Getting that range just right

If you haven’t already done so, I suggest taking a look at Accolade Wine’s new website dedicated to helping the trade grow sales. Even with my suspicious approach to anything new, it didn’t take me long to realise that winningwithwine.com has some pretty useful content.

Typing in your postcode brings up instant insight into your local customer base, enabling you to build a wine range.

And, while these sorts of things are never going to be 100% scientific — the type of outlet you run must surely be as significant as its locality — the website still provides much needed help to the trade in what no doubt will be another difficult year ahead.

Of course, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser will be doing its best to provide you with similar practical advice and insight in our wine, spirits, lager, cider, and every-other-drinks- category-you-can-think-of features programme throughout the next 12 months.

In these uncertain economic times it’s now more important than ever to stock the right brands in your pub. After all — and I’ve heard it many times from people who know far more than me about these things — core to the success of any business is getting your product range right.

I wish you the very best for 2012 in trying to achieve just that.