Clink! Wines launches buying club

UK wine distributor Clink! Wines has launched The Clink Buying Club (CBC), an online club allowing independent wine merchants and parts of the on-trade to buy as a group, empowering them to buy greater quality wines.

Clink! Wines managing director Catherine Monahan (left) came up with the idea after she saw Clink’s Spanish brand, La Capilla, on promotion at three for £11 in the Co-operative, being bought nationally by pubs and restaurants.

“It came to our attention that there is no importer or business model that allows independent retailers and the on-trade to have the buying power that any of the big retailers do,” said Monahan.
 
Every few days Clink! will be offering a featured wine, and will take a small fee for processing and importing the wine, passing the savings on to the Buying Club Group.
 
The aim is to save customers 15-25% on their normal costs.
 
A partner logistics provider will manage the group’s deliveries and Clink! Wines will hold some bonded stock to ensure customers can sample goods prior to purchasing.
 
The wine range will comprise wines from entry-level house wines up to premium and award-winning wines, though no high street labels will be sold through the club.

“We will be continually looking for new and exciting producers to come on board, as well as creating a forum whereby the group can recommend friends to join – the more people that buy, the better the prices,” said Monahan.
 
The Clink Buying Club launches on 25 April.

Lucy Shaw, 18.04.2011