How Far North Spirits Found a Trustworthy eCommerce Partner and Doubled Online Sales
After a disappointing search for online sales solutions, Far North Spirits was introduced to AccelPay through one of their distributors. The easy software integration and consistent customer experience immediately set AccelPay apart. Over the next six months, a successful eCommerce partnership blossomed and Far North's online sales doubled.
Holiday season is coming up, and AccelPay is the best way to turn increased demand into skyrocketing DTC sales and seamless order fulfillment. Here are some of the ways we help our brands maximize this important time of the year!
Blog Post: Prep for the Holidays
For your convenience, we have a handy blog post on how to prep for the holiday season. Be sure to give it a read and share it with anyone else on your team who might benefit.
Webinar: OND Best Practices
We are hosting a webinar on Thursday, Oct 26, 2023, at 1:00 PM ET to talk through OND best practices, potential pitfalls, and what to consider when working with AccelPay this holiday season. Register here.
Tip: Get Your Emails Ready
This is the time to offer discounts, create bundles, offer holiday merchandise, and blast customers with notices about your product. Gifting season is here, so make sure customers see how great your product is as a gift.
Not sure where to start? Or interested in utilizing our demand gen marketing services from our in-house team? Email your AccelPay Account Manager and we’ll help you get started.
Using an email marketing service? Check out this blog post on how to effectively use it this holiday season.
Reminders: Be Sure You're Ready to Go
Here’s a few reminders to be sure you're ready to go for the busy season ahead and can make it a full success:
- In this busy time, we extend our SLAs. Our processing time before an order ships is 3-5 business days. Customers always receive a confirmation email with tracking information once their order ships. If any order is further delayed we will proactively reach out to affected customers.
- Be sure to update your shipping policy and terms & conditions on your site to reflect this before the busy season hits.
- If you have plans for email marketing campaigns, special release products, or promotions for your products (e.g. 50% off on Black Friday or free shipping in November), please be sure to share your promotion calendar for the holiday season with your AccelPay Partner Success Team so that we are ready to support you with this.
- As we approach OND we would like to ensure our records regarding your distribution are current to best assist you. Please provide us with your distributor information using this quick online form. Your quick response to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy the holidays and the upcoming increase in order volume. Make sure your distributors are ready to go and that you're informing the AccelPay team of any holiday promotions or special releases. Go crush it out there!
Far North Spirits
Finding a trustworthy eCommerce partner doubled online sales in under 6 months
After a disappointing search for online sales solutions, Far North Spirits was introduced to AccelPay through one of their distributors. The easy software integration and consistent customer experience immediately set AccelPay apart. Over the next six months, a successful eCommerce partnership blossomed and Far North's online sales doubled.
Facing a digital age
Boutique distillery of premium spirits
Far North Spirits is a boutique distillery in Hallock, Minnesota, that has been operating since 2013, when Michael Swanson and Cheri Rease returned to the Red River Valley Swanson farm with a desire to make premium, artisanal spirits.
Navigating shifting buyer behavior
Over time, Mike and Cheri realized consumer buying behavior was shifting online, a trend only accelerated by the pandemic. As a result, they began searching for solutions to help facilitate Far North’s online presence, but were disappointed by what they found.
“We did some talking to companies early on, and it all felt like smoke and mirrors,” said founder Cheri Rease. “To this day I don’t understand those competitors’ fee structures - it was so complicated and it felt like we were taking a huge risk.”
Forming a successful partnership
Easy breezy integration
Far North was introduced to AccelPay through one of their distributors in early 2021, and immediately recognized they could offer something different. For Cheri, AccelPay made things simple. She could see that getting ramped up would be a streamlined process and wouldn’t require them to change anything about their current systems.
In fact, the team was able to integrate Far North’s software systems with AccelPay in under a week with minimal complexity.
“It was amazingly transparent and easy to understand,” confirmed Rease. “The setup was easy breezy because the way we sell hasn’t changed at all. The only difference is suddenly we’re selling more.”
Consistency is key
Far North loved that AccelPay was able to keep the selling experience consistent for their online customers. Keeping shoppers on the branded Far North website and controlling the checkout experience from end-to-end was a huge selling point. They had worked hard to build a brand that reflected their premium, artisanal process and wanted it to shine through at all points of the buyers’ journey.
As Cheri put it, “With AccelPay, we can go really deep with the story we’re telling and reach our customers directly. This just isn’t possible through traditional distribution channels.”
Experiencing an uplift in online sales
eCommerce revenue doubled in under 6 months
“We’re able to launch projects and activations that never would have been possible before. We’re excited to see what’s next!” said Cheri Rease.
Since signing on with AccelPay, Far North’s performance has been strong, exceeding the founders’ expectations in the first six months. From June 2021 to December 2021, the team saw a 2x uplift in online sales. They’ve also seen tremendous value in the brand and data ownership AccelPay allows.
“Liquor is a tricky business. You don’t know who you can trust. Trust is a huge selling point AccelPay brings to the equation for us. With them, we know we can go really deep with the story we’re telling and reach customers directly. This just isn’t possible through traditional distribution channels.”
Cheri Rease
Founder of Far North Spirits
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Braxton Freeman
Grolsch