urbanhack
Fight The Power!
Hmmmm. I'd say inside of 30 days is the separator. yes, outside of that it's still good maybe up to 60 days. That's my limit.
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So I bought into a "Craft" Beer n Wine store with a Drive-Thru (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ministry of Pain
- Start date
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
@Ministry of Pain I have some questions about your ownership.
What percentage did you get? How are the returns so far? I get that you liked the store, but why did you want to get into retail?
I guess I'd just like some more unpacking of the business side of the equation, if you feel like sharing. Cool story, glad you're enjoying it to this point.
What percentage did you get? How are the returns so far? I get that you liked the store, but why did you want to get into retail?
I guess I'd just like some more unpacking of the business side of the equation, if you feel like sharing. Cool story, glad you're enjoying it to this point.
TripleThreat
Footballguy
Grtz and good luck MoP!! Can I assume you've made a trip to VT and the rest of New England?
Northern Voice
Footballguy
I agree ...and a lot of heavily dry hopped IPAs are better at 14 days then they are the day they were canned/kegged.
Most IPAs will start to show some early signs of oxidation after 3-4 months, depending largely on the malt bill. The majority of beer drinkers probably wouldn't notice but an everyday IPA drinker would.
We test ours weekly and the peak flavour usually lasts 6-8 weeks after canning for most IPAs but they're shelf safe for six months.
parasaurolophus
Footballguy
I bet most everyday ipa drinkers wouldn't notice either in a blind test.
mr. furley
Footballguy
update?
AAABatteries
Footballguy
I’m still alive - thanks for asking furls!
mr. furley
Footballguy
i worry, you know. you don't call. you don't stop by. it just feels like we're... drifting.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
One thing happened, we sell more beer on the two days I run the place Fri/Sat vs Sun thru Thursday combined...
Second, over the past year I've met mostly everyone I wanted to meet around here, I've sure been able to network for other things I do.
We had Rob Manfred (MLB) in the store one day and numerous pro golfers from the tour. Jupiter/North Palm Beach
-My main gig is helping my alma mater, the Univ of Miami raise money, Sylvester Cancer - Research Center...I'm no Saint but I am good at persuading those with money to give
I wanted to originally buy this place, owner was not ready to sell outright, I did a pivot to opening a 2nd location but have learned that there isn't a lot of money in beer, especially retail.
28% mark up on the beer across the board, for us to even get a decent price on something like Corona/Modelo/Mich Ultra, the big sellers in the drive thru, 25-50 cases minimum order
That's a lot for us to sell and that kind of order will last us close to a month and we are able to price within range of say a "Publix"
But the bread n butter is the craft beer we keep up front in all the pretty glass doors all the way down the wall and wrapping around.
I visit Woven Water, Angry Chair, Magnanimous(my fav) and I talk to the brewers, they are super nice when i show up and ask for a quick tour with pics of our store and their beer in it.
I try to keep 5 full glass doors of just Florida beer from around the State, by law we can't order nothing direct...BUT
MoP can request they push things thru a distributor earmarked for our store
-Try very hard to not just load the cases up with overpriced or high priced Hazy IPAs from all over the country, we get a lot of them but we have been trying to bring in as many beers on the less expensive side for folks to try. Example...Von Trapp from Vermont, their Helles Lager has been popular, Pilsner also a hit around here. $13.99- 6 pack and Publix doesn't carry them so we have the market cornered down here
We make a whopping $4 or not even on that 6-pack every time we sell some of it. Kegs is where we make money, move a keg for $150...move a slew of them on a Fri/Sat weekend
I've been able to get a lot of referrals to boat captains and the like, make sure they have the best crafts in "slims" ( 1/6 barrel)
We gotta sell a lot of 4-packs/6-packs to make the same amount in a single keg
My partner is about to sell his condo that he bought way back when Moby **** was a minnow for under $100k, he's going to be more liquid than when i entered the picture
-I am a major supporter of the recreational come this November on the ballot, we already have medicinal and long overdue for this to pass. My plan is to open a coffee shop/smoke house with my partner since he loves coffee and doesn't even drink the beer...go figure. I have increased sales by being super transparent with the customers and steering them towards the good stuff.
We don't spend ANY $$$ on advertising so I have but one rule in the store with staff...make the customers happy and their experience as unique as possible. I will open beers and sample them out on Fri/Sat when several might be in store and everyone can have a sip of something we hope will catch on with customers...and I touch them all on Fri/Sat, as many as I can get to talk and ask questions. On Fri/Sat, I stream DJ sets off Youtube and Soundcloud, "dance music" and the patrons seem to like it when they are shopping in the store. (My 24 year old sidekick on weekends actually is a dance music fan, loves all my club stories from the 90s and i'm pretty sure all the women that now shop there come in to visit him and not me) I will even announce to customers that it's the weekend, I am from the "3-0-5" and we play dance tunes when I'm around.
I try to create an identity when we are there working and engaging the customers because they usually have no idea what most of these beers really taste like so we have to help them.
They leave with a beer that isn't in their wheelhouse, they likely won't come back for a while. That's not good. It's important to ask good questions and listen to their responses.
We make a little more on wine bottles but we're a drop in the bucket vs most places like Total Wine so I just bring in boutique stuff that typically sold to restaurants like Orin Swift
Questions, feel free
Cheers!
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Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
I am over Hazy IPAs, had them all including the Mt Rushmore-Trillium which we get a couple cases every 3rd blue moon it seems
I have some favorites but I truly prefer a well made Helles Lager almost any day of the week. Lagers of all kinds I tend to enjoy and Pilsners next
It's Florida and it's HOT...we weren't carrying many Blondes or Hefeweizens when I first took over and I have revamped the case so we have things more reflective of the area.
Copperpoint - Bee's Squeeze is one of my No 1 sellers and it's made down the street in Boynton Beach, was featured on tap at the South Florida Fair and Expo, I love it
This has a little honey and orange peel in the blonde ale but you would not describe it as sweet, but rather smooth and only 5% you can still function around the house.
I have a slew of day beers I like and prefer beers that do not make me feel intoxicated after 1 or 2 cans the way a hazy IPA or DHIPA/THIPA can just knock you out
I have some favorites but I truly prefer a well made Helles Lager almost any day of the week. Lagers of all kinds I tend to enjoy and Pilsners next
It's Florida and it's HOT...we weren't carrying many Blondes or Hefeweizens when I first took over and I have revamped the case so we have things more reflective of the area.
Copperpoint - Bee's Squeeze is one of my No 1 sellers and it's made down the street in Boynton Beach, was featured on tap at the South Florida Fair and Expo, I love it
This has a little honey and orange peel in the blonde ale but you would not describe it as sweet, but rather smooth and only 5% you can still function around the house.
I have a slew of day beers I like and prefer beers that do not make me feel intoxicated after 1 or 2 cans the way a hazy IPA or DHIPA/THIPA can just knock you out
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FairWarning
Footballguy
You'll never be able to compete with a Publix or WalMart on price, so don’t try. I don’t know Florida liquor laws, but I would try to get in good with the alcohol reps to get small batch products. Some stores here in Michigan have a craft beer repcome in and feature their product for a day with tastings.
Wingnut
Footballguy
This is where I'm at. I rarely drink anything over 5% these days. I prefer to be able to pound a few, or even several and not be hammered.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Not allowed to have any spirits in the store, highest ABV - 20% and that takes us up to some high ABV meads we stock.
I got into some big trouble when I first showed up, sales rep/taste rep came by one Friday Night and brought two bottles of whiskey as gifts for us
I decided to crack open the whiskey and share with everyone in the store not knowing this law was on the books and we risk losing our license
Thankfully nothing terrible happened but it of course it was captured on the many security cameras, I got ribbed about that one for a while.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Just a heads up. Orin swift was bought by Gallo in 2016. It’s mass produced and is no longer what it once was.
mr. furley
Footballguy
that's wild
i could pop down to the gas station or Walgreens less than 5 minutes from my house and buy hard liquor at 8 AM. WISCONSIN, BABY!
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Untitled Art is one we try and keep cases in the store when we can get it.
I do not love Smoothie-Sour/Sour beers but we sell a decent amount of them and they have wild flavorings, almost candy like,
I had a Vanilla-Apricot-Soursop from UA and it was one of the best breakfast sours I've ever had. It went perfect with eggs and potatoes
I guess what I'm saying is I like my smoothie sours more around the morning-brunch time area.
We also get Humble Forager which I like but many of them seem more like cocktail mixers to be had with tequila or rum.
Untitled Art actually makes "Florida Seltzers" and we sell the hell out of those
Untitled Art is my lead on NA beers which we carry enough to fill out 3 full shelves in the cooler. The juicy hazy IPA they make and the Italian pilsner both sell very well.
I would love to come to Milwaukee or Wisconsin and taste some real American beers we don't get down here. I'm sure my head would explode
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
8 Yrs in the Desert is sold for almost $20 per glass around town, we sell the bottle for about $45 and it's been one of my favs for a long time.
I appreciate the information, Orin Swift, we don't see on the Publix shelves as much which helps us.
Papillon will run you closer to $80 but I don't think the taste is worth the extra cheddar, it sells well for that price range.
We also have lots of $15-$20 bottles, try to keep the price points manageable, just a handful of bottles that are over $40-$50 in the store but they do move
I did not know that about Gallo, much appreciated
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
New Beers this week that we brought in the store...as usual when you bring in 10-15 new beers, that means some others have gotta go.
Jester King - German style pilsner/lager and "Land Dive"...I popped a pilsner in the store as I am sitting here typing this, had to come in on Thursday to cover the store
The German-Style pilsner is not going to be a big hit I'm afraid, I like it but very dry and hoppy. JK does this with farmhouse ales and other things, you can ID them when you open the cans, the smell immediately hits you, it's pleasant but it's noticeable.
We got 1 case of each, I doubt we bring in a 2nd but we will continue to feature them in the store, not many Austin beers in South Florida
Angry Chair - Tampa - "Moon Butter" and a 4 pack of that stout will run you OVER $40!!!
And we will move a case in the next week or two easily. 12% maybe? They don't even print that on the cans
Humble Forager - Buzzed Seltzer which will sell well in the seltzers case. Not my cup of tea but I bet it tastes good, has some real fruit juice in it.
Equilibrium - Bitrate Flux 4.23 rating in Untapped, most of our beers rate over 4 on untapped or we don't bring them in the door to start with
Double IPA or DIPA as we refer to them.
Just giving folks an idea for what we're doing here
Appreciate you all giving me a place to sound off and just share what I see in the store
Jester King - German style pilsner/lager and "Land Dive"...I popped a pilsner in the store as I am sitting here typing this, had to come in on Thursday to cover the store
The German-Style pilsner is not going to be a big hit I'm afraid, I like it but very dry and hoppy. JK does this with farmhouse ales and other things, you can ID them when you open the cans, the smell immediately hits you, it's pleasant but it's noticeable.
We got 1 case of each, I doubt we bring in a 2nd but we will continue to feature them in the store, not many Austin beers in South Florida
Angry Chair - Tampa - "Moon Butter" and a 4 pack of that stout will run you OVER $40!!!
And we will move a case in the next week or two easily. 12% maybe? They don't even print that on the cans
Humble Forager - Buzzed Seltzer which will sell well in the seltzers case. Not my cup of tea but I bet it tastes good, has some real fruit juice in it.
Equilibrium - Bitrate Flux 4.23 rating in Untapped, most of our beers rate over 4 on untapped or we don't bring them in the door to start with
Double IPA or DIPA as we refer to them.
Just giving folks an idea for what we're doing here
Appreciate you all giving me a place to sound off and just share what I see in the store
Hey MOP, if you're looking for some more quality NA's try the Athletic line. They are fabulous and NA is all they do. They were started as a beer geared toward runners and bicyclists and other outdoorsy active folks. Their line is varied and so far all are quite good. Also the Sam Adams Just the Haze, you'll never be able to tell it is NA.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
No doubt it sells. People love buying prisoner. To me, it’s hot junk. Name recognition is everything. I guess I was trying to help you out with the verbiage “boutique”. Orin swift is a huge producer and merely a cog in the megacorp, EG Gallo. They make 50k cases of 8 years. I did a dumol and a shafer tasting yesterday. Shafer only makes 300 cases of their relentless Syrah. The dumol Pinot is heaven
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
My 2nd best selling NA in the case, we keep all 3 of them on hand, I also break them up into our singles section so people can try them if they've never had them
Great stuff, great fan base once they try it
titusbramble
Footballguy
Know this has been bumped but the literal reason why the IPA was formulated was so that it would survive the voyage to the I in the name as opposed to other forms of beer, so god knows what you're all doing over there if you're stating that
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I think a lot has changed since the original IPAs were being brewed. It's not that they go bad or anything, the hop profile just falls away and the malt flavor becomes more prominent. The modern IPA is way way more hoppy than the IPAs they were shipping in the 1800s.
FairWarning
Footballguy
We sell UA at our bar, pretty good seller. A good sour that you may be able to get is Prairie Brewing Rainbow Sherbet sour.
Bob Sacamano
Footballguy
Love Shafer. They also sold out.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Schlafly - St Louis, MO
Just got these in, Kolsch flew out before I could try one.
The Raspberry Hefeweizen is only about 4%, it's not bad but not something you want to drink a lot of .
South Florida, people will buy them, fairly cheap taste to it but perfectly drinkable.
Kolsch $12.99 6-pack bottles, we don't get a lot of bottles delivered
Hefeweizen 4-tall boys, $8.99 close to the cheapest thing I have in the case
Just got these in, Kolsch flew out before I could try one.
The Raspberry Hefeweizen is only about 4%, it's not bad but not something you want to drink a lot of .
South Florida, people will buy them, fairly cheap taste to it but perfectly drinkable.
Kolsch $12.99 6-pack bottles, we don't get a lot of bottles delivered
Hefeweizen 4-tall boys, $8.99 close to the cheapest thing I have in the case
Bob Sacamano
Footballguy
It's been an odd thing to watch develop over the years. Shafer and Chappellet will always be inextricably linked for me, as we visited both on the same trip back in the day and fell in love with both. We joined the Chappellet wine club and got allocations from Shafer. We consumed a lot of Chappellet over the years, but the difference in the price point made Shafer more of a "special occasion" wine. Still, at the time, the best value wine of them all was the Relentless. It was my wife's absolute favorite wine.
Then Relentless was named wine of the year and basically leap-frogged One Point Five on price, making Shafer much tougher to stomach price-wise on a regular basis. Since then, seems like the Shafer wines have basically stagnated on price, while Chappellet strapped on a rocket ship. We had to call it quits with them, which is sad to me. Pritchard Hill went from half the price of Hillside Select to living in the same neighborhood. The Cab Franc has basically tripled in price. And the freakin' Signature cab is selling for nearly $100/btl. The ancillary wines that used to be affordable are no longer. Somehow Shafer is now more affordable than Chappellet now. Curious to see how the Korean ownership changes them.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
Sadly that’s what happens. Especially with the pub of wine of the year. I wish I had a cheap awesome recommendation for you but nothing is coming to mind atm. I was going to say o’shaugnessy. But their retail is high too now. I’ll come up with something.
Bob Sacamano
Footballguy
I don't drink much CA cab anymore. Most of it is indistinguishable and overpriced. We'll still grab a bottle of Jordan on occasion. Opened an '07 magnum a few weeks ago for my daughter's graduation. It was phenomenal.
My go-to has become Meyer Family Cellars for cabs. Bonny's Vineyard was the building block for Silver Oak before they lost access to it. imo it stands up well to a Pritchard Hill for a fraction of the cost. Their cabs are excellent for the (wine club) price, though some vintages of the Fluffy Billows come off as over-oaked to me. Spitfire =
. And their cab franc was magnificent. They had to pull out all the vines, though. I'm hopeful the next incarnation of it can come close.
Instinctive
Footballguy
My wife LOVES untitled art. And she tried a LOT of non alcoholic beers during pregnancy. This is the only one shed drink more than once. Still drinks it now.
