Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter

(May 8, 2016 - May 14, 2016)

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As I See It...

As the Spring transitions into Summer, I begin to have more customers stopping into the store inquiring about buying alcohol for some type of large event be it a graduation, milestone birthday, wedding or just a large gathering of friends.

The common question, of course, is what kind of price I can offer to them.

It's at this time the customer makes sure to let me know they want to shop locally.

I want them to shop locally too, but I know I probably can't compete with the larger liquor stores in my area when it comes to price.

How am I going to win over this customer to get them to shop in our store for their big purchase?

Customer service!

I let the customer know I need some additional information about the event, so I can give them what they might need for a well-planned event.

I ask just enough questions to get an idea of what their event planning journey has encompassed thus far.

Some of these questions include the following:

What's the type of event?

Where is the event being held?

What time of day?

How many people are expected?

What types of food will be served?

Will they want non-alcohol options?

Will they need ice or glasses?

I then discuss quantities of beer, wine, spirits they might need based on the answers they have given to my questions.

I let them know what our store case discounts are and our return policies should they have extras they can't use.

I thank them for stopping into our store and make sure they know I would appreciate their business.

If I've done my job properly, then that customer will leave our store with only one question on their mind,"Why should I shop anywhere else but at the Olivia Liquor Store?"

More often than not, the customer service they have received to ensure their event is a success when it comes to the beverages served, seals the deal more than any price I could offer to attempt to compete with a larger volume liquor store.

Nanette Serbus

Olivia

Why Shoppers are Staying Home More & More

By Bob Phibbs, the Retail Doctor

Is it a mystery why shoppers are staying home more and more?

Shopping in brick and mortar stores are simply not fun.

But it used to be.

Employees used to be valued.

Not because they posted pictures, or wore a brand's clothes, or were paid to influence their community of Instagram followers.

It was because they were all working for the same goal.

When employees learn proper retail sales techniques and are taught how they can enjoy working in retail, management can keep those brand ambassadors at their peak.

And when they do that, fun comes naturally.

It isn't a gimmick or a promo.

It's genuine.

The fun that comes from your crew sharing new technology and the gee whiz of the experience...

The fun of outfitting the woman going on a date...

The challenge of finding just the right elements for the weekend project.

These all take a laser focus on the fun of your crew making the customers' day.

You never want your team to lose their focus, their drive, their fun...all aimed at getting the sale.

Looking to fix your brick and mortar shop?

Think about the lack of fun in your business.

Do your employees give off a feeling of pessimism or hope?

Shoppers are much less inclined to buy from pessimists.

If you and I can see it, so can your customers.

2016 MMBA Conference Wine Dinner Pairings

The recent MMBA Conference featured three fabulous wine dinners.

Per member request, here are the pairings:

Saturday

Romaine Wedge with black olives, peppercini, crushed artichokes & lemon basil vinaigrette dressing

**Ferrari Brut

Braised beef stuffed Ravioli with mushroom cream sauce

**Rocca della Macie Sasyr

Risotto Stuffed Red Pepper

**Bertani Valpolicella Ripasso

Osso buco, roasted potatoes & vegetables

**Fontanafredda Barbera

Chocolate made and drizzled with Bauchant

** Bauchant Napoleon Liqueur

Sunday

Italian

Pesta Pasta Caprese Salad

Proscuiito, cappicola, mozzarella, tomato & arugula on Focacia

Tiramisu

**Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio and Rosso

California

Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad

Shrimp Tacos with assocted toppings & sauces

**Motto Gung Ho and Cabernet Sauvignon

**CSM Harvest Select Riesling

**CSM Indian Wells Chardonny and Cabernet Sauvignon

**14 Hands Stampede

**Intrinsic Caberent Sauvignon

Chile

Grilled Flank steak with peppers & onions

Chilean Rice

Bananas Foster

**Haras Carmenere and Hussonet Cabernet Sauvignon

Spain

Paella

Leche Fritz

**Torres 5 G

**Torres Sangre de Toro Garnacha and Tempranillo

New Zealand

Lamb Sliders

Crunch Potato Wedges

**Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noi

Monday

Spring Salad with grilled vegetables (tomatoes, yellow squash & onion) with sundried tomato vinaigrette dressing

**Kendal Jackson VR Pinot Gris

Wild rice stuffed mushrooms with white wine cream sauce

**Cambrian Benchbreak Chardonnay

Cherry glazed shredded pork Flatbread

**LaCream Willamette Pinot Noir

Sliced Beef Tenderloin with red wine demi

Garlic whipped Yukon gold potatoes

Fresh Roasted Green Beans

Warm Rolls & Butter

** Murphy Good Minnesota Red

Salted Chocolate Ganache Bars

**Edmeades Zinfandel

Remember, all of the conference handouts can be found
by clicking here.

Fear-Inducing??????

Yesterday, a House amendment to allow Sunday Sales failed on a 56 - 70 vote.

The StarTribune said:

The lobbying coalition opposing Sunday sales is perceived at the Capitol as wielding unusual, fear-inducing clout...

Fear-Inducing?????

Nothing could be further from the truth!!

The participation of individual SMART coalition members was the key to success!!

Those personal relationships overcame the truly powerful forces advocating for the initiative, including the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Minnesota Grocers Association and Total Wine & More.

Thank you to everyone who contacted their legislator!!

Your involvement made the difference!!

To see how your legislator voted, click here and go to page 37 of 52 of the document / page 8059 of the Journal.

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties

Future Dates to Remember

Legislative Session
End

May 23, 2016

2017 MMBA
Annual Conference

April 29 - May 2, 2017

Ask A Director

Gary Buysse

Rogers

763-428-0163

E-Mail Me

Cathy Pletta

Kasson

507-634-7618

E-Mail Me

Bill Ludwig

Paynesville

320-250-3325

E-Mail Me

Nancy Raines

Longville

218-363-3249

E-Mail Me

John Jacobi

Isanti

763-444-5063

E-Mail Me

Nanette Serbus

Olivia

320-523-2730

E-Mail Me

Steve Grausam

Edina

952-903-5732

E-Mail Me

Chris Arnold

Bagley

218-694-2542

E-Mail Me

Tom Agnes

Brooklyn Center

763-549-3710

E-Mail Me

Brenda Visnovec

Lakeville

952-985-4901

E-Mail Me

Bridgitte Konrad

North Branch

651-674-8113

E-Mail Me

Karissa Kurth

Buffalo Lake

320-833-2321

E-Mail Me

Paul Kaspszak

MMBA

763-572-0222

1-866-938-3925

E-Mail Me

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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

Beverage Alcohol Training

Contact Bob Leslie at:

320-766-3871

E-Mail Bob

Contact Gary Buysse at:

763-428-0164

E-Mail Gary

How to Grow
Fresh Air

Researcher Kamal Meattle shows how an arrangement of three common houseplants, used in specific spots in a home or office building, can result in measurably cleaner indoor air.

Click Here

Age Discrimination at Car Dealership

A retired older couple return to a Mercedes dealership where the salesman has just sold the car they were interested in to a beautiful young woman.

"I thought you said you would hold that car till we raised the $155,000 asking price," said the older man.

"Yet I just heard you closed the deal for $130,000 to the lovely young lady there.

You insisted there was no way you could discount this model."

"Well, what can I tell you?

She had the ready cash and, just look at her, how could I resist?" replied the grinning salesman.

Just then the young woman approached the senior couple and gave the car keys to the old man......

"There you go," she said.

"I told you I could get that jerk to lower the price...

See you later, dad."

Contact Sutter Home

Contact Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Contact Shamrock Group

Contact the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association

Contact MillerCoors

Contact Beam Suntory

Contact Anheuser-Busch