Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(October 18, 2015 - October 24, 2015)
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for the
As I See It...

Our famous, or should I say infamous executive director continually states that our business is a realm of cycles, and while painful to admit, he is right again!
 
Who can remember back to 2002?

The unemployment rate in the state was less than 4%, it was difficult to hire employees and keep them for more than a month or two.
 
That was until the recession hit and by 2009 nearly one out of nearly even ten people were looking for work.

And not just work, but any form of employment!

While those were difficult times, we had choices of who we hired and people were pounding on our doors looking for a job!
 
Fast forward to 2015 and here we are again!

The state unemployment rate is at 4% again, and within the metro, it is running less than 3%.

While going through town I have found myself counting the number of help wanted signs posted in windows and entrances.
 
So how do you stay ahead of the game in hiring strong reliable staff during these times?
 

Be proactive!  

 

Don't wait for the one employee who works four shifts per week to put in their notice.  

 

Constantly be reviewing applications as they come in and ensure you have some backup in your system.

 

Be selective!

Do not hire someone just because they can pass the bubble gum test.

The bubble gum test is when an applicant can chew gum and walk at the same time.

It is better to run lean than to hire someone who is going to harm the morale of your team.

Be a recruiter!  

 

Carry your business cards with you, and if you receive good service while out and about, hand the person a business card.  

 

Inform them that you are looking for good staff and ask them to give you a call.  

 

With changes in health care reform, many people are unable to get the number of hours they need to make ends meet from one employer.  

 

So while they are working for someone else now, they may be looking for additional hours.

 

Use social media to advertise!  

 

Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Craigslist as low budget avenues in which to advertise your needs.

 

Be a fair employer!  

 

We are currently in the process of completing a comprehensive comparison of surrounding municipal operations to see if we are offering similar wages and benefits.  

 

The city also just recently completed an employee satisfaction survey.  

 

We can proudly state that Liquor Department employees rated high in understanding customer service expectations, goals and service to the public.  

 

We also found out that our employees would like to feel more appreciated and want better communication.  

 

Great awareness factor for our management team.

 

Be a firm employer!  

 

Nothing hurts morale more than inconsistency in schedules, rules and procedures.  

 

Just because you are running short-handed does not mean employees can rule how you operate.  

 

While you may lose one employee who is upset they can't take the week of Christmas off, you will ensure the respect of the others who remain.

 

Be an appreciative employer!  

 

Make work enjoyable!  

 

Or as much as work can be.  

 

A part-time job does not need to be stressful if management is organized and plans ahead.  

 

Have a strong vision and expectations of your employees, be a leader in which they can emulate.

 
Bottom line, employees serve our patrons, our patrons ensure we remain in business.

Our employees need to feel welcome, disciplined and appreciated.

I hope this information helps and if anyone has further suggestions or are seeking a part time position in retail liquor, please feel free to contact me directly!
 
Again, never miss an opportunity to recruit!

LOL

Brenda Visnovec
Lakeville
Did You Know?


The Minnesota State Auditor's 2014 Analysis of Minnesota's Municipal Liquor Operations was released earlier this week.


Click Here to See the Report
App Pairs Your Favorite Candy with the Perfect Wine
Wine Critic 2

From: New York Post

"I'll have prosecco with my Kit-Kat, please."

An app for wine lovers has just released a candy and wine match maker chart, an easy guide for parents navigating the sugar-fueled holiday.

Recommendations by Vivino include pairing a Toostie Roll with a dessert wine - like a port or sherry - and Snickers and Reeses with a bold or medium red, such as a Syrah or Merlot.

The list covers 14 popular candies, so adults can pick and choose based on their kid's haul.

"Halloween is so focused on kids, but there are parents out there.

And I'm sure that some of them wouldn't mind having a glass of wine," VP of marketing Stephen Favrot told Adweek.

The experts behind the chart pinpointed flavor notes found in savory food, and then matched those to candy using their palates, and tested the results on select members from their 11.4 million-user base.

"We ate a fair share of candy," Favrot said.

Click Here to See the Chart
Items for Sale
For Sale

20 Door Cooler

Twenty door walk in beer cooler. Box is made by Carrol Coolers, approximately 45 feet 10.5 inches long and 14 feet 1.5inches deep.

Doors are standard 25.5 inches wide, chrome finished.

Doors are manufactured by CDS (Commercial Display Systems).

There is one roof compressor unit, and three fan units inside the box. 

There are flat shelving and gravity racks for the cooler which was originally set up for beer.

The flat racks are 13.5 feet long and three feet deep.

There are three to six shelves per door covered.

The flat racks cover 6 25.5 inch doors.

The gravity feet racks are 54 inches wide and six feet deep.

There are seven racks that cover two doors each, with six shelves, for a total of 14 standard cooler doors.

Contact:
Jan Mars, [email protected], 952.937.0716


Wine Racks, Shelving, Signs & More!

The City of Lakeville is conducting an on-line auction for many alcohol and non-alcohol related items.

Bidding ends October 29th, pick up will be Saturday October 31st.

Click Here to View and Bid


Walk-In Cooler

41'-3" x 14'- 0" x 8' 0" high without floor,                                       $14,500.00
18 glass doors (26" x 72") with 14 doors with 6' beer racking and 4 doors with standard shelves.
5 hp compressor with matching coils.
$14,500.00  
Walk-in is in great condition and still in building.
Needs to be dismantled and hauled away.

Contact: Skip at Stan Morgan & Associates
Can You Hear Me?
Husband & Wife

While reading a newspaper, Walter came across an article about a beautiful actress and model who married a boxer who was noted for his IQ.

"I'll never understand," he said to his wife, "why the biggest jerks get the most attractive wives."

His wife replied, "Why, thank you, dear."
Future Dates to Remember
2015 MMBA Regional Meeetings

October 28
Sanford Center, Bemidji


2016 MMBA Annual Conference

April 16 - 19, 2016
Arrowwood Resort

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

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

Two Nameless Bodies Washed Up on the Beach.

Here are Their Stories 
When two bodies wearing identical wetsuits washed ashore in Norway and the Netherlands, journalist Anders Fjellberg and photographer Tomm Christiansen started a search to answer the question: who were these people?

What they found and reported in Norway's "Dagbladet" is that everybody has a name, everybody has a story and everybody is someone.

 Click Here 
If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.
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Contact Ste. Michelle Wine Estates


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