Urban Growler Kickstarter

Does anyone want to go halfsies on a parking spot?

 

It's one thing if they offer legitimate benefits that are worth the price (because they just need the cash influx at once). It's also another thing if they make good beer...

I guess they are missing both.

 

Their Facebook shows they've already begun construction, so my guess is they've got the necessary capital and they're just trying to subsidize it.

I, too, struggle with crowdfunding. I think if you want to try to raise $20,000 and are essentially just trying to get extra capital on the front end during build out and are giving people fair value for their money ($20 T-shirt, $20 for a growler and fill), then no harm.

But when you're an established business that appears to be doing well and you are raising $60,000, I either think you're being greedy or that you truly don't have the money and shouldn't be expanding it if you can't afford it. These are businesses. People support you by buying your food, merchandise and beer. Largely, that should be the crux of the relationship.

I lose a little faith in an operation when it's hand is out for a big sum or multiple times. On the flip side, there was one greater Minnesota brewery seeking $500 via crowdfunding to pay for a dumpster during demolition. That, too, made me pause and wonder about a startup that's asking for help on a $500 item.

 

Sure, if they can get free money, why not try, but I don't trust a company that can't or won't take the cost for the betterment of their company. We've had half a dozen other breweries all start canning the past few years and they manage themselves. If you want to crowdsource, at least provide good perks.

 

Why do you all care about a brewery you don't care about?

 

I clicked the link because I am not a fan of many crowd funded projects and greed pig crowd funds like this one really tick me off. Give them $10.00 and they will give you a "virtual high five"? Please.

Why should I use my hard earned money to help strangers enrich themselves? Save your money, get a loan, or at least make the rewards worth donating for. If I ever see their beer I will most definitely choose to not buy it


Edit: I just saw that the 10k only gets you the parking spot for one year. What a joke.

 

Come on, man, if you go there every day of the year, that's only like $27.40 per day for parking.....yeah, that's bullshit.

 

Sidhe had a crowdfunding campaign over the summer where they asked customers to give them a zero interest that would be paid back at an undefined later date, so they could pay their employees. Even that was more considerate than this.

 

Another reason: if, as pointed out above, they really can't afford a canning line & are turning to crowd funding, there's precedent (anyone remember the Four Firkins?) for this being a red flag that the business is in trouble. I hope they aren't, but expanding beyond your means hoping everything works out, or that your customers throw money at you, isn't a great business plan.

 

One only has to drink their beer. No parking spot needed - no return visit.

 

This is a really good way to become viewed negatively within the beer community. I don't wish anything bad on Urban Growler, but this was a dumb move. They're definitely joining Flat Earth as the only 2 breweries in the city that are on my black list.

 

My assumption is they've done well up to this point and are just seeing if people are willing to share the burden of the cost. Again, I assume they can afford it, but as someone else noted, if they can get people to hand them money, why not? It works for mega churches, pledge drives and a number of other "causes." People are always willing to hand out money.

But it's getting pretty played out for beer businesses. If you're a new business and want to give fair perks in exchange for money upfront instead of once you're open (assuming most people spend what they'd spend anyway -- T-shirt, growler, whatever), then there's no harm. But asking for $60,000 to expand your business just seems greedy, whether you need the money or not. And if you do need it to expand, then it doesn't sound like you're ready to expand. I'm no MBA, but I really try to limit spending money I don't have in order to maintain long-term prosperity. But who knows, I'm just a guy who drinks beer -- and just expects an even exchange of money for goods.

 

This is exactly what Modist is doing with their Modist Makers Club and I'm totally OK with it. You give them $250 or $500 now and they give you $275 or $600 back to spend on ANYTHING (including beer: crowlers, growlers, taps) at the brewery at the regular price, plus a few perks. Clear and fair exchange with the customer only giving money up on the front end.

Urban Growler should take note or perhaps try and apply for small business loan? As others have said, they either must be in trouble financially if they have to crowdfund to get capital or they are just plain greedy. I don't understand people's willingness to just fork over cash to a business and get something less in return as a result. Regardless of how good their beer is and or how much you appreciate their products/vision/philosophy, breweries are still businesses, not charities. Spending money and time there should be enough to show support.

 

I just read the blog on their website. Interesting read. It gave me the impression that Urban Growler doesn't have the money for this expansion. I honestly think that they're hoping that this crowd funded expansion would make them a viable business. Good luck to them, but yikes.

 

This is the opposite of how you manage a business.

 

Anyone want to give me $300 to help pay for me brewing a barrel ages stout? I'll make you a few tshirts and give you 1 bottle of the beer. Thanks.

I've brewed and aged in the past, but never thought of crowd sourcing it!

 

Keep the shirt, I'll pitch in $600 if you let me park in front of your house when I come pick up my beer!

 

Can you keep the production extremely low, like 10 bottles, and then hype the shit out of it so I can brag to my friends/traders about the "WHALEZ BRO OMG SO RARE"?

 

Anything you say, for $75. I'll just keg and drink the rest. Or say it's only do 10 bottles and release 50 more throughout the year.
I just did a 1 gallon sour run, got 5 bottles of blackberry sour, super rare!