Three bottles of the 2015 behind the counter
Look around the back of any wine shop and there are bottles nobody is quite selling. The last three of a vintage that has moved on. A single magnum from a Christmas order that was cancelled. Two bottles left in an opened case of something that was delisted. A handful of bottles with scuffed labels.
They are not on the website, because the page was switched to the new vintage. They are not on the shelf, because there are too few to make a display. They are money sitting in a box.
Bin ends fall between the listings
The shop's systems are set up for the current range. Anything that falls out of it, because it is the tail end of an old vintage or a discontinued wine, drops off the website and off the shelf plan, but stays in stock. Nobody is responsible for it, and the stock report does not highlight it because the value per line is small.
- Old vintages are hidden when the new vintage goes online.
- Discontinued wines are delisted but the last bottles remain.
- Damaged labels mean bottles cannot go on the normal shelf.
- Returns and cancelled orders leave odd formats behind.
- No report shows 'small quantities, not listed anywhere'.
What forgotten stock costs
Each bin end is small. Together they are cash tied up and floor space used. Older wines can fade past their best if left too long. Stock counts are slower because of odd bottles in odd places. And customers who love a bin end bargain, and there are plenty, never get to see them.
The bin end finder we build
- Your stock data is checked regularly against rules you set, for example: fewer than a certain number of bottles, not currently listed online, no sale in a set period, a vintage older than the current one, or marked as damaged label.
- Matching items go into a bin end list with the quantity, the location and the cost.
- You set bin end prices, either by hand or from a rule you choose, and approve them.
- Approved bin ends appear in a bin end section on your website and on a printable list for the shop, with the vintage and any label condition stated.
- When the last bottle sells, the listing disappears.
- A simple report shows what has cleared and what is still sitting, so you can decide on anything that has been there too long.
| Type of bin end | How it is found | How it is described |
|---|---|---|
| Old vintage tail | Older than current vintage, small quantity | Vintage stated clearly |
| Discontinued wine | Delisted, stock remaining | Final bottles |
| Damaged label | Marked by staff | Label condition stated |
| Odd format | Magnum or half with no listing | Format stated |
Whether an older bottle is still good to sell is a judgement for you. The finder just makes sure you know it is there.
A back room that empties
Once a month, the finder produces a fresh list. The manager spends half an hour setting prices and checking a couple of older bottles. The bin end page goes up, and a note in the newsletter lets customers know. The box behind the counter gets smaller, and the stock count gets quicker.
Some merchants find bin ends become a small reason for regulars to visit the website every month.
Is your back room collecting odd bottles?
- You have small quantities of old vintages not listed anywhere.
- Discontinued wines still have bottles in stock.
- Bottles with damaged labels are set aside and forgotten.
- Nobody owns selling the odds and ends.
- Your stock report does not highlight unlisted stock.