LibDib Access, our new membership tier

When we started LibDib nearly ten years ago, the idea was simple: quality brands of all sizes should have access to compliant three-tier distribution.

That mission hasn't changed.

What has changed is LibDib. We've grown from an idea about doing distribution differently into a platform connecting hundreds of Makers with thousands of Buyers across multiple markets. Along the way, we've learned a lot about what works (and most importantly what doesn’t) when it comes to helping emerging and growing brands succeed in distribution.

Now we're taking the next step.

Beginning September 15, 2026, the free LibDib plan will be replaced by LibDib Access, our new entry-level membership tier. Our existing Silver and Gold membership tiers will remain the same, giving Makers three options depending on the level of support, services and distribution economics that make sense for their business.

For Makers who have been with us for years and list inventory for free on LibDib’s storefront, we know this is a significant change. Here is why we are certain that this new approach will make LibDib better for the Makers actively building their businesses, a fantastic e-commerce experience for Buyers, and allow us to continue investing in the technology and services that help brands grow.

LibDib Access is built around what LibDib does best: providing compliant distribution and an easy, modern way for brands and Buyers to do business. Access gives Makers the infrastructure they need to sell while allowing them to stay connected to their business.

With LibDib Access, Makers get:

• Distribution across LibDib markets — A compliant path to sell to licensed Buyers in every active LibDib market.
• An easy-to-use platform — Buyers can find your brand, view your products and place orders online anytime.
• A great Buyer experience — Simple ordering, reliable fulfillment and a platform designed to make doing business with your brand easy.
• Excellent logistics and delivery — We can efficiently reach Buyers throughout our markets, including more remote locations, with delivery speeds that meet or often exceed traditional distribution.
• Transparency — See your sales, orders and Buyer activity instead of wondering what is happening after an order is placed.
• Control of your Buyer relationships — You build the relationships. LibDib provides the distribution infrastructure to support them.
• A model built for brands of all sizes — Access the three-tier system without needing the volume or scale traditionally required to secure distribution.

Access is the foundation: distribution, technology, logistics, transparency and control is the infrastructure. LibDib provides both all in one place.

One of the things we're most excited about is creating a more active and engaged LibDib storefront.

Buyers come to LibDib looking for products they can actually purchase. They expect current offerings, responsive brands, available products, up-to-date and accurate pricing, and orders that can ship on time.

Over the years, we've learned that simply making distribution available doesn't necessarily mean every brand is actively working in every market. Products can remain listed even when a Maker's priorities have changed or a market is no longer a focus.

That's not a great experience for Buyers. Ultimately, it's not good for the Makers who are actively trying to grow.

Moving away from the free model, to one where every Maker has skin in the game, creates a natural commitment. The Makers participating in LibDib are saying: I'm actively selling here. I'm paying attention to this market. I'm ready to fulfill orders.

That creates a cleaner, more dynamic store for Buyers, which in turn delivers more opportunity for the Makers who are actively investing in their distribution.

LibDib has always made it easy to access distribution, but effective distribution itself can’t be passive.

Getting a product legally available in a market is only the first step. Successful brands still have to create demand, build relationships, call on accounts, support placements and give Buyers a reason to reorder.

In other words, distribution can't just be "post and pray."

We want LibDib to increasingly support Makers who are actively building their markets while providing better tools to do it.

The new LibDib Access membership tier provides the foundation: access to LibDib markets and Buyers through our distribution platform. Silver and Gold build on that foundation with lower distribution markups and additional services, support and tools for Makers who are investing more heavily in their distribution.

The new Access membership also allows us to continue investing in LibDib.

We're building new features and technology around the things Makers and Buyers need most: a better e-commerce experience, smarter data, improved logistics, sales tools, customer support and technology that helps connect the right brands with the right accounts.

For Gold Makers, that will include new monthly data-driven Buyer prospects designed to identify potential accounts based on the brand, product and market.

We believe technology can do much more than process orders. It can help Makers understand their business, identify opportunities and make smarter decisions about where to spend their time and money.

There is another reality about beverage alcohol distribution that hasn't changed: brands still must do a tremendous amount of the work required to build their business.

That's particularly true for emerging and independent brands.

Traditional small-brand distribution can come with significantly higher distributor margins, and getting a distributor doesn't necessarily mean a sales team is going to build your brand for you. Ultimately, Makers still need to create demand, develop accounts and invest in building their brands.

LibDib was created around a different economic model.

We believe distribution should provide the infrastructure a brand needs to operate compliantly within the three-tier system without consuming so much margin that there isn't enough left to actually build the business.

Even with an Access, Silver or Gold membership, LibDib's distribution markups remain lower than traditional small-brand distribution models.

That's critical, because every dollar a Maker keeps can be invested where it matters most: sales, account development, tastings, marketing, samples, events and building consumer demand. Distribution should enable brand building—not consume the resources needed to do it.

Not every Maker needs the same thing from LibDib, which is exactly why we've built different levels of membership.

LibDib Access ($199 a month) is for Makers who want access to LibDib's distribution platform and markets and prefer a more self-service approach. Sign up before September 15 for $149 per month rate.

Silver ($250 a month) is designed for Makers who are actively growing their business and want a lower distribution markup along with additional support and services.

Gold ($500/month) is our highest level of membership and is designed for Makers pursuing chains and more complex opportunities, including inventory services, strategic support and additional tools to help grow their business.

For many Makers, the math may make the decision fairly straightforward. As sales increase, the lower distribution markup available through Silver and Gold can offset some or all of the additional membership cost.

And as a Maker's business changes, their membership can change with it.

We understand that replacing the free plan with LibDib Access is a change.

But this isn't simply about charging for something that used to be free.

It's about building a stronger LibDib.

We want Buyers to come to LibDib to find active brands that are ready to do business. We want Makers participating in markets where they're genuinely committed to building sales. And we want to continue investing in the technology, data, logistics and support that can make distribution work better for everyone.

Most importantly, we want to preserve the idea that started LibDib in the first place:

Brands of all sizes deserve access to the three-tier system, and distribution should leave them with the resources they need to actually build their brands.

Nearly ten years later, we still believe that. LibDib Access is the next evolution of that model, and the foundation for what we're building next.