Olivia Liquor made a huge revenue swing in 12 months, (2013-2014), following years of financial challenges.
City Administrator Dan Coughlin offers the fololiwng takeaways from the experience: To thine self be true. You have to be able to honestly assess the shortcomings and weaknesses of your organization and then be willing to make the necessary changes to chart a new course; even when local politics makes that an uncomfortable proposition.
Those changes might include ceasing parts of your operation, personnel changes, investing in updates, etc.
All which can be scary, politically controversial actions - but might be a necessity if one wants to have your store thrive instead of just survive.
Be willing to try new things knowing full well that you will fail in some attempts. Don't box your manager into a play-it-safe mindset by expecting everything that is tried will succeed.
Good communication between the manager, administration and elected officials is the best salve for minor bumps and bruises along the way.
Take the time to find the best employees you can - then treat them well, pay them well and then get out of their way and let them be the professionals you hired them to be.
Never stop learning. Continuing education, seminars, networking opportunities and professional support systems are all key to keeping your finger on the pulse of the industry and learning from the wisdom of others.
The MMBA Board & Staff are an amazing resource for local managers, administrators or elected officials. We truly would not have found ourselves where we are right now if it weren't for a handful of MMBA members donating their time to work with us on options to take a struggling enterprise and turn it around.
They are only an email or phone call away - so avail yourselves of their assistance and then heed their advice.
They know what they are talking about!
And finally, on a personal note... Our new manager Nanette Serbus is truly an outstanding business professional who, along with her staff, has made this turnaround possible.
Without a key leader such as Nanette helping guide our store in a new direction, all the plans and programs in the world wouldn't have brought us the kind of success we now enjoy.
(And to think she was with us for a decade and a half as a part-time clerk & bartender before she was given the opportunity to bring her true talents to the forefront in the organization!)
