When up against big chain corporations, it’s important to remember that your local independent merchants need support – that’s why canned water maker Liquid Death is testing a new program to sponsor small businesses looking to carry the brand.
The company quietly announced this month the launch of its new Death Peddlers program, which aims to support independent stores that cannot make minimum order requirements from Liquid Death’s larger distribution partners. According to its website, the brand will pay stores a monthly volume-based sponsorship fee to allow the accounts to purchase Liquid Death through Amazon or other retailers, which can then be resold at the standard SRP.
“From barber shops, to coffee shops, to tattoo shops, to sex shops, we get tons of requests from all kinds of great businesses that want to carry Liquid Death to murder thirst and plastic,” the company stated on its website. “The problem is, it doesn’t make sense for most of these small shops to order from our large distributors to get better volume pricing.”
Interested retailers can apply to participate in the program online. The highest performing accounts will also receive perks such as free concert tickets and merchandise. As well, participating stores will receive some free online promotion from Liquid Death through its social media channels.
Reached by BevNET, the company declined to comment, noting the program is still “in the testing phase.”
If the “Death Peddlers” name sounds familiar, that’s because the new project spun out of a profit-sharing initiative the company launched in 2020 to support working musicians unable to perform during the pandemic. Called “Death Peddlers United,” that program allowed bands to sign up as Liquid Death ambassadors and gave them discount coupon codes to share with their fans on social media. All proceeds from those purchases would be split 50/50 with the bands.