Services for Local Operations
Wow! You have developed a fanbase and people are actually purchasing your product. Now all of a sudden, you have become a brand ambassador. Maybe this dream is really going to work after all. However, success breeds its own challenges. Such as, how big should we grow? What should the taproom look like? Should I add food to the tasting room?
Proper taproom management is the difference between sort of making money and making a lot of money. The choice of a proper point of sale system is the difference between just documenting sales receipts and truly running the business. What is the placement of merchandise? Have you dedicated time and effort to that part of the business yet?
Taproom (Tasting Room) Management
- Point of Sale System (POS) and setup. The choice of POS system is critical to establishing good data. Remember, you cannot measure what you don't manage.
- Merchandise. Believe it or not, merchandise can be a money-maker. The trick is to have nice stuff and make it available to sell.
- Webstore. Some of your fans will not be local. Creating a good website gets the brand out to more people in different markets quicker.
- Food? The decision to offer food is a big one and should not be taken lightly.
Website
Does your website have a user-friendly e-commerce system? Some of your fans will live outside of the area and the more people wearing your branded merchandise, the better. Last, but not least is the "beer finder".
There needs to be a way for your fans to find out where they can purchase your product.
- Branding. It is all about branding. Spending time and effort on a good website will yield great dividends.
- Who maintains the website? The correct setup will save thousands down the line.
- Beer Finder. There should be a way for your fans to find the beer.
HR Practices
Chances are that you haven't hit the magical number of 50 employees yet. That is the level at which a whole lot of rule and regulations apply, and you need the help of an Human Resources professional who can navigate the complicated HR world. For now, it is enough to setup the basics so that you have good archival practices and can survive any audit.
- Policies and Procedures. Now is the time to write out what the HR policies are. You don't have to invest in an employee manual just yet (but it is not a bad idea). We have seen good documentation and bad documentation. Let us set you on the right track.
- Document, Document. Employment is a contract between the employer and the employee. Now is the time to document properly the beginning of the relationship (via offer letter), status of the relationship (review), and the ending of the relationship (termination process).
- Good filing system. Now is the time to make sure that you have good filing system. Will your employees records stand up to scrutiny?
Capital Needs
The demand for stainless never ends. Just when you get everything in place, everyone is asking for more product. So how are you going to fund the need for new tanks, equipment, etc? Let us guide you through the maze of bank funding. We’ve been there and have completed several rounds of funding. Buy vs. Lease is a decision that must be studied carefully.
- Money fuels growth. Everyone needs capital to grow. What is the best course? We have extensive experience in financing capital growth.
- Buy vs Lease. Often those decisions are not clear cut. Let us help you make the right decision for your company.
Forecasting
How do you know that you have enough for payroll next month, next quarter, next year? Forecasting is a complex monster, but it is critical to the long-term success of the company. Let us help you understand the working capital drivers of the business. Going to sleep at night knowing that you understand what is going on is very powerful.
- START NOW, Don't worry if it is not perfect. You need to understand your future. Forecasting is like a muscle: The more you use it, the stronger it will get. We have done bunches and bunches of forecasts. We can tell you how to start and how to get better once you have started.
- Budgets are important. Create a budget for next year. Trust me, it is worth the time and effort. Share it with everyone. That way everyone will be singing the same tune, and they will know what they are responsible for.
- Forecasts work together. Someone should be comparing the budget against the sales forecast. If you don't have anyone to do the work, find someone NOW.
Strategic Visioning
What’s next? Do you add different businesses onto the main platform? Is the expansion external (second location) or internal (new accounting system)? Let us walk you through the options and cost/benefits of those options. Bigger isn't always better. If you decide to go big, understand and embrace the decision because your decisions will impact the entire company. A little planning will eliminate a whole lot of stress and waste.
- Bigger isn't always better. Think long and hard before you make an expansion plan. We have seen good expansions and bad ones. The secret is to make sure that they are well planned.
- Embrace Expansion. Once you decide to take on an expansion (either external or internal), look for all of the changes in the company and help everyone adjust to the change.
- What is the end game? Time to start pondering how you will exit the business.
