iDealwine adapts to logistical challenges

Online wine auctioneer and merchant iDealwine has seen a “spike” in orders due to the Covid-19 lockdowns but is having to adapt its logistical and storage arrangements to fit around staff shortages and other constraints.

The France-based merchant is now offering free storage in it secure warehouses for the duration of the lockdown and has hat to take on several delivery service providers due to staff shortages in the French supply chain.

Customers have also been unable to collect purchases directly from the warehouse or partner wine bar 228 Litres in Paris.

iDealwine said it has been keeping up its auctions but at a “slower rhythm” in a bid to limit the affects of uncertain restocking opportunities. Fixed price sales of wines are also continuing as normal and the company has reportedly “made a point” of maintaining and renewing its orders with over 600 partner domains that it works with.

The merchant has also noticed a change in its customer expectations and demands. From 16-17 March there was a sudden stop to orders after the lockdown was declared in France – which represents 50% of its sales.

Sales then returned to normal and then rose considerably. Since the lockdown demand for wines priced between €6 and €30 have jumped hugely, up 20% in one week; a sign of what customers will most likely be drinking while cloistered at home.

There has also been a sharp increase in traffic to the blog, up 25%, with articles about food and wine pairing, recipes and articles about producers in high demand.

Cyrille Jomand, CEO of iDealwine, said that the suspension of various services was likely to cause” a reduction in stocks in the longterm and the potential for a loss of turnover was “significant”, especially if delivery and shipping services were impacted any further.

Nonetheless, 2020 began well for iDealwine with some of the greatest growth in January and February in the last five years.