| As I See It... |
HELP WANTED.........
I would like to challenge other managers to let Paul know that all he does to assist managers to increase their gross profit and revenue for your cities is very beneficial to your operation and to your job security!
Many of the suggestions Paul and other directors give when visiting stores throughout the state are very simple things that can be done to make more money for your city.
Let's just say.....
I sold 3170 five pound bags of ice last year. If I raise the price of this impulse item by .25 a bag and sell the same amount (which I am on track to do) I will have put an additional $792.50 onto my bottom line!!
It took me about five minutes to make an extra $792.50 for my city.
This is just one small example of something simple you can do in your store to increase profits and maybe save your job!
I do not see an end to the recession coming within the near future and elected officials will continue to look at all possible ways to increase revenue into the city.
We are seeing more and more cases of managers being asked to increase profits and become more accountable for store operations.
Don't think that it can't happen to you. It just happened to one of the most profitable well managed stores in the state.
Just sayin'...............
Nancy Drumsta
Delano Wine & Spirits
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| New Orr Liquor Manager | |
By Orr Timberjay Newspaper
Orr's new municipal liquor store manager knows the business. Bobbi Malecha used to tend bar about a mile south along Highway 53 at The Dam.
"I've been in Orr for 19 years and I was looking for something closer to home," said Malecha, who had been working as a home health aide.
Malecha bested 10 other applicants for the job, which opened after the resignation of former Manager Bob Howe. At a special Orr City Council meeting on Aug. 11, Malecha was the unanimous choice.
Both Mayor Dale Long and Councilor Bruce Black, who serve on the city's Liquor Store Committee, recommended Malecha after interviewing the top prospects for the position a few days earlier.
Long said Malecha impressed him with her enthusiasm and a wealth of ideas for increasing sales at the store. Other candidates also presented some good ideas for promoting sales at the store, which Long and Black kept track of in their notes.
Black echoed Long's remarks and added that Malecha also told them that she would be willing to pitch in to help fill in for other staff wherever necessary.
The Orr Muni crew pictured above, left to right, Bobbi O'Brien, Mike Quincy, Tyae Pattenn, Laura Carter and Manager Bobbi Malecha. |
| The Math Doesn't Lie | |
Even when doom and gloom are in the forecast, a store that is well staffed with knowledgeable (because they took the MMBA on-line Wine 101 course), skillful people who are motivated to actively sell and to support the facility's initiatives and goals can do just fine.
The stores that are subject to every possible negative condition out there are the ones that rely only on traffic - or footfall - and the customers' own drive to buy whatever it is you offer for sale.
Now, that's not to say that outside factors won't impact all retail stores to some degree - of course, they can ...and often do.
But, if every staff member in your store(s) consistently applied the knowledge and skills they have, or should have, you could rest easy knowing that the very best that could be done...was being done.
Consumer pessimism - which sometimes keeps more of us at home clutching our wallets - doesn't have to translate into losses for your retail store. It certainly could, but it doesn't have to.
Think of this: 75 customers come into the store, 15 of them spend $50 each. Based on that, conversion is 20% and the sales are $750.
Think of this: 60 customers come into the store; 15 fewer than in th e previous example. But 18 of them spend $50 each. Based on that, conversion is 30% and the sales are $900. That's a 20% increase in sales.
And one better: 55 customers come into the store; 20 fewer than the first example. But 18 of them spend $60. Based on that, conversion is 33% and the sales are $1,080. And that's a 44% increase in sales over the first example.
The math doesn't lie.
In each case, the number of customers coming into the store decreases but, because more of them are converted by willing and able staff members, sales go up.
In the third example, more customers were converted AND, with add-ons and/or upsells, they spent more money in your store...and sales went up.
The above example is a simple one, and most Retail Managers already know all of this. But this information must be communicated to every staff member and each one must be instructed on how to make it happen.
Execution at store level is critical.
You may think the numbers are optimistic. If you do think that way, we urge you to walk around a mall or other shopping centre and really study what is going on in many, many retail stores.
In most , it's not active selling by any stretch of the imagination.
Just implementing the changes that are necessary in those stores - and maybe in yours too - will result in at least a 20% increase in sales, and probably much more...we're being conservative with that number.
That's the huge difference your front line people can make by actively selling everything they can to every customer who comes into your store.
And it is truly awesome to watch it happen.
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| For Sale |
Central Park Liquor in Spring Lake
Park is selling 15 shopping carts.
They're about 7 yrs old - some of
them have never been used and are
just collecting dust.
They paid $150.00 per cart and are
asking $75.00 per cart.
Contact Joyce at: joyce@centralparkliquor.com or 763-780-8247.
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| New AG&E Director Named |
It is my pleasure to announce that Michele Tuchner (currently serving as the Lt. Colonel of the Minnesota State Patrol) has accepted the position of Division Director for the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.
Michele has served almost 30 years in law enforcement and comes to this position with a wealth of knowledge and ability, enthusiasm and energy, to lead this division into the future.
Please join me in thanking Michele for her service and congratulating her as she moves into this new position within the Department of Public Safety.
If you would also please join me in thanking Jim Arlt, Acting Director of the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, for his service and his willingness to fill in as director through the past months of transition in our agency.
Jim has stepped to the plate and has done an outstanding job in leading the division during this time. We are very grateful for his willingness to continue to serve as the acting director until Michele comes on board, which will be in October.
Mona Dohman
Commissioner of Public Safety
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| Quick Tip | 
Give Customers a Unique Welcome Most businesses use, "Can I help you?" Have your employees greet each customer with a warm hello and engage them in a conversation. |
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If you don't know what you want and where you are going, you will get next to nothing and end up nowhere
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| Future Dates to Remember!! |  |
2011 MMBA Regional Meetings
September 21
Fergus Falls
September 28
Bemidji
October 5
Roseville
October 12
Marshall
October 19
Duluth
October 26
Austin
Click Here for More Information
2012 MMBA Boot Camp
February 21-22, 2012 Breezy Point Resort 2012 MMBA Annual Conference May 20-22, 2012 Arrowwood Resort |
| Ask A Director |
Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163
Cathy Pletta Kasson 507-634-7618 Vicki Segerstrom Milaca 320-983-6255 Brian Hachey Stacy 651-462-2727
Nancy Drumsta Delano 763-972-0578
Lara Smetana Pine City 320-629-2020
Michael Friesen Hawley 218-483-4747
Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-381-2349
Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035
Bridgitte Konrad North Branch 651-674-8113 Shelly Dillon Callaway 218-375-4691 Paul Kaspszak MMBA 763-572-0222 1-866-938-3925
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| Wine 101 |  | |
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| The Scam is Back! |  |
An MMBA member recently received the following scam email:
Hello,
We are interested in purchasing
:- 24 bottles of Armand De Brignac Brut (Ace of Spades)
:- 6 bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne
:- 6 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne
Do confirm how soon you can have them ready as we need them for an event on September 4th.
I'll wait to read from you with the total cost for the bottles. Do you accept MasterCard or Visa? Our Pickup men will come for the cases as soon as the Credit card goes through.
Regards,
Paul (NOT your executive director!!)
PS: Confirm for future orders, Would you be able to source ACE OF SPADES (Green Bottle)?
Another member received a similar message except the product was to be shipped to Georgia.
Again, these are SCAMS!!
If you receive a similar message, the State of Minnesota would like to know about it.
Click Here to Report a Scam
You should also notify your credit card processor. |
| An Elderly Drunk Man... |  |
An elderly drunk man is sitting at the bar, crying in his beer.
"What's wrong, guy?" the bartender asks.
"I'm married to a voluptuous, twenty-two year old nymphomaniac blonde."
"So what could be so bad about that?"
"I forget where I live!!" |
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