Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter

(September 21, 2014 - September 27, 2014)

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As I See It...

Regional Meetings have begun and if you have not taken the time to attend one, I strongly encourage you to do so.

They are a great means to enjoy the company of other managers from your area and the MMBA Board Directors, as well as a learning experience of many aspects.

This year's agenda consists of an informational presentation from Bacardi during lunch, and then discussion regarding current legislative issues, business trends that are coming and how they are or could affect you personally, group discussions based on topics you want to discuss, and so much more!

I know some of you are thinking "I don't have time", or "What can I learn?" but I have yet to attend an event and not learn something, and I have actually gained several insights that I have since put in place in my store since attending the first meeting in Thief River Falls. (I also attended the Alexandria meeting and plan to attend several others as well.)

For instance, Gluten Free... More and more folks are needing and looking for gluten free items.

It is a demand that affects us all regardless of where we are.

Do you and your staff know what products you carry that are gluten free if a customer asks?

Do you have these marked for your customers?

If not, here are some links to learn about what is gluten free. Buzzle, Celiac Info, and The Gluten Free Checklist, to provide you with a starting point. There are also labels and shelf tags available thru Amazon and LabelValue.

As Brenda previously shared, these meetings, as well as our Conference and Boot Camp, are invaluable tools and as the agenda is the same for each region, the topics covered and discussed are broken down regionally and each meeting is different because of demographics, populations, competition and construction of the attendees.

So if you have not attended, I urge you to please go to one of the following and I assure you that you too will see positive outcome from your attendance and input.

Take the time to step away from your store and step into an opportunity that will benefit you, your community, and your staff!

Here are the remaining locations:

October 1st- DoubleTree Hotel in Rochester

October 8th- Radisson Hotel in Duluth

October 9th- DoubleTree Park Place in St. Louis Park

Look forward to seeing you there!

Lisa Kamrowski

Nevis Liquor

Make it Easy to Take Their Money!

Your humble executive director decided to enter the 21st Century and purchase a HDTV.

As a result, I had to upgrade my DirectTV.

The technician, Joe, is here as I write this and is very personable and capable.

Before he started, we discussed my ultimate goal to make the system wireless.

We discussed the technical issues, but he was not trained to provide pricing information.

So, he called his dispatcher to discuss the situation.

The dispatcher was also not trained to provide pricing information.

After more discussion and analysis, we sort of figured it out and I decided to move forward.

It was a very frustrating experience.

Bottom line, I wanted to give the company more of my money, but they made it difficult to do so.

Nether Joe or the dispatcher were at fault for lack of knowledge.

However, their supervisors and those above them should be ashamed of themselves for putting these individuals in the uncomfortable situation of trying to help a customer without having adequate knowledge of the options.

It is not possible I'm the first one wanting to upgrade and needing help navigating the different systems and pricing structures.

Joe is the face of DirectTV and the company let him, and me, down.

Hopefully, this situation encourages you to ask how easy is it for customers to give you their money?

For example, believe it or not, some communities still do not take credit cards.

Although it is not often used, even MMBA has figured out a way to accept electronic payments from those who want to utilize the option.

In addition, customers needing help navigating the overwhelming number of new products are often not being served by employees who always stay behind the counter.

Furthermore, do you have the proper product selection to meet the needs of your current and potential customer?

I can't tell you how sick and tired I am of hearing, "We're not a wine town!!!"

Does that mean a massive selection of inventory? No. But a good selection is needed and customers must be told you have product they will be happy purchasing.

Finally, while busy times can cause backups, how long does it take for customers waiting in line to make their purchase?

People hate to wait and may spend a significant amount of time wandering a facility or driving to a bar. But once they get there, they want make their purchase as soon as possible.

In short, remember what local sports celebrity Wally the Beerman taught me many years ago...

If there are customers willing to purchase, "Take the Money, Paul!!"

Attention Liquor Managers and Product Suppliers...

The 2014 MMBA Regional Meetings are over half completed.

One constant theme coming from participants is the need for increased staff product knowledge.

This is more than just tasting multiple products at any given moment.

It is about taste characteristics, price points, comparable options, customer profile, sales techniques and more.

Remember, the real "art" of selling is finding out what people want and then helping them get it!

An Open Letter from Pabst

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting us regarding the reported sale of Pabst Brewing Company.

Unfortunately, the current media reports are highly inaccurate and what is written in the blogosphere is even worse.

We are disappointed that so many media outlets have been reporting inaccurate information.

Pabst Brewing Company is NOT being sold to a Russian company.

Pabst has been an American company since 1844 and will continue to be American-owned and operated with its headquarters in the U.S.

Eugene Kashper is an American citizen and beer entrepreneur.

He immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1976 at the age of 6 and lives in the U.S.

Eugene is deeply connected to PBC's authentic and vibrant brands.

In addition to Eugene Kashper, the future owners of Pabst will include TSG Consumer Partners, a US-based private equity firm, and Cyprus-based Oasis Beverages.

All parties are deeply committed to Pabst's future as an American company.

We hope to set the record straight in the broader media in the coming days and weeks.

We want to ensure that all loyal Pabst drinkers fully understand Eugene's background.

Pabst was originally founded by American immigrants - Jacob Best and Frederick Pabst - and we are proud to continue in that tradition today.

Eugene is committed to investing in the growth of Pabst's brands and delivering the highest quality product to Pabst's loyal customers.

Please feel free to share this response and help us clarify that Pabst will continue its 170-year-old tradition of being an American-owned and operated company.

If you have any other questions, please contact me or your local PBC representative, Jeff Van Schoick, at any time.

Best regards,

Dan McHugh

Chief Marketing Officer Pabst Brewing Company

(310) 470-0962

2014 MMBA Food Drive

MMBA Members, there is still time to sign up for the 2014 Food Drive.

Contact the MMBA Office if interested.

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.

I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.

I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

-Michael Jordan

Future Dates to Remember

2014 MMBA Regional Meetings

Rochester
October 1

Duluth
October 8

Metro
October 9

Click Here for More Information

Ask A Director

Gary Buysse

Rogers

763-428-0163

E-Mail Me

Cathy Pletta

Kasson

507-634-7618

E-Mail Me

Bill Ludwig

Paynesville

320-250-3325

E-Mail Me

Candice Woods

Hutchinson

320-587-2762

E-Mail Me

John Jacobi

Isanti

763-444-5063

E-Mail Me

Michael Friesen

Hawley

218-483-4747

E-Mail Me

Lisa Kamrowski

Nevis

218-652-3135

E-Mail Me

Steve Grausam

Edina

952-903-5732

E-Mail Me

Toni Buchite

50 Lakes

218-763-2035

E-Mail Me

Brenda Visnovec

Lakeville

952-985-4901

E-Mail Me

Bridgitte Konrad

North Branch

651-674-8113

E-Mail Me

Shelly Dillon

Callaway

218-375-4691

E-Mail Me

Karissa Kurth

Buffalo Lake

320-833-2321

E-Mail Me

Paul Kaspszak

MMBA

763-572-0222

1-866-938-3925

E-Mail Me

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

Beverage Alcohol Training

Contact Bob Leslie at:

320-766-3871

E-Mail Bob

Contact Gary Buysse at:

763-428-0164

E-Mail Gary

Underwater Astonishments

David Gallo shows jaw-dropping footage of amazing sea creatures, including a color-shifting cuttlefish, a perfectly camouflaged octopus, and a Times Square's worth of neon light displays from fish who live in the blackest depths of the ocean.

(Note: This is really cool and best viewed in full screen)

Click Here

A Senator is in a Restaurant...

A Senator is in a restaurant and the waiter brings over the rolls, but no butter.

"May I have some butter, please?"

The waiter gives a slight nod and wanders off.

Ten minutes later, still no butter. The senator catches his eye.

"May I have some butter, Please?"

Still the vaguest of responses, and after ten more minutes, still no butter.

"Maybe you don't know who I am," says the senator.

"I'm a Princeton graduate, a Rhodes scholar, an All-American basketball player who played with the New York Knicks in the pros, and I'm currently a United States senator, chairman of the International Debt Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and a member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee."

Maybe you don't know who I am," said the waiter.

"I'm the guy who's in charge of the butter".

Contact Trinchero Family Estates

Contact Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Contact Oven Baked Eats

Contact the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association

Contact Minnesota Independent Ice Manufacturers Association

Contact MillerCoors

Contact Beam Suntory

Contact Anheuser-Busch