Whole Foods Katy

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by icetrauma, Feb 1, 2013.

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  1. pawpaw

    pawpaw Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2011 Wisconsin

    They may self distribute kegs in the Austin area but Virtuoso handles everything in Houston. If I buy a Jester King keg for WFM in Houston, I buy it through Virtuoso.

    Jeff has stated many times that they don't really focus on draft beer--that's why you rarely see it anywhere aside from the few places that seem to always have it (Draughthouse, Banger's, etc.)
     
  2. pawpaw

    pawpaw Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2011 Wisconsin

    I love D&Q, but it's rare that will he have stuff that you aren't able to find at WFM or HEB, and not only are you driving into the loop but you're also always going to pay a lot more at D&Q. Some people are okay with that and would rather support a small, independently-owned operation, but I buy so much beer that I'd rather pay less for my alcohol (and WFM does case discounts, if you're into that sort of thing).
     
  3. mattchow

    mattchow Pundit (985) Jun 24, 2012 Texas

    D&Q, from experience and based on what i like and purchase, has gotten beers prior to WFM or HEB. A "lot" more is normally $1, at the price point we're all paying for beers, I wouldn't think its breaking the bank for anyone of us.

    If you create a twitter account or email list that can consistently tell us when a beer is supposed to be coming in, i will certainly be persuaded to come to WFM Katy a lot more versus specs.

    For me, it's not a necessity to support HEB or Specs or WFM, but a necessity to know when a beer will release, d&q will inform me every time of when something new is coming out, regardless of limited release or regular release. information is key.
     
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  4. pawpaw

    pawpaw Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2011 Wisconsin

    Fair enough, but I think justifying paying more to have something first is a really weak argument. I guess I just don't understand why it matters when a certain retailer receives product when it's guaranteed to hit every other major retailer within a week or so. Everyone is on the D&Q hype train because he gets stuff first, but all that means is you're paying a premium to say "I had it before you."

    And yeah, "a lot" more may just be a dollar or so, but that dollar adds up really quickly when you're buying more than one thing at a time at least once a week.

    I do absolutely agree with you that it's awesome how Brandon tweets everything, regardless. Unfortunately it's really difficult to justify something like store-specific Twitter accounts to the powers that be. It's something I've been fighting to have for a long time. We've discussed doing our own sort of listserv for limited releases, etc., so keep your eyes and ears open for that when it's announced.
     
  5. mmireles

    mmireles Initiate (0) May 18, 2005 Texas

    Problem is not all beers are guaranteed to hit every other major retailer within a week.... take the abyss for example. plus if you know for a fact that D&Q has something in stock, it's worth that extra buck for most to just go and get it rather than drive around Houston from store to store going to every HEB, Whole Foods, Central Market and Specs wondering if they got it in. Sure you could try calling the stores, but half the time the people don't know what the hell they're talking about or give you false info. Plus Brandon always seems to know EXACTLY when he's getting stuff in, none of this "we should have it sometime this week or next week" crap
     
  6. mattchow

    mattchow Pundit (985) Jun 24, 2012 Texas

    You're quoting a part of my argument, so with that, I'm not justifying the dollar extra to "have it first" I'm justifying the extra dollar to know that I'll get it based on information that Brandon is able to give me. Be it tweets, texts, facebook updates, its all information, and its useless if you cant give i to the people that want/need it.

    In order to "have it first" you first have to have it correct? That's what I'm after, WFM, Specs and HEB can't tell me when they are going to have a certain beer based on release date like Brandon can. The last person that could tell me when beers were releasing for the week was Lindsay from Downtown Specs. Whomever is tweeting for Downtown Specs is just now getting into the swing of things with their tweets. The Corner Shell station is doing a wonderful job of this with their facebook page. Are you unable to tweet from your personal account or possibly create a new account?

    If I had to rely on chance and phone calls to find Abyss in Houston, I wouldn't have a single bottle, I'm sure a lot of people missed out because of a lack of information from their local beer stores. I've been to other WFMs before and they had no idea what the hell i was talking about in terms of beer, you might be the first that ive heard of ever since I first hit you up on twitter looking for DFH Positive Contact. You're doing a great job with what you're working with.
     
  7. UHCougar12

    UHCougar12 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2011 Texas

    My biggest complaint about D&Q is if you don't live close, or arent a regular those special releases are "sold out" by the time you get there. Even if its 10 minutes after he tweets it. So, his tweeting releases and getting product first is really irrelevant for someone who has a 45 minute drive, and can't be regular. Where-as at heb or Hubble, which typically gets every release could careless and will sell to you. That's not to say I don't shop at D&Q, and don't think what Brandon does is awesome for the craft beer market, but Ill only go there if I'm in the area and just looking around.
     
  8. mattchow

    mattchow Pundit (985) Jun 24, 2012 Texas

    My HEB and Specs dosent anything in terms of special releases. I'm hoping WFM Katy changes that for the area. I was surprised HEB even got Karbach BBA Hellfighter. It's a sad day when its DR release day, and the specs dosent even know what the hell im talking about.
     
  9. LarryK

    LarryK Zealot (667) Jul 13, 2012 Texas
    Trader

    IMHO store-specific Twitter accounts should be at the very top of Whole Foods' marketing strategy, at least when it comes to the beer department -- if it's not, no offense, but someone in the executive suite isn't doing their homework. There is, quite simply, no better (and freer!) way to disseminate information to the people that are actually going to make the extra effort to come in and buy beer at your store than a dedicated Twitter feed that is updated the moment you swap in a new keg or get a new beer in. I live in New York City, and I basically only go to bars and bottle shops that take the ~3 seconds to update their Twitter feeds/BeerMenus.com pages religiously -- it helps me gameplan my evenings, and can also mitigate the disappointment of showing up somewhere with the expectation that a store/bar has whatever it is you're looking for only to find that they sold out and didn't update their Twitter feed, etc.

    Whole Foods does have a Twitter account for its beer operation in NYC -- https://twitter.com/WFMBeerNYC -- but it's just one Twitter account that technically covers all 7 NYC locations (but really only two -- the Tap Room at the Columbus Circle location and the Beer Store at the Bowery location) -- it's a good start, but it's not really ultra-useful unless every store is receiving the same product, which they are not. If a store is going to hire a dedicated beer person -- and it sounds like the Katy store is -- there is no good reason to not have that beer person maintain a Twitter account for beer announcements; frankly it should be a bullet point in the job description. At this point, if you want to sell beer and don't understand or can't be bothered to learn how to effectively use social media then you probably shouldn't be selling beer.
     
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  10. UHCougar12

    UHCougar12 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2011 Texas

    Really? Man, sounds like your heb needs a good talking to. The multiple ones in my area always get the special releases. The day of the release I just drop in and ask for it. I do agree on the dr day. They seem to come up with these Lists and if you're not on it you're out of luck.
     
  11. Philly22

    Philly22 Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2011 Texas

    I think you should try talking to different people at both HEB (assuming you are referring to 99 and Fry) and also the Specs on Mason. They get special releases just not a lot. Both locations keep it in the back so you have to ask. If you don't get one of the managers or better beer staff then they don't have a clue though. I have had conversations with the beer department manager at HEB and he will call his contacts while I'm standing there to find out when and if he is going to receive something. As for the WFM, I have high hopes for them. The amount of beer on tap has been changing a lot everyday since the store is new so it would probably be a little difficult to track the line up right now. Once the Katy new store rush dies down maybe they would have an easier way to post the line up. It was also nice to score a bottle of Abyss there last week too.......
     
  12. UHCougar12

    UHCougar12 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2011 Texas

    On a side note. I can't wait for the wfm on louetta near vintage to open up!!
     
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  13. mattchow

    mattchow Pundit (985) Jun 24, 2012 Texas

    I shouldn't have to talk to multiple people to get different answers lol. The HEB at Fry and 99 never got Bodacious or Krunkin or Yule or Frageelay that I saw. They got BBA Hellfighter, and I bought two cases of it, and it was labeled Bodacious and placed between the wine racks they have. If that dosen't scream clueless, I don't know what does. The HEB on Mason is a bit better, but again, Pontificator is labeled Yule Shoot Your Eye Out and Hellfighter was labeled Bodacious there as well. The only HEB's that "get it" are Bunker Hill, Motrose and Sienna Plantation.

    Specs on Mason got a few of the special releases, but as I posted in prior replies, I want to know about special releases AND regular releases, and most of them have no clue whats out or coming out.

    edit. heb on fry and 99 got dfh 120 and put it on their "pick 6 beers" 6 pack as if someone is going to randomly see a $11 beer in there. :facepalm: when i went back the following week, they moved it to the larger cold case, and it still wasn't moving. there is a reason why that store has been sitting on JK Wytchmaker for a year or so, it you notice its farmhouse and non farmhouse mixed in there.
     
  14. Ford

    Ford Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2012 Texas

    I wish a WFM would open up somewhere in the Clear Lake area..
     
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  15. Ford

    Ford Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2012 Texas

    My HEB is selling Pontificator as Krunkin Pumpkin...
     
  16. TxUltraRunner

    TxUltraRunner Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2012 Texas

    I picked up 3 bottles of Bodacious and 1 bottle of Krunkin on a whim there. Found them long after the release date. They do not have a beer person or anyone knowledgeable to help. Asked someone when I saw 3 bottles of Vertical if there were anymore in the back and he had no clue and didn't bother to go check.

    You are right, no one should have to be juggled to get a decent answer. WFM has a prime opportunity to steal customers from Specs, esp with open taps.
     
  17. mattchow

    mattchow Pundit (985) Jun 24, 2012 Texas

    Sweet, I picked up most of the Karbach special releases from D&Q and HEB Mason, so I didn't bother to check there. I normally do my grocery shopping at Mason HEB since their prices are a bit lower as well.
     
  18. TxUltraRunner

    TxUltraRunner Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2012 Texas

    Absolutely, all about clientele. HEB is notorious for that. HEB on North Fry has great prices and good beer selection as well.
     
  19. UHCougar12

    UHCougar12 Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2011 Texas

    The reason they do that is because of the UPC. Heb has to get all the upcs registered in their state-wide system, and approved by a higher up. So, if the product is the same price point then the beer guy/lady just sells it as the UPC that is already in the system. If not that store would have to wait a few days to release the product.
     
  20. Texas_Speed

    Texas_Speed Initiate (0) Aug 22, 2012 Texas

    I couldn't agree more. It would be great to have a WFM on our side of town so I wouldn't have to drive into Houston. But, once I go into Houston it gives me an excuse to hit up other places that I don't frequent too often.
     
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