News from Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association

Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter

(September 11, 2011 - September 17, 2011)

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This time of the year is my favorite, with the sunny warm days and cool nights.

Things have slowed down customer wise for us but work is still busy as I am now gearing up-(down) for the upcoming season. The season may not affect everyone, but for us in Greater Minnesota it affects most of us.

I am in the process of going through my inventory and eliminating items that will not sell over the coming season or items that were tried and did not sell well.

Sometimes we invent drinks and special them in the bar to move something out. To carry them in inventory just ties up money that can be better spent elsewhere or in the bank account.

I am also going from 8 tap beers to the 5 best sellers and taking lemonade and tea off the pop dispenser for the winter.

We are looking at the food and clothing too. We want to keep the best sellers and move out the slow movers.

I'm using my computerized cash register to find the best sellers.

In going through my beer inventory I found a couple of brands that were zero sellers for last year but were still on the shelf because the salesman just kept changing it out as it came close to date. These items will go back.

By managing inventory, the bottom line can be increased.

Our hours will also be changing with the seasons. I am checking sale tapes for how many sales during what hours and checking what we did last year. As we go into the fall and winter patrons come later in the day, so we adjust the hours accordingly. This saves on wages and adds more money to the bottom line.

Good luck on your seasonal efforts and don't forget to take some time to enjoy the best time of the year!

Toni Buchite

MMBA Director

MMBA Speaks at Rotary Club

MMBA president Tom Agnes and executive director Paul Kaspszak recently spoke at the Rotary Club in Fridley about municipal liquor and the important role it plays in the Fridley, Columbia Heights and Spring Lake Park community. (Actually, Paul did all of the talking because his father Ed was a long-time member of the club.)

MMBA welcomes the opportunity to speak at orgainzaitons around the state.

Pictured above are Paul Kaspszak, Tom Agnes, Rotary President Jenny Hedal, and member Roy Goslin. (Roy is also president of MMBA Commercial Member Z Wines USA.)

State Fair Poll Results

Below are links to the results of the Senate and House State Fair opinion poll surveys.

These are unscientific surveys. They are simply a measurement of the opinions expressed by those individuals that visited the Fair Booths and took the time to fill out questionnaires.

The main purpose of the opinion polls was to familiarize fair-goers with some of the issues (including Sunday Sales and Gambling) that were considered during the past year, or may be dealt with in 2012.

Click Here to View the Senate Survey

Click Here to View the House Survey

Seaborn Leaving Pipestone

By Debra Fitzgerald, Pipestone County Star

Pipestone Liquor Store Manager John Seaborn will be moving from Pipestone with wife Pat and handing over the liquor store management to existing employee Jim Biever.

Seaborn has managed the liquor store for the City of Pipestone since December 1998. He and his wife, both native Californians, will return to their home state, Seaborn said.

The Seaborns moved to Pipestone 29 years ago when they purchased the old Ben Franklin store on Main Street (which became the Hobby Lobby and is now SoJo's Sportswear). They almost moved back to California then, Seaborn said, but stayed after he was offered a job with M&M (now Bomgaars) and after that, the job with the city's municipal liquor store.

During the Sept. 6 City Council meeting, City Administrator Jeff Jones and Mayor Laurie Nesspresented Seaborn with a pipestone pipe for his service to the city (Pictured above).

Seaborn's last day at the store will be Sept. 16.

Morris Uses Liquor Funds for Fire Truck

At a recent meeting, the Morris City Council approved a preliminary tax levy for 2012 of about $1.3 million, a 7.6 percent increase from 2011. However, in his notes to the city council, City Manager Blaine Hill said he anticipates the final levy will be somewhere between 3 and 5 percent.

Hill said the budget also includes a plan to make the final payment on the fire truck by transferring money from the liquor store reserves and equipment reserves

After Spending a Happy Evening Drinking together..