We are in the bowels of another election cycle.

I don't need to make excuses for the use of the gastrointestinal reference to most of you, you get it; the physical discomfort, the psychological unease, the bloating, the lack of relief!

Every day your customers vote for your enterprise fund with their dollars. Provide them with a reason to continue voting for you in the future.

Your staff represents your party, your brand. Do they accurately and consistently personify the platform of your enterprise fund? Are they courteous, knowledgeable and energized or are they non-committal, uneducated and disengaged?

Does your product selection rival that of the other candidates in the race? Do you provide the leadership necessary and the on-going training to provide long term success for your party?

The analogy works for you and your purchasing habits also. Do your distributors and wholesalers provide you with the necessary tools to assist in your success or are they the "tools" that stand in your way? Do they deliver what they promise or do they fail on follow through after making the sale? Expect the same from your vendors as your customers expect from you; consistent knowledgeable and courteous service with fair pricing and a mechanism to quickly correct mistakes and stumbles.

It's important to determine whether the political candidates in your town, district, state or nation exemplify what you feel is important for you, your family, your city or your nation. Do what you can to become an informed voter! The fate of your enterprise fund may depend on it!

I have utilized a cooler set by Miller/Coors for years. I feel it has enhanced the "shopability" of my cooler. If you want more information contact me or your Miller/Coors representative.

By Bill Ward, StarTribune

It's the best of times for wine lovers, but it's not the best of times for many brand lovers.

A combination of several variables in the old supply-demand formula and upheaval in the local distributor ranks has created some often-gaping shelf holes at local stores.

It was enough to prompt Edina Liquors' Steve Grausam to write a July 24 post on the city's website, apologizing to customers "for not always having the product you like or want. ... In my 25 years at Edina Liquor I have never seen supply issues this bad."

Click Here to Read Steve's Blogs

Particularly problematic, retailers say, are popular bulk brands such as Mionetto Prosecco and FishEye and Jacob's Creek pinot grigio. "I've been out of Jacob's Creek since the beginning of July," Grausam said last week. "It gets real frustrating when you've built a brand like that."

The troubles, which Grausam predicts will continue, reach all the way up the supply chain. Two straight cold growing seasons in California reduced the grape crops significantly. The balky economy has prompted many large bottlers to scale back production. Rather than let pallets of wine stack up in their warehouses, wholesalers are filling orders on demand, and often find they can't get what they want from California.

The situation has been exacerbated locally by distributor churn. The nation's largest wholesaler, Southern Wine & Spirits, moved into the market in late 2010 and recently swallowed up another large operation, Quality. The big boys have been duking it out over brands, with many large ones (Yellow Tail, Chateau Ste. Michelle) changing hands in recent months.

Those transitions affect supplies of both people (scores of sales reps are out of work) and products. "Portfolios have been realigning," said Rick Anderson, wine buyer at France 44, "and whenever this happens, there are breaks in continuity."

Mike Dombrow, wine buyer for Sunfish Cellars, noted, "There are lots of things that I just let go of because I no longer know who to buy it from."

Consumers who develop fierce loyalty to certain brands are contributing to the shortages. One large wholesaler told me he has enough pinot grigio to fill Lake Calhoun, but not always the most-in-demand labels.

"I hear inexpensive Clever Name Field Blends are getting nailed," said Mitch Zavada, at South Lyndale Liquors. "Fewer grapes mean higher price means dead brand. There's lots of brand loyalty in these categories, so some customers have been irritated."

That makes this the classic obstacle-that-becomes-an-opportunity, a little thing called branching out or "try it, you'll almost certainly like it." Winemongers such as Zavada and Dombrow are pointing customers toward alternatives to their favorites.

And even with a few bare spots on their shelves, these stores contain more viable options from around the world than ever before.

(Editor's Note: The key to this situation and shortages of any product is best said by Steve in his blog, "In the meantime, if we happen to be out of the product that that you came in for, ask a staff member to recommend a comparable product; that's what we're here for.")

Baudette Minnesota, a community located on the Canadian border, is seeking a self-motivated, energetic, retail professional to provide leadership and direction for the City's liquor operations (Liquor Store Manager). 

This individual is responsible for the operation, supervision and management of the community's liquor store. 

Qualified candidates must possess five years experience in retail sales management, budgeting, and other applicable sales knowledge.

Bachelors Degree in Business Management or related field is preferred. 

The 2012 salary range will be $35,778 to $$48,301 based on qualifications. 

Application packets are available at the Baudette City Office, 104 Main Street West, PO Box 548, Baudette, MN 56623, by calling 218-634-1850 or on the city website at www.ci.baudette.mn.us.  

Deadline for submittal of application is 4 p.m., August 17, 2012. 

The City of Baudette is an equal opportunity employer.

"In marketing I've seen only one strategy that can't miss - and that is to market to your best customers first, your best prospects second and the rest of the world last."

Beverage Alcohol Training

A woman is sitting on the veranda with her husband enjoying a glass of wine.

 She says, "I love you."

 He asks, "Is that you or the wine talking?"

She replies, "It's me.............talking to the wine."