Ellis Wines launches ‘more user friendly’ website

Ellis Wines, a family-owned on-trade wine supplier, formerly known as Ellis of Richmond, has launched a new, “more user friendly” website complete with a training and information hub.

L-R: Robert Ellis, director, James Ellis, sales director, and William Ellis, finance director.

Ellis Wines’ redesign, labelled ‘new look, new horizons,’ is in line with an updated branding strategy, as the company directors recognised “the need to adapt and modernise online”.

Originally known as Ellis of Richmond (and based in St Margarets, near Richmond) the company moved to larger premises in Hanworth, south west London in 2003 and officially changed its name to Ellis Wines in July this year.

The Hanworth site has its own bonded warehouse, capable of storing over 150,000 cases of wine, and also acts as the control centre for a fleet of branded delivery vehicles.

Speaking to the drinks business about the new website, marketing manager Aoife O’Kane commented: “We wanted to create a website built around the needs of both our customers and our producers”.

“We have created a much more user friendly system for searching our wines and producers as well as a link to an online version of our wine list, ensuring all aspects are completely user friendly for mobile and tablet users”.

As well as enhancing the presentation and navigability of the page, the new website will also have a focus on education, wine training and producer promotion.

Ellis Wines has concentrated on education for a number of years with, for example, the creation of Scott Malyon’s position of training manager. In his role, Malyon visits restaurants and bars that Ellis Wines supply, educating staff on the wines and providing WSET accredited courses.

The new ‘Ellis Uncorked’ section on the website builds on this work, acting as a training and information hub which offers advice on food and wine matching, as well as more general items of wine knowledge.

According to O’Kane, the hub “will be developed further so that there is something for all levels of wine engagement”.

The original family company, Ellis & Co.

Director James Ellis added: “This new website illustrates the modern principles of Ellis Wines, focusing on bringing exceptional service to our customers and help in promoting all the fantastic wine makers we represent from around the world”.

“Our new website has been designed as an information hub, allowing visitors to explore our extensive wine portfolio whilst also encouraging them to learn more about the wonderful world of wine”.

Ellis Wines was founded in 1822 by Joseph Ellis, who initially operated the business from an address in Leadenhall Street, while the Ellis family also ran an inn on Richmond Hill.

It currently has over 1,000 wines in its portfolio and represents more than 40 wine producers. The new website can be accessed here.