Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(May 24, 2015 - May 30, 2015)
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As I See It...

From a recent newsletter there was a statement below the TED video.

 

"Knowledge has a beginning, but no end."   

 

I would add, "But with knowledge do we have understanding?"

 

Are we willing to change the way we think?

 

For example, most of us have the knowledge and skills to ride a bicycle, but if one functional characteristic on the bicycle was changed would you be able to ride?

 

The following video is fantastic and tells us so much about our brains function. Watch it until the end and enjoy!

 

Click Here 

 

Remember.  Go the extra mile, it's never crowded.

 

Michael Friesen

Hawley Liquors 

Did You Know???  

Like any good organization, MMBA is reviewing our programs and services to best serve the needs of members.

MMBA directors have begun calling members for their thoughts on a variety of subjects.

These calls will continue through June.
Seasonal Drinks
Summer

Be sure to offer seasonal drinks.

For example, the beer cocktail - or beertail, if you prefer - is fantastic because it offers interesting, complex flavors and endless experimentation.

The Shandy, the number one beertail, is much more a classic than people realize.

A light alcohol drink featuring pilsner or lager and lemonade, the Shandy should be on your menu.

Here are some Shandy tips:

* Choose your lemonade well. 

 

Taste before you mix with beer.  

 

Avoid artificial flavourings or sweeteners - but don't be shy about using lemonades featuring additional or alternative fruits. 

 

You can even experiment with drinks other than lemonade, such as cream soda (try it with stout) or root beer.

 

* Use a measuring jug.

 

Traditionally shandy is 50/50 beer and lemonade but using more beer often produces better results. 

 

* The idea of the craft beer shandy is that neither beer nor lemonade should overwhelm.

The flavors need to work together rather than against each other.
Northfield Considering New Liquor Store
Northfield2

By BRAD PHENOW Northfield News

The Northfield City Council could soon have options if they decide to move forward with a study on the future of the city's liquor store.

 

Following a presentation from Stephen DeLong, liquor operations director, and Melanie Schlomann, finance director, the Northfield City Council picked up a discussion that has resulted in little action since 2002.

 

"Our goal is to introduce the topic and get the council's feedback," said City Administrator Nick Haggenmiller.

 

"The opportunity is [upon you]; this is something you can do if you see value in doing it."

 

The future site may remain unknown for now, but pending the Council's approval, hard evidence could be gathered to allow the council to make an educated decision.

 

With the 2015 budget designating $14,000 to move forward with the study, staff will continue seeking Council direction.

 

The current liquor store is performing consistently, according to Schlomann, and without it, the city would need to increase the general levy by 3 percent, or cut services elsewhere.

 

Since 2002 a number of feasibility reports and market studies have been performed, leading the council to inch closer to making a decision to find a new site or expand at its current site, 116 Fifth St. W.

 

According to the conclusion of the 2002 study, in order to ensure the long-term success and maintain the contribution to the general fund, an expansion of the liquor store in its current location or a new location is necessary.

 

A new facility could result in sales tripling 10 years down the road, according to DeLong.

 

"We can make a lot more money than we currently are," he said.

 

Click Here for More  

How to Train Your Customers
Customers

By Whitney Johnson, Nightclub & Bar  

 

Society is easily influenced.  

 

People are naturally conditioned to act and appear in ways they deem acceptable from media, whether mass media or social. 

 

You have this media-like power, and you can get your customers to do what you want - from dress code to reservations - without them realizing it.

 

Think about it:  everyday, people are influenced by advertising on what to wear, eat, and even where to go. 

 

It all comes down to messaging and striking the right emotional cord. 

 

Your branding and advertising must tell the story of what's to come, giving your guests a peak into what they can expect. 

 

The key is to define your brand and your message, and then consistently deliver it to customers across all platforms.

 

Here's how to do exactly that:

 

Know Your Audience

 

First things first:  identify your audience.  

It'll be hard to train your customers without first knowing who they are and how they operate. 

 

Go beyond the simple demographic information, and discover what their idea of a good party is, the music they like to hear, the alcohol they like to drink, and the experience they expect. 

 

This information dictates the tone of your messages and helps to determine which emotions will be best for you to target.

 

Create Your Brand

 

Many venues don't consider their brand, but it's one of the most important parts of setting up your business. 

 

People connect with venues that have a focused style, and that style is your brand image. 

 

It's what aligns customer expectation with customer experience. 

 

Define your vision, create the essence you want your customers to experience, and design everything - from your logo to your interior - around these items.

 

Establish Your Message

 

Your messaging needs to be in line with your brand as well as your audience, and should carry a sense of personality and spirit. 

 

All of your messaging must tell the same story and should be presented in a way that drives your customers to your desired action. 

 

Use action verbs and be confident in your messages. 

 

You don't want your customers to simply consider what you're saying; you want them to have no choice but to agree with you. 

 

Images oftentimes speak louder than words, so use images in tandem with your content. 

 

Show images of people interacting in your venue dressed the way you want on your website, social posts, and ads. 

 

This tells your guests how they should dress to join the party. 

 

Then, at the venue, enforce this dress code to ensure their experience is what you proposed.

 

Be Consistent

 

Consistency is what drives success. 

 

Your written messages, images, delivered experience, and brand all need to be aligned in order for this to work. 

 

Moreover, the platforms on which you present this information must also be consistent, from social media to how your staff describes the venue to their friends. 

 

This is how you condition and ultimately train your guests. 

 

Use the same message no matter where you're communicating, and always deliver on that promise. 

Little Johnny is Always Being Teased...

Little Johnny is always being teased by the other neighborhood boys for being stupid.

Their favorite joke is to offer Johnny his choice between a nickel and a dime Little Johnny always takes the nickel.

One day, after Johnny takes the nickel, a neighbor takes him aside and says, "Johnny, those boys are making fun of you.

Don't you know that a dime is worth more than a nickel, even though the nickel's bigger?"

Johnny grins and says, "Well, if I took the dime, they'd stop doing it, and so far I've made $20!"
Future Dates to Remember
2015 MMBA Regional Meeetings

September and October

Ask A Director

Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163

Cathy Pletta
Kasson
507-634-7618
  
Bill Ludwig
Paynesville
320-250-3325
  
Candice Woods
Hutchinson 
320-587-2762
  
John Jacobi
Isanti
763-444-5063

Michael Friesen
Hawley
218-483-4747

Lisa Kamrowski
Nevis 
218-652-3135

Steve Grausam
Edina
952-903-5732

Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-549-3710
Brenda Visnovec
Lakeville 
952-985-4901
 
Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113

 Karissa Kurth
Buffalo Lake
320-833-2321
 
Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925
Click Here For Newsletter Archives 
Minnesota SMART

The SMART campaign: Supporting Minnesota's Alcohol Regulations and Traditions, is a renewed public education and grassroots advocacy effort in support of Minnesota's current alcohol regulations and three-tier system.

 

We believe Minnesota's current alcohol regulations are smart, balanced, and supported by many citizens and our local small businesses.    

    

They work well for Minnesota!

 

The SMART campaign functions to help you engage in advocacy efforts with state legislators and others in support of Minnesota's current alcohol regulations, and to oppose issues-such as Sunday alcohol sales.

We want to make it easy and effective for you to engage.

 

Take action and send an email to your state legislators today through the new SMART campaign website.   

 

We have sample letters and legislator contact information put together that is ready to go.   

 

  Click Here for the Website
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Beverage Alcohol Training

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 Contact Bob Leslie at:
 
320-766-3871
 


Contact Gary Buysse at:

763-428-0164

How to Control Someone Else's Arm with Your Brain

Greg Gage is on a mission to make brain science accessible to all. 

 

In this fun, kind of creepy demo, the neuroscientist and TED Senior Fellow uses a simple, inexpensive DIY kit to take away the free will of an audience member. 

 

It's not a parlor trick; it actually works. 

 

You have to see it to believe it.

 

Click Here 





Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.






 
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