| As I see it... |
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Over the last couple weeks I have been struggling with the idea of what to write for this coming article, something informative and yet original.
Then Monday came and something had happened to me, and instead of trying to be all wise and witty I'm going to share my story.
On Monday afternoon a small petite elderly woman came into off-sale looking a little lost and unsure, so I greeted her and asked if I could be of any assistance. She told me she was looking for a bottle of red wine and asked if I could help her pick one.
I then proceeded with all the questions to help in her selection. After a few of my questions she interrupted me and said "we're having spaghetti and I don't care on the price. My daughter is here to see me, she is terminal, and she has brain cancer."
Needless to say at first I was speechless, and then I told her I was very sorry to hear that. We then selected a wine that was mid-tier, not top dollar as to take advantage of the situation, but not low end either.
As we got to the checkout counter I chose to share with her that I had lost my 14 year old son 3 years ago to brain cancer. After that, a fifteen minute conversation took place that allowed her to share and ask questions of me. Her daughter was here to see her mother for the last time.
While handing back her change I noticed her eyes were welled with tears. As I was thanking her, she came up to me and gave me a hug. Not a quick hug, but a firm long hug, and I hugged her back. As she let go she looked at me and said, " No, thank you dear," smiled and went out the door.
I don't know if I will ever see this lady again. But after she left, I realized I just became a part in their lives - I just selected the wine for their last supper.
As I see it.... As we all go through our day to day routines at work, our customers are never "two people the same" and our customer service should be no different. We should be prompt, courteous, a good listener, observer and kind, and use these skills to the individualism of the customer.
Michelle Olson
Sebeka Liquor Manager
MMBA Director |
| How to Get Rid of Old Inventory |
The MMBA office recently recieved the following note. The author did not want to be mentioned, but you will figure out from the price-points that it is a larger store.
HOWEVER, this idea is currently successfully used with spirits by a small combination facility in Greater Minnesota.
A constant in the industry is how to move old/slow product.
On top of that we are getting bombarded with about 20 new items but nobody is offering shelf extensions.
So I took the bottom 200 wines according to history in our files. In looking at the history, some of these wines had only sold 1 bottle in the past year. Not a very productive use of space. Good wine, but not moving,
So I placed these wines into a spreadsheet that included description, quantity on hand, cost and retail price. Total, there were about 310 bottles with an average cost of $8.33 per bottle and a retail price ranging from $8.99 to $45.99.
We have tried discount barrels, selling them at cost in hopes of breaking even (which I think is industry standard). But then you may have a $45.00 bottle of wine in the system, you discount it to cost of $35.00 but it still looks like an expensive bottle of boring wine, the discount barrels get picker over and you still have a barrel of junk.
So we took these wines, created a new number with a cost of $8.33 and a retail price of $10.00. We placed these bottles of wine in a $.07 cent metallic gift bags and put a sign up calling them:
"$10.00 Wine Grabs - Retail prices range from $8.99 - $45.99 with an average retail price of $14.99."
We have already sold 105 bottles. As these are up by the registers, it's an impulse additional sale.
So bottom line, we have generated $1,050 in additional sales, while getting rid of 105 bottles of wine that were using up valuable shelf space.
Profit may not be tremendous, but as we all know, new products are the life blood of the industry!
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| Passport Cards |
An MMBA member recently asked if "Passport Cards" are considered "Passports" and therefore an acceptable form of identification for purchasing alcohol in Minnesota.
According to Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement, the answer is "Yes."
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| Flavored Tobacco Banned |
On September 22, 2009 a ban on cigarettes containing certain characterizing flavors went into effect. The ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by FDA to reduce smoking in America.
FDA's ban on candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes highlights the importance of reducing the number of children who start to smoke, and who become addicted to dangerous tobacco products. FDA is also examining options for regulating both menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes.
According to the act:
...a cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice, including strawberry, grape, orange, clove, cinnamon, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, cherry, or coffee, that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke.
Any company who continues to make, ship or sell such products may be subject to FDA enforcement actions.
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| Future Dates to Remember!! |
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MMBA Food Drive
October, 2009
2009 MMBA Regional Meetings
October 13
Hinckley
October 14
Plymouth
October 20
Red Wing
October 21
Walker
October 27
Morton
October 28
Fergus Falls Click Here for Regional Meeting Information
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| Ask A Director |
Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163
Bob Leslie
Pelican Rapids
218-863-6670
Dan Bahr
Bemidji
218-766-5506
Brian Hachey
Stacy
651-462-2727
Nancy Drumsta
Delano
763-972-0578
Lara Smetana
Pine City
320-629-2020
Joyce Zachmann
Spring Lake Park
763-780-8247
Virgene Shellenbarger
Hutchinson
320-587-2762
Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-381-2349
Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035
Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925
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| Idea of the Week |
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Place framed copies of your current print advertising on the walls of customer rest rooms |
| Wine Consumer Purchasing Trends |
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W.J Deutsch founder Bill Deutsch recently talked to Fox Business News about the purchasing trends of today's wine consumer both in retail and restaurants.
While price is an important consideration, the most important factor is VALUE.
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What do your customers want from you?
Find out what it is and give it to them. | | |
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