Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(January 26, 2013 - February 1, 2014)
 Click Here
for the
As I See It... 

Wine Critic 2    

 

As I see it, everyday is one day closer to spring!

 

This month's article has me stumped.  Which topics do I talk about?

 

Sunday Sales is on everyone's mind right now. Call, write. Just talk to your Representatives and let them know where you stand.

 

State Auditor's report is out and a net-profit increase of 13.1% for Off Sales and 93% for On Sales. WOW, they needed that!

 

I would like to tell you a little bit about our Wine Club here in the little town of Milaca.

 

We meet for a tasting once a month at predetermined locations, which I change periodically to mix things up.

 

Our members are on an e-mail list and receive special offers and new item information.  

 

We do not charge to be a wine club member.  However, we do charge for the food at our tastings.

 

Most of the time, we do a 5 course meal with a different wine for each course.

 

A sales rep or I talk about each of the wines and how they pair with the great food that cannot be found anywhere near Milaca.

 

Last year, we started pre-selling all the tickets, with a minimum of 20 people and a maximum of 30 people for our main restaurant. We chose this number so the restaurant makes some $$ and can easily serve them.

 

We have made some great relationships with our wine customers and they love the education and the night out on the town.

 

We print preference sheets with special pricing.

 

We are looking into doing a bus trip to a Minnesota winery in May.

 

The ideas for wine club night are endless. If one thing does not work out, try something else!

 

If you have questions or thoughts about any of the issues I have discussed , please contact me at liquor@frontiernet.net.

 

Keep warm!

 

Toasts to you,

Vicki @ Milaca Off Sale 

Brooklyn Center Job Opportunity
Jobs

Liquor Store Office Assistant
 

SALARY: $16.80 - $20.45 Hourly

$34,944.00 - $42,536.00 Annually

 

OPENING DATE: 01/29/14

CLOSING DATE: 02/13/14 11:59 PM

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

Assists liquor store managers and buyers with inventory, price control, staffing and general office duties at City's liquor stores.

 

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

 

   * Prepares daily cash reports and bank deposits.

 

   * Codes and enters invoices into database per buyer's direction.

 

   * Processes merchandise transfers, credit memos, and adjustments.

 

   * Verifies and maintains records for all stores per buyer's direction.

 

   * Participates in store inventories and handles spot check of inventories for all stores.

 

   * Keeps liquor store manager and finance department informed about cost changes to ensure that retail price markup is maintained.

 

   * Maintains liquor store filing system.

 

   * Performs cashier duties whenever the need arises.

 

   * Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.

 

   * Responsible for mass e-mails and Tasting Club notifications.

 

Click Here for More Information 

 

Crystall Scam Never Ends!!
cristal

Beware!!

The high-end champagne scam is back.

A couple of recent notes from members:

* We just got a call from someone asking us to order in 6 bottles of Crystall or Dom if we couldn't get it.  Gave us a credit card number. Remember getting an email from you some time back warning everyone that there was some scam going on like this some time back.

* We just had a guy call and wanted to pre-order 12 bottles of Crystall and pay over the phone. He was very hard to understand and was muffled. Of course we turned down his request.
Things No One Told You About Retail Business:
Two Friends Talking 2

By Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor

 

* As soon as you figure out what your customer wants, they will want something totally different.

 

* What customers say with their mouths is interesting, but what they say with their wallets is how they really feel.

 

* You will always remember the customer who managed to get under your skin and got you to lose your cool...even if you were right.

 

* Every big event coincides with a terrible storm.

 

* Customers will have suggestions for every part of your business - what you carry, what events you should hold, etc.  But what they buy, attend, and otherwise support, is another matter entirely.

 

* You will work weekends, nights and holidays; if you don't like it, don't go into retail.

 

* Just because someone asks for a discount, doesn't mean they won't buy if you don't give them one.

 

* Customers never read the small print on coupons.

 

* 99% of the time, that 800 number on your caller ID is probably a merchant-services telemarketer trying to get you to switch to them.

 

* Sometimes a Tuesday might be your best day of the week; other times it will be a Saturday. In retail, there is often no consistency.

 

* There will always be customers who won't respect your store, products, or employees.

 

* Without a sense of humor, you will never survive. OK, you may survive, but you will be miserable.

 

* The customer is not always right.

 

* There are many businesses out there whose only business is to rip-off and scam other small businesses.

 

* Sales reps lie...even the good ones.

 

* If you let your vendor substitute one item for another one time, the next time they will simply send you whatever they feel like sending you, to the point that you won't even recognize it as your order.

 

* You'll have to fire the friend you were sure would be a great business partner or employee.

 

* 20% of your customers are responsible for 80% of your sales.

 

* You can always be told "no" and say "no."

 

* Organization is a skill worth working on; it's what can make or break you.

 

* You need to listen for what customers actually spend their money on, not what they say they want.

 

* You'll discover an employee you loved during the interview is unable to do the job.

 

* The best parenting advice in the world doesn't mean a thing if you don't know what YOUR baby needs. Retail is no different. Know your baby.

 

* Consistently great customer service will make your business thrive, but one bad customer's experience, in the face of social media, can close your doors!

 

* Even with all of the maddening things that come along with being a retailer, the things you will learn about yourself, your customers, and your community will make your life more rewarding. 

 

Ole is on his Deathbed....

Ole is on his deathbed, knows the end is near, is with his nurse, his wife, his daughter and 2 sons.

"So", he says to them:

"My oldest son Sven, I want you to take the Minnetonka houses; daughter Lena, take the apartments over in Edina; son Rasmus, I want you to take the offices over on Hennepin; and Gunhild, my dear wife, please take all the residential buildings downtown."

The nurse is just blown away by all this, and as Ole slips away, she says,
"Mrs. Olson, your husband must have been such a hard working man to have accumulated all this property."

Gunhild replies, "Property? ...
                                           
Ole had a paper route!"
Future Dates to Remember!!
 2014 MMBA Boot Camp

 

February 17 - 19

Breezy Point Resort

 

Click Here for More Information 

 

2014 MMBA / MLBA Legislative Day

 

March 10

Kelly Inn, St. Paul  

 

2014 MMBA Annual Conference

 

May 17 - 20

Arrowwood Resort 

Ask A Director

Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163

Cathy Pletta
Kasson
507-634-7618
  
Vicki Segerstrom
Milaca
320-983-6255
  
Candice Woods
Hutchinson 
320-587-2762
  
Nancy Drumsta
Delano
763-972-0578

Lara Smetana
Pine City
320-629-2020

Michael Friesen
Hawley
218-483-4747

Lisa Kamrowski
Nevis 
218-652-3135

Steve Grausam
Edina
952-903-5732

Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035

Brenda Visnovec
Lakeville 
952-985-4901
 
Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113
  
Shelly Dillon
Callaway
218-375-4691
  
Karissa Kurth
Buffalo Lake
320-833-2321
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925

 
Click Here For Newsletter Archives 
Sunday Sales: Convenience at What Cost?
The MMBA website now contains comprehensive information on Sunday Sales. 

It is a reference for members, legislators, media, city councils and the general public.

Click Here for the Website

 

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 Contact Bob Leslie at:
 
320-766-3871
 


Contact Gary Buysse at:

763-428-0164

Featured Article
Edina City Manager Scott Neal recently wrote in his blog:

We are fortunate to have a municipal liquor operation in Edina.  It gives city government some ability to control the distribution of  liquor in the community and produces a very healthy revenue stream which we use to soften the tax burden on our residents for capital improvements and public amenities.  It is a good system operated by good people...

Click Here for the Full Article 

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