News from Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association

Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter

(February 7, 2010 - February 13, 2010)

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Survey

As a manager sometimes we are the last to know when there are problems at our facility.

Have you ever felt tension from the part time staff and the full time staff? You ask questions to find out what is going on and they all clam up.

The employees will talk to each other and vent and vent and vent.

You decide to have an employee meeting to try and get your employees to tell you what is bothering them and they just don't want to open up.

As managers I'm sure we all feel if an employee has issues they will come and talk to us because our door is always open. Well, it doesn't always work that way as I recently found out.

So how do you get your employee's to open up?

They might talk if you meet with them one on one but many employees will still not talk openly because they don't want to hurt anyone. So, what do you do?

I suggest an employee survey? It can be as short or as long as you like. I chose to ask only three questions....

· What do you like about our operation?

· What do you dislike about our operation?

· If you were the manager what 3 things would you change at our operation?

I told our employees I did not want to know who wrote what, I was only concerned that they were honest. In addition, I assured them I would be the only one who would read the surveys.

After doing the survey I felt our employees were able to open up and share what was on their minds. Now I can take that info and formulate a plan to address our employee's concerns (good and bad).

I will now be doing this survey on an annual basis.

I hope this idea will work for you. If you have any questions or need help in setting up your own survey feel free to contact me.

Steve Grausam
Liquor Director-City of Edina
952/ 903-5732
sgrausam@ci.edina.mn.us

Getting Customers Back to Your Bar

Bar Photo You work so hard to get customers into your bar...

But how do you get customers to come back to your bar again and again?

Good drinks and food will only take you so far with repeat business, creating a customer experience with excellent service is what will take you the rest of the way.

One way to improve the experience and gain more repeat customers is through your bartenders.

A recent survey reports that 75% of Americans stated that an inattentive bartender is what they liked least in a drinking establishment.

Watch your bartenders. Do they look your customers in the eye and try to make a connection? Or are they so focused on making drinks quickly that they appear rude and dismissive?

Does your staff offer patrons another drink or do your customers have to ask every time they want a refill?

Also check out how different customers are treated at your bar. The dorky guy in the corner should be treated with the same level of service that the hot blonde sitting at the bar does.

Remind your staff that they need to give superb service to everyone at all times. It's tough to stay focused on service during busy nights, but that's also when you have the opportunity to make a good impression with the largest amount of people.

When you see good interaction between employees and customers, reward it with praise.

Position Opening

Applications are now being accepted for Liquor Store Manager with the City of Callaway.

This individual oversees and administers the day-to-day operations of on-sale and off-sale liquor operations.

The position requires but, not limited to, inventory pricing, budgeting skills, promotions, ordering, building maintenance, hiring qualified personnel, scheduling employee hours, and reporting sales and operations of the store.

Desired minimum qualifications include business and computer experience; and a minimum of three years of previous experience.

Submit resume, cover letter, and completed application to City of Callaway 321 Main Ave, PO Box 116, Callaway, MN 56521.

Position opens February 15, 2010 closes 4:30 p.m., March 5, 2010.

Applications and additional information can be obtained by calling 218-375-4691 or emailing callaway@arvig.net.

Callaway is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Checking Out the Competition

In order to succeed in business, it is very important to know your competition.

So, get out of your facility and visit other establishments!!!!

Here are some questions for those in the bar business to use when checking out the competition...

What's on the menu?
How much does it cost?
What does it taste like?
How is the quality?
What draft beers are they pouring?
What is their pricing structure for beer, wine, cocktails etc.?
What bottle beers to they stock?
What's featured on their drink menu?
What glassware are they using?
What specials are they plugging?
What entertainment are they advertising?
What kind of customers do they draw?
How are their bathrooms?
How's the general atmosphere?
What's their draw?
What do they do that's special or intriguing?
How does their location affect them?
How was the service?

Fire at Fergus Liquor Causes Little Damage

From The Daily Journal

A fire in an electrical box at the Fergus Falls Municipal liquor store caused a lot of commotion in downtown Fergus Falls eariler this week.

Firefighters were called to the liquor store at 227 West Washington Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. after a liquor store employee noticed smoke in the building.

Authorities said the fire started in an electrical box. The liquor store sustained little damage.

Washington Avenue was closed to traffic until about 6 p.m. while firefighters ventilated the building before clearing the scene.

Future Dates to Remember!!