If you owned a beer/ liquor store. What would you showcase? Would you offer so called crap beer or MBC's? Would you bother with wine mixers, and spirits? Would you offer a mix a six section over more cooler or shelf space?
as far as "crap beer," I'd sell PBR, Guinness and Pacifico. they'll always have a place in my heart/store. I'd make sure to have plenty of Rogue Chipotle and OB G'Knight on stock. lots of VA beers...Blue Mountain, Devil's Backbone, Hardywood, Legend. Lots of Stone, Lagunitas and Firestone Walker. I'd carry Mexican Coke and Red Bull, too. and coffee beans. only ABC can sell liquor here in VA, so that's a no go. don't know enough about wine to appease the masses, so that's out, too. other than that, plenty of mix a six space, as that's somewhat lacking at my fave beer store here. more shelf space over cooler. but, that's just me.
Interesting question. Let's see how long it takes the administrators to move it to the "Beer Talk" forum...
What would you showcase? -I would showcase local beers, mix 6, and rare beers. I'd try to keep a rare beer selection/cellar in stock by marking them up beyond MSRP. Would you offer so called crap beer or MBC's? -Yes, I would sell what my customers buy. Would you bother with wine mixers, and spirits? -Yes, I would sell what my customers buy. Would you offer a mix a six section over more cooler or shelf space? -Yes, and my mix 6pk would be in a cooler. I'd also explore the possibility of offering a mix 4pk to allow higher cost beers to be mixed as well. Or maybe you could mark bottles that would count for 2 spots of a mix 6pk.
We have a store in MN that does not sell BMC period. If I were to open a beer store I would follow suit, absolutely no BMC, I would be ok with the "craft" brands that they own Bass, Hoegaarden etc. but that's it. The rest of the store would be organized by styles and I would try to have 10-12 beers from that brand
If I had my own store I would have a 3 door cooler of Mich Golden, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Blue Moon and Malternatives get the knuckle draggers in and out. I would fill the rest of the store with coolers and have a VIP area or back room for all the "whales" and seasonal beers. I think it would be cool to have like a speak easy or cigar lounge style bar in the back for tastings and pairings. Not sure if I'd go with mixers, but spirits and wine ( would be stupid not to). Maybe foray into small batch spirits and showcase local distilleries.
If I had a company I would do a Beers of the Month Club and offer the rare beers to the customers that sign up with that before they go on the floor. I would offer BMC, because that would be money lost that can help keep me in business. I would also offer wine and liquor because I love both and also it's money that I can gain. I would offer a mix and match of craft beers, each at a set price.
If Mr. Lunchbucket and Suzie Homemaker want to buy a 30 pack of Coors Light for the Saturday BBQ with their friends, who am I not to make it available to them. I might also suggest that Troegs Sunshine Pils might be a hit at their soiree.
I agree with many of you have already answered I would definitely do a rare beer/whale/reserve society type thing. There's just certain people who understand good beer and should be treated as such. Having a beer of the month type club would be cool to hook up those loyal customers and the bullshitting during those tastings would be epic. I wouldn't carry any of the bmc, liquor or wine because craft is a serious niche that needs to be catered to as such. I'd carry the staples of craft and not just their basic offerings but everything, I never understand some places only carrying a few dfh, fw or stone beers, if they're the essential giants in the industry, carry whatever you can get in market and get the best offerings from everybody else. Quantity and quality are essentially equivolant. Oh and a huge mix a six because who the hell wants to buy a sixpack of something they've never tasted, eff that.
-Full store would be available as singles/mix six. -One or two coolers for the MBC beers in the back of the store. -Beers grouped by nationality, then brand, then style. -Some sort of members club offering discounts and early notification on special releases. -Monthly or more tastings, primarily with local breweries where the brewmaster can come in, along with a special on their beers during that time. -Email newsletter, along with weekly facebook and twitter updates as new beers are brought in or specials are run. -Educational classes about beer styles, aging/cellaring, glassware, etc. -Second room for homebrew equipment and supplies. -Misc. brewery swag like glasses and clothing as well as small section of books and magazines. -Signage about different beer styles. -Nice wooden shelving and subdued lighting. -Computer stations with built-in barcode reader linked to BA and RB reviews of the beer. -Potentially online sales. -Competent staff that knows the products they are selling, and can help guide a customer through what's new or on how to choose a beer if they are new to the craft beer world.
Dream store? Unlimited amount of every beer free of charge where I can be served in a drinking lounge by high class hookers. except no mbc
