Marketplace FAQ for Vendors

About the Marketplace

What is the Brewhaus Marketplace?
The Brewhaus Marketplace is a curated e-commerce platform for brewing, fermentation, wine making, and distilling supplies. It allows independent shops and qualified vendors to list selected products and reach customers who are already shopping for related equipment and ingredients on Brewhaus.

Rather than replacing your own store, the marketplace is designed as an additional sales channel that fits into an established buying ecosystem.

Why did Brewhaus build this marketplace?
Brewhaus has served fermentation and distillation customers since 1992. Over time, customer demand has expanded beyond the products Brewhaus directly stocks. The marketplace allows trusted retail partners to offer complementary products in front of that audience — without vendors giving up control of pricing, branding, or fulfillment.

This is not a general marketplace. It is category-focused and intentionally structured to build depth and selection in brewing, wine making, fermentation, and distilling.

Who is the target customer?
Customers include:

  • Home brewers

  • Winemakers

  • Home distillers

  • Fermentation hobbyists

These audiences overlap heavily. Marketplace products are introduced into an existing, high-intent customer flow rather than marketed to an unrelated audience.

Fees & Pricing

Are there monthly fees or subscriptions?
No. There are no listing fees and no monthly subscription fees. Vendors only pay when a sale is made.

What is the marketplace commission?

  • Standard rate: 13% commission per order

  • Launch partner rate: Early vendors may receive a preferred introductory rate (for example, 9% for the first six months)

The commission covers platform costs, payment processing, and customer acquisition.

There are no hidden platform fees added later.

Who sets pricing?
Vendors set and control their own pricing. You choose which products to list and how they are priced.

Why not just sell on my own site?
Your own website remains your core channel. The Brewhaus Marketplace is designed to be incremental, helping you reach additional customers who may not already know your store, without additional marketing expense.

Why not just sell on large general marketplaces?
General marketplaces mix unrelated categories and brands. The Brewhaus Marketplace is category-specific, meaning:

  • Customers are already shopping for brewing, fermentation, and distilling products

  • Your products appear in a focused, relevant environment

  • Brand context and category alignment are preserved

Products & Categories

What types of products can I sell?
Priority categories include:

  • Beer and wine making kits

  • Fermenters and fermentation accessories

  • Temperature control equipment

  • Cleaning & sanitation products

  • Kegging, bottling, and transfer gear

  • Testing and measurement tools

  • Consumables such as grains, hops, and yeast

Additional categories may be added over time.

Can I sell distilling equipment or accessories?
Yes. Select distilling products are supported, but this category is curated to maintain clear positioning and quality standards. Participation is reviewed case-by-case.

Will multiple vendors sell the same products?
The marketplace is designed to build category depth while avoiding unnecessary duplication. The goal is to expand selection across brands and product types so vendors have clear lanes rather than competing over the same narrow SKU set.

Fulfillment & Shipping

How does fulfillment work?

Vendors may choose:

Fulfilled by Vendor (FBV)

  • You ship orders directly

  • You use your own inventory

  • You control packaging and handling

Fulfilled by Brewhaus (FBB)

  • Inventory is stocked at Brewhaus

  • Brewhaus handles packing and shipping

Many vendors prefer self-fulfillment to avoid inventory duplication.

Can I use my own carrier accounts and shipping rates?
Yes. For self-fulfilled orders, vendors use their own carrier accounts and shipping settings.

How are returns handled?

  • FBV orders: vendor manages returns

  • FBB orders: Brewhaus assists with return handling

All vendors must maintain clear return policies to ensure a consistent customer experience.

Orders, Selling & Operations

Can I sell to wholesale buyers?
Yes. Qualified vendors may access both retail and wholesale buyers. Wholesale access is reviewed separately.

Do you integrate with Shopify?
Shopify integration is on the near-term roadmap. In the meantime, inventory can be managed through the vendor portal and CSV uploads are supported.

What is expected from vendors?

Vendors are expected to:

  • Maintain accurate listings

  • Fulfill orders promptly

  • Communicate clearly on inventory availability

The goal is to keep the operational burden low while ensuring a reliable customer experience.

Marketing & Traffic

How does Brewhaus drive traffic to marketplace products?

Marketplace products are introduced into the existing Brewhaus customer flow. Because Brewhaus has served fermentation and distillation customers for decades, products are shown to an audience already interested in related equipment and supplies.

Additional traffic sources include:

  • Paid search and shopping campaigns

  • Ongoing SEO and organic search optimization

  • Content and brand-building initiatives

  • Regular newsletters to the Brewhaus customer base

Marketing efforts are scaled based on performance and customer demand.

Launch Vendors

What do launch vendors receive?

Launch partners may receive:

  • Preferred commission terms

  • Early category placement

  • Inclusion in launch promotions

  • Direct onboarding support

Launch participation is limited to ensure quality placement and visibility.

Onboarding & Commitment

Does applying obligate me to sell?
No. Applying starts a conversation. If it’s not a fit, there is no obligation.

How long does onboarding take?
Most vendors can be onboarded in approximately 1–2 weeks, depending on listing readiness and fulfillment setup.

Who is this a good fit for?

The marketplace is a strong fit for vendors who:

  • Carry strong product depth in a category

  • Want incremental online sales

  • Prefer performance-based channels

  • Can fulfill reliably

If you have additional questions or want to discuss whether this is a fit for your business, feel free to reach out before applying.

Brewhaus Marketplace Team

 

This FAQ is designed to answer the most common questions from independent homebrew and wine supply stores. Additional vendor documentation is provided during onboarding.

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