| As I See It... |
Smart phone= Smart communication?
You be the judge.
These days, information and communication move so fast. Twenty or thirty years ago you made a phone call or mailed a letter to someone if you wanted to give them information.
Then e-mail came along and you would send someone an email and expect a pretty quick response.
Now the "Smart Phone" has changed everything we know about the flow of information. Emails go directly to our phones. If we do not have a data plan we can text, basically the same thing as an email.
Then we can take it to a whole new level "Social Media." While there are many different ones out there, two are Facebook and Twitter.
We at BC liquors had a seasonal product come out a few weeks ago that was in high demand and we had people calling days before wondering when the delivery was coming. When the truck came and the product was on the shelf, people started rolling in for this unique 4-pack of beer.
About 30 minutes after it was delivered a guy came in and said he heard it was here! So I asked him if he called. He said no it was on Twitter.
I was confused because we do not have a Twitter account, I said the supplier must have "Tweeted it".
He said no a guy bought it here 20 minutes ago and sent the tweet out and now I am here! I was amazed at the power this displayed.
Then just last week, another high demand and very limited product hit stores and was pretty much sold out within hours of its release. The Social Media sites were lit up with messages on where to find this product.
Because of the limited supply, stores make a healthy GP -- we were at 34%, which works out to be a 53% mark up.
Then something really strange happened, a big store decided to run this product with 65% GP or that just under a 300% mark up.
All week long this store's own Facebook page was riddled with negative comments on their decision. Customers were very upset on this store's decision to charge that kind of a price.
My point in bring this up is to say that information flows so quickly these days. If this happened 20 years ago a few customers would have been mad and a couple of their buddies would have heard about it. But it would have stopped there and been forgotten about.
Now this incident has multiplied by hundreds if not thousands of comments.
So with all that being said, realize the good and the bad that can come with this fast flowing information process.
Finally, you will soon find MMBA on Facebook. We are developing a page and operating guidelines right now. If you have any ideas or suggestions on making it effective and fun give me a call or send me an e mail, Tagnes@brooklyncenterliquor.com
Tom Agnes
MMBA President |
| Good Question: Why Do So Many Prices End in .99? | |
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - With all the weapons retailers have to try to get our money, it's hard to imagine that a penny has much of a pull.
Yet, check the prices: $9.99, $19.99, $99.99. The 9 is ubiquitous.
So, why do so many prices end in 99, and does the one penny really make that much of a difference?
"For one penny, I can get you to think of it differently. If price matters, I can get you to entertain our product," said Mark Bergen, a Professor at Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
Bergen has researched pricing strategies, including the use of the 9 as a price cue.
Some marketers call the concept "psychological pricing." The idea is that instead of thinking of $69.99 as a price of $70, you think of it as a price in the 60s.
"From a psychological perspective, you ground my attention to a digit that's $10 less," said Bergen.
Other researchers talk about the "Left Digit Effect," the idea that people focus on the left-most digit, instead of the pennies at the end.
Data supports the idea that people make pricing decisions based on those pennies.
Click Here to See the Entire Story
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| Minors in a Bar / Liquor Store |  An MMBA member recently asked about minors in a bar / liquor store.
According to Minnesota Statute:
Persons under 21 - Illegal Acts(340A.503)
A. Consumption. It is unlawful for any:
- Retail licensee to permit any person under the age of 21 years to consume alcohol on the premise.
- Person under the age of 21 to consume any alcoholic beverage unless consumed in the household of the persons parent or guardian and with the consent of the parent or guardian.
B. Purchasing. It is unlawful for any person:
- To sell, furnish or give alcoholic beverages to a person under 21;
- Under the age of 21 to purchase or attempt to purchase or procure any alcoholic beverage; or
- To lend or knowingly permit the use of the person's drivers license, permit, Minnesota I.D. card or other form of identification by a person under the age of 21 years for the purpose of purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol.
C. Possession. It is unlawful for a person under the age of 21 to possess any alcoholic beverage with the intent to consume unless in the home of a person's parent or guardian.
D. Entering Licensed Premises. It is unlawful for a person under 21 to enter an establishment licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for the purpose of purchasing or having served or delivered any alcoholic beverages. However, no city ordinance may prohibit a person 18, 19 or 20 years of age from entering an establishment to:
- Perform work for the establishment, including the serving of alcoholic beverages;
- Consume meals; and
- Attend social functions that are held in a portion of the establishment where liquor is not sold.
E. Misrepresentation of Age. It is unlawful for a person under 21 to claim to be 21 for the purpose of purchasing alcoholic beverages.
F. Proof of Age, Defense
- Proof of age for purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages may be established only by one of the following:
a. A valid drivers license issued by Minnesota, another state or Canada and including the photograph and date of birth of the person;
b. A valid identification card issued by Minnesota, another state or Canada and including the photograph and date of birth of the person;
c. A valid military I.D. issued by the U.S. Dept. of Defense;
d. A valid passport issued by the United States.
e. In the case of a foreign national, a valid passport.
2. In a prosecution for a sale to a person under 21, it is a defense to
prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the seller
reasonably and in good faith relied upon representations of proof
of age authorized above in selling or giving the alcohol. |
| Chicago Man to be Buried in Pabst Can | 
The biggest can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer will be filled by a Chicago man. Bill Bramanti loves Pabst so much that he wants to be buried in a can of it.
The casket was designed for Bill's beer taste and serves more than one purpose.
While he is alive the coffer serves as a cooler to keep his Pabst cold.The cooler holds a total of 15 cases of beer and 150 lbs of ice. The big reveal of his casket took place at Bill's home where he entertained his family and friends.
Guests were able to see where Bill will be placed when he finally kicks the can. Everyone gathered around the vessel eating brats and speaking about Bill's stand-out personality.
Bill morbidly mentioned that the Pall Bearers should practice carrying the casket while it is full of beer and ice. Bill has had 5 heart attacks and wanted to be prepared for the big one. |
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You have achieved excellence as a leader when people will follow you everywhere if only out of curiosity.
-- Colin Powell |
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| Future Dates to Remember!! |  |
2012
MMBA Boot Camp
February 21-22, 2012
Breezy Point Resort
2012 MMBA Annual Conference
May 20-22, 2012
Arrowwood Resort
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| 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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| A Member Recently Asked... |  | |
A member recently asked:
Do other towns have as many problems with the interpretation of the liquor statutes as we seem to have?
The answer is Yes. It is just the nature of the system. However, please feel free to contact the MMBA office as often as necessary for assistance.
In addition, the link below, from Minnesota Alcohol & Gambling might be helpful:
Alcohol - FAQ
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| A Duck Walks Into a Bar... |  | |
A duck walks into a bar and says to the bartender, "Do you have any duck food?"
The bartender says, "Sorry buddy, no duck food here."
The next day, the duck goes into the same bar and says to the same bartender, "Do you have any duck food?"
The bartender says, "Hey pal, I thought I told you yesterday, we don't serve duck food."
The next day, the duck walks in, goes to the same guy and asks, "Do you have any duck food?"
"Look you stupid duck," the bartender says, "I told you twice already, we don't have duck food!! If you come in here one more time asking for duck food, I'm going to nail your beak to this bar!!!"
The next day, the duck goes into the bar and says, "Do you have any nails?"
The bartender, a little surprised by the question, replies, "Um, no, I don't have any nails."
"Great! Do you have any duck food?" |
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