There have been some recent changes to our market that have had an effect on the way we do business.  

New competition has completely altered the way existing municipal and private liquor outlets must view the market and competition.

I have put together a few wishes for a prosperous holiday season and a great New Year:

* It is my sincere wish that we all are treated fairly by our distributors and wholesalers.  

The throngs of "merchandisers" waiting to enter certain stores in Woodbury, Burnsville, Bloomington and Roseville at 6:30 a.m. each day is rivaled only by the lines at the women's restrooms at one of the recent Garth Brooks shows!  

This smells of unfair incentives and assistance!  

How you can help: Demand service!

* It is my Holiday hope that highly allocated items are dispensed fairly throughout the market based on pre-determined criteria, not by attempts to appease the new kid on the block.  

How you can help: Make your concerns known!

* I am giddy about the ready availability of all inventory to all retailers without the presence of artificial "road blocks" designed to prolong wait times and track orders of newly introduced inventory items.  

How you can help: Contact suppliers to clear up supply lines!

* I long for honesty in pricing and intent.  

If you present yourself as a consumer friendly retailer with barrel bottom pricing on national brands and provide incentives to your staff to switch consumers to proprietary labels with markups up to 148% you are not Robin Hood; you just might be Bernie Madoff.  

Educate yourself and your staff to inform your customers intelligently.

How you can help: Develop a policy of fair pricing and stick to it with a measure of good customer service thrown in.

* I hope for a strong Minnesota economy.  

Doesn't anyone realize that all of the sales revenue generated by a company headquartered out of the state goes out of state?  

Also, how does a $10,000 donation compare to my annual contribution of over $300,000?  

How you can help: Beat your chest about your community value! Keep Minnesota money in Minnesota!

* We need a sense of community and cooperation.  

There is a strategy in place to reduce the detrimental effects that the behemoths presence will have on your livelihood and as explained earlier, your customer's wallets.  

What you can do to help: Reach out to learn what you can do to assure continued success for your store, whether municipal or private.

* Never forget who your friends are.  

Just because a new friend moves into the neighborhood with a nicer house and newer toys, don't forget your old friends; we're the ones who have always stood by you in the past.  

How you can help: Reach out to your old friends and reaffirm how you have supported each other in the past.

I'll leave you with this thought:  

Many years of hard work and training are required to become a championship boxer.  

Thousands of miles are run, tons of weights are lifted and strategies are developed for each new opponent.  

No boxer has ever prepared for a match only to enter the ring and hang their hands by their sides while their opponent pummels them at will.  

Most of you have trained for this fight and you have the strategy before you. This is the big match, the one for the belt.  

It could go 15 rounds but you're not in the fight unless you make a decision to pick up the gloves.   

Gary Buysse

Rogers 

Fred Lee never remembers the punch line to jokes but has a Rye sense of humor!

Stop in and see changes at Fridley

Liquor! From our helpful, expert staff to the new comfort and ease of the store layout, the changes at Fridley Liquor (University & I694) are led by Mr. Fred Lee. (Get it? Fred Lee....Frid-ley!)

Our new look matches our new attitude: We want to make shopping easy and fun for you!  

In-the-Know staff (including Fred, look for his advice throughout the store) can tell you what's new, what's hot and what's on sale.

New signage will help you find your favorite brands and so will we. "Gather" in the back of our store for periodic wine tastings and other special events.

Relive Fridley history with wall photographs that remember our roots. Experience shopping the way it should be with great service, selection and prices.

Did you know? Both Fridley Liquor stores are owned by the City, and every purchase helps reinvest in your neighborhood.  

Proceeds are used for things like new fire engines, park improvements, street repairs and keeping taxes low.

Fred Lee is busy mixing up his favorite blends, featuring store firsts and negotiating you a fair deal with special offers.

Fridley Liquor has added over 1,200 new products since the first of the year with additional products being added every week.

Follow Fred on Facebook and Twitter @FridleyLiquor to see what he finds around town and brings back to your favorite store.

Check out our Grand Re-Opening December 1 - 6.

There will be special tasting events each day as well as prize drawings to recognize your loyalty.

We are looking forward to an exciting future and continuously improving to meet your needs and wants.

During the month of December, receive an additional 15% of your holiday purchases with the attached coupon below.

Sign up online for our tasting club or drop off the completed form below at either of our stores, and receive the latest updates on upcoming events, product specials, and new releases.

Please visit www.fridleymn.gov/fridleyliquor to sign up.

Expert Advice. Great Selection. Two Convenient Locations.  

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