TOPS @ Lifestyle has walked away with the prestigious KZN TOPS Store of the Year award, putting them in line to take the top spot in the country. With passionate, in-house liquor specialists and a wide range of carefully curated wines and top-end spirits, this beautifully appointed, premier liquor store is simply a cut above the rest.

Sophisticated and upmarket, TOPS @ Lifestyle has a unique look and feel that makes you want to explore, browse, and linger a little longer. Recently awarded the top spot in the province by the SPAR Group (Pty) Ltd, store manager Mark Pearse reflects on what makes this an exceptional shopping destination.

“Although it is an aesthetically beautiful store, with carefully designed displays and perfect lighting, the true magic of TOPS @ Lifestyle lies in our world-class liquor selection and, more importantly, our people,” he says.

So much more than just a bottle store, TOPS @ Lifestyle prides itself on having skilled, in-house liquor specialists in store to offer their customers advice on their extensive range of wines, high-end spirits and craft beers.

Wine fundi, Eamonn Dowling is without a doubt one of the biggest drawcards, especially for wine enthusiasts seeking guidance about the finely curated wine selection on offer. “A true Irishman who has made KZN his home, Dublin-born Eamonn lights up when he shares his passion and over 40 years of expertise and knowledge about viticulture with our customers and staff. He is a highly respected wine expert with a deep-seated love for the industry, and he goes to great lengths to ensure we have an exclusive range of the best wines on the market,” says Mark.

Always seeking to elevate the customer experience, the store has a variety of storyboards on display, offering shoppers further information about wine farms, and they host monthly intimate, invitation-only wine-tasting evenings.

Apart from its incredible wine selection, TOPS @ Lifestyle also features a variety of top-end spirits, with beautiful spaces highlighting their gin, whisky, cognac, tequila, and craft beer offerings. “Our phenomenal selection is reflected in our discerning customers, many of whom have refined palates and are looking for the very best choice of wine and liquor.”

Since taking over as store manager 18 months ago, Mark’s focus has been on training the front-end cashiers and merchandisers on all aspects of the store. “The store already looked fantastic, so I’ve focussed on upskilling our staff, to ensure we deliver outstanding service on all levels.”

The criteria considered for the respected TOPS Store of the Year award included having aesthetically pleasing displays, excellent merchandising, overall appeal, community involvement and friendly staff, and TOPS @ Lifestyle quite clearly excels on all of these levels … and so many more!