Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(March 13, 2016 - March 19, 2016)
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As I See It...
Hiring
Help Wanted

Each time we put the "Help Wanted" sign in the front window and run the ad in the paper, I start to get excited.

Excited!

Really!

Hiring is a tedious process, "Are you nuts," you ask?


I look at in two ways...

First, I hope to find that diamond in the rough, the future employee of the year, the person I can shape and mold into a "little me" (scary right).

Second, I can't wait to see what crazy things people will put on the applications.

For example:

Explain Why you Applied:

I like to drink so I know the products (Wow, you're hired).

I'm a good tiller (Tiller? That's awesome come do my garden?)

I love helping people (Under reason for leaving last job: Fired for poor customer  service.)

May we call your previous employer? NO (Boy that doesn't raise a flag!)

Reason for leaving:

 Didn't like the management (this was listed by last 2 previous jobs)

A favorite---  

Hours available:

Any. I need the money (Reason for leaving last job: Don't like working nights and weekends).

These are just a few, but you have to wonder how many people never get an interview for writing similar statements?

Who trained these folks?

The sad truth is many have never been trained or shown the correct way to fill out an application?

The last few years I've tried to sit down with each new hire and go over their application and interview.

As one of my former mentors would say "It's a teachable moment".

It's a way to coach them on filling the application properly and to be very specific.

It also lets them know you paid attention in the interview.

Ask my staff.

I often bring up things they said during their interview.

It's just one more way to hold them accountable.

It may also stop a future employer from looking at a bad application.

Pay it forward!

Bill Ludwig
Paynesville Liquors
Wine Tastings at
Robbinsdale Wine & Spirits
Robbinsdale

Mark O'Connor, the new Assistant Manager at Robbinsdale Wine & Spirits, is excited to share his knowledge of wine with the liquor store's customers.

He's looking forward to holding many tastings at the store, as well as promoting the burgeoning, local craft beer scene.

Click Here to See Video
Sauk Rapids Liquor Construction Project Approved
Construction

by Dave DeMars, The Newsleaders

A remodeling project at the Sauk Rapids Municipal Liquor Store, estimated to cost up to $110,000, was approved by the Sauk Rapids City Council at its March 14 meeting.

Jack Kahlhamer, the city's finance director, discussed a previously approved expenditure to remodel the store.

He reminded the council its members had basically approved the first several items on the liquor store remodeling budget: painting, flooring, light fixtures, lighting installation.

Those four items had a budgeted cost of $66,688.

"A few other things we are looking at doing include the vestibule entry way - redoing the fixtures in there, new fixtures in the entry way . . .  currently it is the hanging lights - we'll replace those lights in there. That's about $450," Kahlhamer said.

Kahlhamer also talked about replacing the checkout counter.

The bid from Ron's Cabinets for cultured marble checkouts was about $22,295 and would be higher if the council opted for Corian material.

Some expense could be saved if members of Public Works were to haul out the old counters rather than have Design Electric do it.

"We haven't replaced the counters since about 10 years ago," Kahlhamer said.

Final cost for the remodeling is estimated to be between $100,000 to $110,000, which would be basically covered by the receipts of the liquor store prior to transfer to other budget areas so that no new money need be levied for the remodeling, Kahlhamer said.
What Do You Sell?

By MMBA Conference Presenter, Tom Shay

Determining what type of business you are in
 
Almost every type and size of business has the opportunity to receive multiple trade publications.

If you make a point to review them, regardless of their industry, you will find yourself exposed to many ideas to enhance the operation and profitability of your business,

A two-person gift shop can gain from reading the magazine addressed to the operators of a clothing store or a quick-print shop because many of the fundamental business concepts transcend all types of businesses.

If you read Dr. Steven Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, you will recognize that reading trade publications is part of the seventh habit: Sharpening the Saw.

Looking at any industry, attending a seminar, trade show, visiting with someone in the same business field to exchange ideas, or reading a management book, report or trade publication are all excellent ways to sharpen the skills of the trade.

The name of the publication and advertiser has long been forgotten, but the skill that was shown by the company that paid for the magazine ad will long be remembered,

In the advertisement, a gas company was addressing restaurant owners.

The invitation was to come to their laboratory and test the various brands and types of cooking equipment that were available.

The advertisement mentioned that 45 different pieces of equipment had been assembled and that any restaurant owner was invited to bring his chef, recipes and ingredients to the laboratory.

The idea was that the chef could test cook before purchasing the new equipment for his or her restaurant.

Surely, the gas company is attempting to persuade a chef to cook with gas instead of electricity, but this is also a situation where a company understands that it is selling customer satisfaction as compared to being a company that is selling gas.

Now the restaurant owner who might have replaced just a worn-out piece of equipment with an updated model can investigate the alternative choices.

Too often an opposite scenario happens as exampled by a report in another trade magazine.

A young couple wanted a safety fence around their in-ground swimming pool. Their concern was the safety of their 3-year-old toddler.

They shopped the Yellow Pages, interviewed several contractors, and made their selection.

A contract was signed, and the fence was soon constructed.

During the inspection made upon completion of the fence, the parents discovered there was a method by which the toddler could still gain access to the pool.

Obviously, this made the fence unsatisfactory to the couple.

The solution was not quick in coming, as the contractor explained to the parents that he had built the fence as detailed in the contract.

The parents responded that the fence did not achieve its purpose.

Granted, the contractor had fulfilled the letter of the contract, but the problem was in the perception of the sale: the contractor was selling a fence, the couple was buying peace of mind; and as the solution to this scenario was long and drawn out, you can expect that the couple did not provide any referrals to the contractor.

In a survey performed by Dr. Richard Feinberg of Purdue University 20,000 people were interviewed about their shopping experiences and preferences.

The results showed the five most important factors were:

1. Having the item(s) or performing the services that the customer needs or wants

2. Saving the customer time

3. Providing value to the customer

4. Providing the product(s) or service(s) in an attractive manner

5. Having someone qualified to assist the customer

Note that price is not one of the top five concerns and that the desires of a happy customer are fairly basic.

The bottom line of this article is to demonstrate a comparison; did you notice that the first part of the article contained two stories?

Most people can identify with the ideas and needs that were expressed in both.

The second half was more statistical.

Both conveyed the same information, but the first half was designed to help you in seeing a situation from a human perspective as compared to just giving information.

Both the stories and the statistics were designed to be persuasive about the importance of paying attention to the wants and needs of the customers whom every person has.

The next time you have the occasion to make a difference in whatever work you do, you can decide, "What Do You Sell?"

Don't let yesterday use up too much of today.
Future Dates to Remember


Legislative Session Start

March 8, 2016

MMBA / MLBA
Legislative Day

March 22, 2016

Click Here for More Information
2016 MMBA Annual Conference

April 16 - 19, 2016
Arrowwood Resort

Legislative Session
End

May 23, 2106
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
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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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320-766-3871
 


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763-428-0164

Simple Hacks for Life with Parkinson's
Simple solutions are often best, even when dealing with something as complicated as Parkinson's.

In this inspiring talk, Mileha Soneji shares accessible designs that make the everyday tasks of those living with Parkinson's a bit easier.

 "Technology is not always it," she says.

"What we need are human-centered solutions."

The Psychiatrists Were Attending...
The psychiatrists were attending their first seminar on emotional extremes.

"Just to establish some parameters," said the leader, "Mr. Nichols, what is the opposite of joy?"

"Sadness," said the student.

"And the opposite of depression, Ms. Biggs?"

"Elation."

"And you sir, how about the opposite of woe?"

He replied, "I believe that would be giddyup."

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