Bottle Shop Employees

Sounds like you've conducted an interview or 50...... FWIW, your store actually sounds like a very pleasant place to shop as I do factor in neatness and pride in ownership when I go to places. The store with dingy carpet and two to three disinterested hipster types that try their very best to veil their disappointment in having to ask me if I need help - I avoid that place as best I can. That's partly why I actually prefer TW for everyday purchases. At least they are courteous, not so nerdish as to undercut my knowledge and it's always VERY neat and orderly (at least the one I go to). Special releases may have to come from elsewhere, as does my fresh IPA growlers, but for everything in between they are just fine.

 

Neither an employee nor an employer in a bottle shop here, but have been in both the employer or the employee situations more than once. At the end of the day I've seen enthusiasm and willingness to learn trump only bringing knowledge to the table more than once.

I'd suggest that you best market yourself by demonstrating those qualities during the interview. For example you can explain that you are interested in the part time work not because of what you think you can earn but because of what you think you can learn and what you hope to be able to bring to the table. Don't even talk about salary until the end of the interview. Even if only because they may decide on the spot what the hourly rate is going to be if they make you an offer.

Remember, too that while you are being interviewed, you are also interviewing them to find out if you actually will be able to gain the experience you want and to learn more about working with customers, about the business, and about beer, etc.. If you don't leave the interview with the feeling that the opportunity you want is to be found there, turn down the job even if it is offered to you.

 

I think you'll find a solid group of customers who either know what they want or don't want to talk to anyone at all. People do like to browse on their own.

You may be left thinking that you'll be talking beer non stop with random people who become your bottle share partners, but the reality is hours upon hours of repetition with splashes of conversation. Having cool coworkers or bosses/managers may be where its at too.

 

Only a little?

 

Ask anyone who has worked in retail, customer service, or the service industry....people are idiots...be prepared, and I don't mean those uneducated in the world of beer (that's the best part of the job if you ask me, teaching people who want to learn), it's those who can't find there way in the door, those who want everything for free, or at a reduced price, or those that want to open up a beer out of a 12-pack and drink it, so they can sample before they buy it (happened to me last Saturday)....stop me, I could go on for pages

 

He's right. Knowing nothing about beer and being able to lift 60 lbs. cases and haul around 1/2 barrel kegs wins over the reverse situation.

 

Tlema1 makes a good point. It's easy to get jaded working retail and dealing with the "public".

liquor stores and beer shops are no exception. It's fun talking shop with the regulars that know beer and also want to learn.

Then there is Pappy/btac/KBS/hopslam release times. The phone rings off the hook with the same question. Guys pop in and want to act like your best friend and then drop the "Got any Pappy/Zombie Dust?" Line. It's tough not to roll your eyes and shoo them away.

 

I have a full-time "career" job, but thought I'd be a good beer store manager as a side job, and got hired in such a capacity - man, I don't have that energy anymore - two jobs is hard! I figured a background in retail management plus my love of beer would make it an easy gig - not so!
Did my first shift and had to take a pass - it's a lotta work - God bless ya if ya have it in ya

 

I couldn't imagine giving up my evenings and weekends for a part time retail job. I don't care how much a person loves beer, that's just a grind.

 

Sounds like my local shop. Enjoy by 6 packs and sucks 6 packs never happened. What's Firestone Walker? And enjoy by is ACTUALLY good for 6 months...... Riiiigghhhttt

 

Learn all you can about Unibroue Raftman. One day, this particular guy will want to know all about how the beer was smoked, what is the type of malt, is it really whiskey malt, and on and on. In truth, just be friendly, ask if you can help, and do not be a pest. Beer retail is hard work one moment and slow the next. You'll learn kegs quickly.

 

I work a normal 40+ hour a week job, and do about 12-15 more at Total Wine, coming up on 4 years, my co-workers can't believe I work 2 jobs, but, my kids are grown and other than the gym, I have no real hobbies

 

If you're going to own a store and do well, then ok. But... It's a customer service retail job. Why would anyone want to do that?

I recommend to keep your hobbies as your hobbies

 

I think there is definitely a fine line between thinking customers are complete idiots and understanding some customers are might know something you don't.

Good example - one bottle shop employee ordered a tougher to get BA top 20 beer for me, himself, and a few other lucky folks because I asked about it. He hadn't heard of it before, didn't make me feel like a dick for asking about it, and we got something new.
Not Good - I pointed out to a bottle shop employee they had the wrong ABV on a tap menu for a beer. I verified it on the bottle of the same beer in the shop, then double verified it on the brewer's website later. The response: "They changed the recipe". I mean maybe, but not in this case. It's a typo that was a 3% ABV difference, that's not insignificant. I don't care, I was just trying to help, but knee jerk response was "customer doesn't know".

 

They work pretty well (TW) with your hours? Flexible and such? I'm looking to maybe take on a part time to support my son's hockey habit and thought that TW could be a potential place to pick up some hours.

 

If you're looking for something with flexible hours, see about getting a host gig at a local brewpub/beer bar. They're used to juggling schedules, and there'll be some cash tips.

 

Yep, they know I work my main job M-F til 4:00...don't get me wrong, they abuse me during the holidays

 

I'd love to work at a bottle shop. I can keep a conversation about beer going for a while if I know what I'm talking about. Plus, you'd learn a lot from customers too if you aren't familiar with that style, brewery, etc..

You'd get a good work out too lifting cases of beer. Win Win. Go for it!

 

Legitimate question, because I've commonly wondered this with people that have a part-time retail job: Do they abuse you, or do you let them abuse you?

What I mean by that is, if you said "no, I'm not available on Black Friday, or that whole weekend" what would happen? Would they threaten the security of your position that you've had for a while and have been a presumably good employee, because you aren't offering those particular hours? Or is it about wanting to be supportive of coworkers that would have to pick up that slack if you outright refused?

I worked retail through college but have had office jobs since where the holidays are typically downtime and I have the flexibility to take however much time I see fit/have saved for that time of year, so I never quite understand how retail jobs can get away with being so demanding.

 

I worked part-time in a small store with a craft beer/independent winery emphasis for about 6 months or so. I only left about a month ago (new full-time gig), so these experiences are still pretty fresh.

Pros:
-It is by far the easiest job I've ever had. Yes, there's a ton of physical work (stocking) but it's not even remotely challenging.
-Discount. Every place will be different, but most offer some sort of discount for employees.
-People. This is a double-edged sword, admittedly. You'll meet a lot of cool people but a lot of others who are annoying, stupid, or just plain asshats. Depending on your location, hopefully the former will far outnumber the latter.
-Knowledge. No matter what you currently know about beer (and probably liquor or wine), you will learn more.
-Staying up on releases. This one should be pretty self-explanatory.

Cons:
-Pay. I worked at a fairly upscale shop that started us at $12/hour. I have a feeling most places are lower.
-Lack of challenge. There's a ton of boring, repetitive work. It's not a thinking job.
-People. Like I said before, this is both good and bad. There will be people you want to smack, and even more that make you want to facepalm.

Pro/Con depending on the location:
-Access to limited releases. A few people on here cite that as one of the biggest perks, but not all places do it. Many don't because they want as many customers to get these beers as possible. The place I worked would only let us buy limited release stuff if it had been on the shelf for more than 72 hours. That meant I got to watch the KBS, BCBS, Darkness, etc. fly off the shelf in front of me and couldn't buy any. That's quite depressing.

Overall it's not a bad gig, but not something I'd recommend full-time or long-term. Hours can be fairly flexible (if the place is well-staffed enough) so it can make a great second job.