Currency update: pound hits two week high

The first of our regular analysis of the currency markets from our partners, Smart Currency Exchange, sees sterling hit a two week high.

Inverarity Vaults takes turnover to £7.4 million

Inverarity Vaults, Scotland's largest independent wine merchant, achieved a turnover of £7.42 million in 2009, an increase of 4%.

Tips on talking to your bank manager

BBC's Nigel Barden on Top Merchants programme

Nigel Barden, former wine merchant and BBC food and drink broadcaster, was co-chair of the first Top Merchants seminar in Birmingham. Here he gives his memories of the day and offers his advice on how they can get the most of out of their stores

How to keep on top of bad debts

Keeping on top of debts is critical for any small business, here John Davies, head of business law at ACCA sets out key advice on chasing up bad debts

10 tips on how to choose an accountant

Ten top tips for choosing an accountant by Emmanouil Schizas, SME policy adviser, ACCA. the global body for accountants

Top Merchants seminar, Birmingham, February 2010

The first Top Merchants event held in Birmingham in February revealed a real desire amongst leading indepedents to work closer together and find ways to stand up collectively for themselves, Richard Siddle and Tom Bruce Gardyne reports

Top Merchants criteria and how to enter

Criteria to be a Top Merchant includes:

Gruppo Italiano Vini: Top Merchants overall partner

Top Merchants key partner: Gruppo Italiano Vini

Charles Bennett, Hanslope Wines, Milton Keynes

Charles Bennett, Hanslope Wines, Milton Keynes

Cambridge Wine Merchants opens seventh store

Cambridge Wine Merchants is opening a seventh branch, taking over the former Wine Rack site in the city's Cherry Hinton Road. Director Brett Turner said: "It comes with plenty of parking and a big warehouse so we'll be using it as a base for local case sales and deliveries." The premises are expected to be open by June.

Facebook: how you can use it to engage with your customers

Independent wine merchants are increasingly using Facebook to engage with their customers, but as Graham Holterreports, it can bring disadvantages as well as benefits

Objectives and how you can get involved

Objective
To help give independent merchants the valuable advice and support they need to help grow their businesses through a combination of practical online support, live seminars and conferences, networking events, tastings, debates and articles in Harpers Wine & Spirit.

Facebook tips for Top Merchants

Facebook tips for wine merchants

Winning retailers lined up for first Top Merchants day

Corks Out, Arthur Rackham and Oxford Wine Company will be three of the keynote speakers at the first Top Merchants business day being held by Harpers Wine & Spirit and sponsors GIV at the Malmaison hotel in Birmingham on February 8.

Top Merchants 2011

To help bring independent merchants together and offer them the advice and support they need to move their businesses forward in these challenging times Harpers Wine & Spirit, is introducing the Top Merchants initiative. Here's how you could get involved.