Laithwaite’s launches eBay wine cellar

UK wine retailer Laithwaite’s Wine has opened an online wine cellar on eBay, following the auction site’s first foray into wine earlier this year.

Laithwaite’s involvement brings eBay’s total number of wine listings to around 3,500.

A wide selection of red, white, rose’ and sparkling wines plus mixed cases are now available on the UK site from the leading wine merchant, helping to increase eBay’s wine listings to some 3,500.

Initially founded as an auction site, 80% of eBay listings are now ‘buy it now’ and new products, with its business model transforming to that of a more traditional online retailer.

“We’re excited to be partnering with eBay to reach a new generation of wine drinkers and look forward to introducing eBay’s customers to great-value wines handcrafted in quantities too small for the supermarkets and big retailers”, said David Thatcher, CEO of Laithwaite’s Wine.

eBay launched its UK wine shop earlier this month with the help of new platform Worldwine Vines, which will market the start of its online wine plans, following its launch of an online wine shop in the US.

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Speaking to the drinks business earlier this year Paul Anthony Gidley, who founded Worldwide Vines, said six established UK wine retailers, still yet to be revealed, had already signed up to the service, with a further six planned in 2017 once the site is established.

The UK service offers 48-hour delivery for a flat-rate £6.20 charge and is looking at rolling out three-bottle cases. So far, the best-selling wine has been Dom Perignon 2006, while serious collectors will also find bottles priced up to £101,000 and dating back to 1867 available to purchase.

The project, which has been in development for two years, aims to streamline the buying online process and enable consumers to buy wines in three ‘clicks’ with Worldwide Vines backing the launch with a marketing campaign, ‘Click, Click, Sip’.

“Welcoming Laithwaite’s to eBay further expands our wine offering providing more selection and choice for our customers”, said Rhian Bartlett, senior director of retail at eBay.

“Whether it’s for summer celebrations or stocking up ahead of the festive season, eBay is becoming a destination for those who know what they like when it comes to wine, as well as enthusiastic amateurs looking to try something new.”

Online sales of wine in the UK in 2015 topped £800 million, which represents nearly 11% of the overall British wine market, according to figures released by Wine Intelligence.

Based on a survey conducted by Wine Intelligence, 25% (7.4 million) of the UK’s 29.6 million regular wine drinkers ordered wine on the internet last year, spending £7 per bottle on average. Market researchers are predicting that British online wine sales will continue to grow in the next three years to 14% of the country’s overall market. By comparison, this same segment represents just 4% of the US wine market.

For more information and to see the selection available click here.