an Email to roylewis@hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk

Shows in North West and The Lakes coming up

Show coming up in North West England

Here are some of the events that John and Margaret Fullalove, Show Distributors for Cumbria and Lancashire, are attending over the next month or so;

30 April/1 May, Morecambe Festival.

15 May, Hoghton Tower Farmers Market, south of Preston.

21 May, Otley Show, Yorkshire.

28/ 29/ 30 May, Chipping Steam Fair, east of Preston.

4/5 June, Country Fest on The Westmorland County Showground, south of Kendal.

18/19 June, Scorton Steam Fair, south of Lancaster.

25/26 June, Fylde Farm and Vintage Show, not far from Blackpool.

If you would like to know other events they are doing, please call them on; 07985 924782

Whisky Advent Calendar coming soon…

Whisky Advent Calendar launching soon

At last here’s a way for the whisky enthusiast to entre into the Christmas spirit. The Whisky advent calendar features 25 x 5cl (a proper miniature) of mainly single cask whiskies specially sourced and bottled for this fine offering. The cask come from five well known Independent Bottlers and most are not available in any other presentation, 70cl or 50cl.

There are two options, the standard and the Collector’s Edition in rosewood – both have the same whiskies for each day in December, including Christmas day.

More details to come with pictures.

It will be available to purchase on our website soon.

Any questions, just call Roy Lewis on 01436-679935

Calvay Mist sales increase – buy some before this rare blend runs out

Calvay Mist Whisky Galore style whisky sales increase

This past few weeks we have seen a big increase in the sales of the 5 year old 1940′ style Calvay Mist blend. You can buy it direct via our Amazon site of our own website too.

Here is the story that is behind it;

Calvay Mist replicates the look and style of the whisky which was the cargo on the S.S. Politician.
This is the famous ‘Whisky Galore’ ship that ran aground on the Outer Hebrides during the Second World War and is an opportunity to savour a 1940’s whisky at a reasonable cost.

On the 3rd February 1941 the freighter SS Politician sailed from Liverpool, England for Jamaica via New Orleans. Along with fur coats, Jamaican currency and material from the British War Office, 21,000 cases of Scotch Whisky nestled in her cargo hold.

Her route took her north to Scotland and there, two days out of Liverpool, her voyage ended. As she sailed into the Sound of Eriskay among the remote islands of the Outer Hebrides, the ‘Polly’ ran aground on Calvay Island. When the inhabitants of the neighbouring small islands of Barra, Eriskay and South Uist discovered the Politician’s cargo included whisky, they didn’t miss their opportunity.

The islanders proceeded to ‘rescue’ over 9,000 Cases of whisky under the very noses of His
Majesty’s Customs and Excise officials.

Sir Compton McKenzie, the writer, spent the War years on Barra. After the War he immortalized the events surrounding the shipwreck in his novel “Whisky Galore”. A Subsequent film of the same title secured a place in Scottish folklore for the “Whisky Galore” story.

Not all the whisky was recovered in 1941 and some stayed under the waters for 50 years. The Scottish company SS Politician PLC was formed to salvage the remaining
bottles.

Show Distributors-still looking for good people

Thinking of becoming one of our Show Distributors? If so then this Blog gives you an idea of what is involved.

Most of our Show Distributors Earn £5k to £10k per year by selling at public events. To achieve this level of income most of our Show Distributors will work two days per month.

Many counties already have a Show Distributor in place. There are often too many events to attend in some Show Distributor areas – contact us even if it looks like your area is taken and we may be able to accommodate you.

Hebridean Spirits & Liqueurs sells liqueurs direct to the public via Show Distributors, all round Great Britain at consumer shows.

View our brands on our Website: www.hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk

The benefits of owning and running one of our Show Distributor businesses are:

Pre-start meeting to discuss Show plans and experience the brands
Steady, regular income from selling direct to consumers
In business for yourself, but not by yourself – we help you to get started
Exclusive area with full training package carried out at a Show
Free Distributor Training Day including Accommodation, Dinner, Breakfast and refreshments – meet other Distributors and exchange sales ideas
Good margins – tasting stock supplied free so your margin is protected
No purchase or ongoing fees – all you pay for is the stock
Additional profitable mail order business – you can start this and we will help
Money back guarantee on unsold stock – you can get your money back at any time

What’s involved? No licence fees or ongoing marketing charges to pay.

The Show Distributor signs Licence to sell our Liqueurs in a specified area.

All the materials required to sell the Liqueurs at a show are supplied, free of charge:

Graphics and marketing materials
Sample glasses and sample bottles of all liqueurs
Bags for the customers to take the liqueurs home in
Branded clothing to establish a professional image

The Show Distributor chooses which shows to attend and pays for them and obtains a liquor licence as appropriate. We help with this and it is a straightforward process.

Orders stock to be delivered some days prior to each show.

Depending on the size and number of shows the Show Distributor is attending, an outlay of £2,000 to £3,000 is required to get started and to keep trading.

All liqueurs are paid for prior to each show and are delivered to you free of charge.

We offer a full sale or return guarantee on all stock.

What type of person is a Show Distributor?

Perhaps between jobs, have some spare time, retired or semi-retired with a desire to do something which is fun, to stay busy and earn some extra income.

The difference here is that as a Show Distributor, you have control over when you attend events – no-one else decides when you are to work.

Maybe working full time but looking for extra cash to make ends meet and able to spare one or two days a month at weekends.

Someone who is not working and wants independent income or perhaps saving for a new car or holiday.

Somebody who loves meeting people and attending Summer Fetes/Craft Fares and getting paid for it.

Somebody who owns a business and has time for another business.

Occupations of our Show Distributors include Headmaster, Petrol station owner, Salesman, Computer analyst, Policeman, Business owner, Promotional staff company owner, Warehouse Manager

If you are interested please call 01436-679935 and ask for Roy Lewis, or send an Email to roylewis@hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk

Ancient Mariner Vodka coming soon

Ancient Mariner Vodka out soon…

For a while, we have had customers requesting an up market, premium vodka. Now we have sourced one from the same family business that makes our Mariner gin.

The vodka has 25% of the production-the start and end of the distillate, redistilled again. This means that it is nice and smooth, important as at Shows and Events, we will be sampling it neat – it has to taste good at that moment plus with a mixer later at home.

The vodka has been ordered up and the new label design for the Mariner bottle is being worked on. It will be in the same style as the mariner range of gin, Navy rum and malt whiskies that many of you have seen at our trade stands around the country.

If you have a favourite vodka cocktail recipe, send it in and after judicious sampling , we are likely to add it to our Mariner cocktail list.

Whisky Collections bought for cash-call now for an offer

We buy Whisky Collections – read this Blog to find out more details

If you have a Scotch Whisky collection or are in a position to sell one, call us to discuss how much it’s worth.

Before you call, prepare a list of the entire collection and if possible, email it to us on;

info@hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk

Once you have sent the Collection details and we had an opportunity to value it, we can discuss this with you. If you never ask, the Collection may end up going to auction with possibly very poor return for you.

Delivering the Collection – getting your Collection to us is your responsibility – you can either bring it to us here in Helensburgh or agree to meet somewhere convenient for the stock transfer. Sending via post is not recommended. We do not deal in miniature collections.

We have been handling the sales of the Dragon Whisky (Highland Park) for the owners for some time so are used to sorting out this type of item for collectors and sellers alike.

As we have a full Off Sales Licence, we can sell goods on Amazon too.

If in doubt, send a list and call us on 01436 679935 and ask for Roy Lewis, Managing Director

Kent Show Distributor-forthcoming events

Here are the events that the Kent Show Distributor, Hugh & Nancy will be attending with their Trade Stand featuring our spirits & liqueurs.

Aug 15^th The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells (Market Square Group)
Aug 29^th – 31^st Wimbledon Park Food & Drink Festival
Sept 4^th – 6^th The Pantiles, Food & Drink Festival, Tunbridge Wells
Sept 11^th – 13^th Leeds Castle Food & Drink Fair (Nr. Maidstone)
Sept 19^th The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells (Market Square Group)
Sept 25^th – 27^th Canterbury Food & Drink Fair (The Event Umbrella)
Oct 2^nd – 4^th Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, Surrey Food & Drink Fair (FBFF)
Oct 16^{th –}18^th The Pantiles Harvest Moon Market, Tunbridge Wells (MSG)
Nov 7^th The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells (MSG)
Nov 21^st` The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells (MSG)
Dec 5^th The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells (MSG)
Dec 11th – 13^th Sevenoaks Christmas Market, Sevenoaks Vine (MSG)

Here are their contact details if you wish to call them prior to an event to ensure they bring along your favourite brand;

Hugh Jenkins
Telephone: 01737 832880
Email: topdrinkskent@gmail.com
Area: Kent

101 Gins To Try Before You Die – now out!

101 Gins book now available

The above book is now out. Took delivery of our starter stock last week.

The hardback volume is very nicely produced – glossy paper and great photographs – easy to read too. Ancient Mariner Gin is number 5 in the book – a good, well thought out summary of the brand and with some lines from The Ancient Mariner poem to boot.

Get you copy now on Amazon – just key in ‘101 Gins’ and that will take you to the book site where you can order it – it is £12.08 including delivery via Prime.

Tag: real life business stories