Retail Opportunity: Wine Merchant

Wine merchant Current Vacancies

2007-01-25:

Wine merchants, or wine retailers, buy wine from growers abroad or from shippers and sell it in the UK.

In a large, wholesale business they may work as buyers, importers, general managers, or retail managers.

Specialist buyers for large wine merchants frequently travel abroad to find new wines, visit vineyards, negotiate prices, check production standards and maintain relationships with producers.

Small independent wine merchants are mainly concerned with sourcing and buying wine and selling it from a shop or by mail order.

Independent wine merchants usually buy from shippers, rarely travelling abroad, but may attend wine tastings in the UK.

The daily work of a small independent wine merchant is similar to that of a retail manager.

Managers and sales staff work shifts to cover retail outlet opening times. Small, independent wine merchants are likely to work longer hours, particularly if they have a retail outlet.

The wine trade is competitive, with supermarkets claiming an increasing share of wine sales.

Promotion to senior management is possible within large organisations.

Wine merchants who own their own business usually earn more than retail managers
Experienced wine merchants or managers earn 18,000 to 25,000 a year. (Permalink)