Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter

(September 29, 2013 - October 4, 2013)

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As I See It...

Food Drive Sign 2012

October is a great month. There are lots of changes and preparations both in the store and with life in general.

We are busy getting the store decorated for Fall/ Halloween and the MMBA Food Drive. We host two events in October where we get our community involved with the food drive.

First, we will host the 3rd Annual DODGE HUNGER Dodgeball Tournament. It has been a great success and tons of fun.

We have a 40 can/$40 entry fee per team and those who want to watch must pay 3 cans of food or $3 each.

We have a minimum of 8 teams but are shooting for 12 this year.

It is a blast to watch the local Fire Department battle against the Sheriff's Deputies and local Teachers teams. Other teams include local softball league teams, churches and just teams of friends.

Fun is had by all and it is for a great cause!!

Our second event is an OKTOBERFEST BEER TASTING.

This event is held at the local Pizza Place and we will be collecting food and cash for the MMBA Food Drive. It has been a great success in helping us collect more donations. People come for some great pizza and beer and make donations.

I encourage you all to get creative. Don't only wait for that customer to enter your store with their donations.

Get others involved and show them that their municipal liquor store is a value to their community.

Good Luck!!!

Lara Smetana

Voyageur Bottle Shop (Pine City)

What Happens When You Lower Your Price?

MMBA has discussed this concept with members for several years...

By Tom Shay, MMBA Conference Presenter

It is a frequent thought among those with the responsibility of setting the price for a product or service.

'Would I sell more if I were to lower the price?'

While that may be the initial question, there are really two additional questions that should be asked.

'How many more of that product or service do I have to sell to produce the same gross revenue dollars? How many more of that product or service do I have to sell to produce the same gross profit dollars?'

This free calculator on the Profits Plus website will answer both questions for you.

Click Here for Calculator

Container Deposit Update

MMBA Lobbyist Sarah Psick attended the recent meeting at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concerning container deposits.

The draft report was presented by MPCA staff which was followed by a facilitated discussion about the draft program.

There were several supporters of the proposal who offered comments about how to make it better. This was followed by many folks expressing concern about the proposal.

She provided brief comments on behalf of MMBA and MLBA.

The League of Minnesota Cities had a staff member present who expressed the concerns of many small cities that have invested in curb-side recycling and what the costs will be to those cities.

The next steps are:

· MPCA will issue an RFP to conduct a cost/benefit analysis

· Written comments are being accepted on the draft proposal

· Late December meeting regarding the cost/benefit analysis, proposal

· January 15, 2014 report deadline to present to the legislature

Cathy Was Driving Home...

Cathy was driving home from an MMBA meeting when she saw an elderly woman walking on the side of the road.

As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the woman if she would like a ride.

With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.

Resuming the journey, Cathy tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the woman.

The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Cathy.

'What in bag?', asked the old woman.

Cathy looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.'

The woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said:

'Good trade.....'

Shelves Collapse, Breaking Hundreds of Liquor Bottles