Beer Trading Shop(s)

I don't think the market is large enough for you to make a profit on it. At least not right now anyway.

 

Not totally sure it'd even be legal. Not from the shipping angle. From the random guy on the street "selling" the beer to the store.

 

My assumption is if you were keeping any inventory, that would still be retailing. Most states prohibit retailing of alcohol unless it comes through a distributor. At the end of the day, the taxman will want a cut and that's where you'll hit the issues.

 

The percentage of people who love craft is pretty small. The percentage of people who trade is even smaller. The percentage of people who would trust a 3rd party to trade for them has to be almost nil.

 

Cool idea, but yeah in my non-professional opinion, probably lots of legal obstacles here

 

Yeah I think a beer trading store would have to be private... But I'd love to see more large public organized bottle swaps.

I just had a similar idea... what about a beer co-op?

I know there are brewery co-ops... But what about a beer store owned by a large group of beer geeks. I'd be happy to work a 4-6hrs a week in exchange for being able to buy at cost. It would be open to the general public too, but they pay the normal markup. If we have profits over operating costs we donate them.

Maybe partner with a homebrew shop and rent part of their space.

 

You are askng in the wrong place. You need a lawyer in each of the states where you intend to do business.

 

I think you would have a hard time making a profit.

 

I think to make this profitable for you would make the trading part for your customers even more expensive than it already is. I like the idea but between the legal hurdles and niche market it will be tough to make happen
BTW, you said "hurtle"

I would love to see the show they make about this though....spinoff of Pawn Stars, lol.

 

There are only two ways in which the beer traders store could acquire inventory, from a logistical standpoint. This is before any part of the legality is even broached:

1) Branch in California buys CA-local beers from a CA distributor, the same way every other retailer in CA gets their inventory.

2) Branch in California buys beers directly from other consumers who want to get credit for something from a non-CA branch of the trading store.

But getting into the legality, Method #2 is clearly out of the question, as I'm unaware of any state in the country that allows a retailer to purchase inventory directly from a private individual.

Method #1 sounds like it's more feasible, since in theory you're just moving inventory at Store-CA to Store-VT, but I'm pretty sure that retailers--even ones that have multiple locations under the same ownership--aren't allowed to ship inventory from one branch to another, because it technically becomes distribution. And the "three tier" system forbids retailers from distributing. Just look at Total Wine--they have locations all across the country, but I don't think you could walk into a TW in California and try to purchase something that might be in stock in New York.

 

Interesting idea but I can't help but wonder why people would trade through such stores when they can just trade via this (and probably other) websites, without having to pay all sorts of additional people in the middle?

 

@kylelenk knows of what he speaks

 

Sounds like a very cool idea, but as others have mentioned I don't think it would be legal unfortunately.

 

Trading is the same as selling in the eyes of the law, either privately or as a business. Each beer "traded" would have to come from a licensed entity.

 

pretty much agree with this. like the idea though.

for the credits, who would set the value of a credit? is it just like 1 credit = $1, then $4$?

seems a little less than legal, but a cool idea anyways

 

100% correct.. Craft Beer sales are what, 5% of the beer market.. People who trade beer are what .0002% of that same market. In other words youd probably be struck by lightening before this becomes profitable.