Customer Service and Consumer Habits For Retailers

Premiumization Levels Off In The Face of Inflation

A recent BevAlc Insights (by Drizly) report comments on the “premiumization trend” that surfaced during the pandemic, referring to when “consumers were trading up to higher-priced products across the beverage alcohol spectrum”, a trend that lasted well into the past year. As nights at home became standard during the pandemic, many upgraded their typical selections at the liquor store or online ordering platform to treat themselves.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 29.

 

Year In Review & Alcohol Predictions For 2023

We had a question and answer session with Dan Newcomb of Liquor License Advisor about the year that’s past and what’s to come for the liquor license industry in 2023.

What was the most common question you got from liquor store owners in 2022? What about restaurant owners?

Over the course of 2022, the most common question that has been a theme amongst liquor store owners is how to maximize the sale price of their store, having sales trending downward since the pandemic. Potential buyers have been requesting 2022 sales because they feel like they reflect earnings before COVID. Since the pandemic, owners have been trying to rejuvenate their business model to stay competitive, and now, with the challenging economy, owners are once again feeling the sense of unsettlement that they had hoped was over. Our team has the knowledge and understanding of the industry, especially during these times, to ensure our clients receive the maximum return on their investment. From start to finish, we help our clients with financial positioning, identifying key team members (attorneys, accountants, etc.), marketing, finding the right buyer, and closing out the sale.

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 22.

 

Small Retailers and Package Stores Need Your Support On Question #3

In our latest Advisor Magazine, we included a campaign ad produced by the 21st Century Alcohol Retail Reform Committee outlining why you should vote yes on question #3. The video explains that locally owned package stores, independent markets and convenience stores initiated the ballot question. Not only will voting yes help save Massachusetts small retailers and package stores, but it will support consumer convenience, public safety, and tourism. 

Visit https://www.yeson3mass.com/ for more information on how you can support this campaign!

To read the full article – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 21.

 

Confidentiality is really important from a seller’s perspective but marketing and talking to people about a business to sell it is crucial.

It is understandable that you want it to be kept really quiet but you want everybody to know about it. The fact is that we only want the people that should know about it to know about it.

As soon as you start talking to people, confidentiality becomes a big concern. The best thing that you can do is work with your team and start to desensitize them for when they hear that the business is for sale.

Prepare the staff and explain to them that everything is for sale for a price and selling the place is an option any day if somebody showed up with the right number.

Talk to the staff about recent sales in the industry so it doesn’t come as a shock.

Priming them and hearing about it for the last month or two will desensitize them. These are just some ways to minimize the amount of trouble that comes with someone breaking confidentiality.

When you or your liquor license broker start to talk about selling your store to potential buyers, confidentiality is a valid concern.  When you file an application before the town to transfer the license it becomes public knowledge. There’s no way to avoid it!

Before the information goes public, you want to make sure you have conversations with the important people and make sure that you have had a discussion with key employees.

Most importantly, you want to have a discussion with your landlord to make sure they know what your plans are. The landlord is going be an essential part of this from the very beginning. If you are going to transfer the business to somebody else and they want to stay in that location, the landlord needs to be involved early on rather than later.

Only you know that answer as the owner. You’ve been dealing with this landlord for years, know his personality best, and know how they will react.

If you’ve been a good tenant all along and have been straightforward this shouldn’t be a problem. Once that application gets filed, everybody’s going to know about it so prepare yourself and seek advice when needed.

If you would like confidential advice we are here to guide you. We will give you some tools, tips and tricks on how to do that.

The Advisor Magazine: Issue #18 –

No signs of stopping for the battle growing on both sides on controversial liquor license issues across the state.
In Issue #18 of The Advisor we discuss:
In this issue, we take a look at both on and off-premise issues getting ready to boil over.
Click Here To Read The Advisor – Issue #18.

 

The Advisor Magazine: Issue #17 –

As we settle in for Independence Day there’s much to celebrate even with looming changes to both on and off-premise liquor licenses.
In Issue #17 of The Advisor we discuss more on-premise liquor licenses coming to the City of Boston, retail Tier Reform, Summer drinking trends and more!
In this issue, we take a look at what’s to come going into Q3 of 2022.
Click Here To Read The Advisor – Issue #17.

 

20 Years In The Boston & Massachusetts Liquor License Business

What’s Next?

Twenty years is a long time to reflect back on and recall some incredible stories!

Some of the main characters who influenced my career path include Howard Deering Johnson, Donnie Wahlberg, Charlie Perkins, and of course, Dick Newcomb, my Father and original creator/owner of the Mug ‘n Muffin restaurants.

Our original family restaurant business started in 1965 in Wollaston, Massachusetts, the birthplace of one of America’s best-known restaurant chains, Howard Johnson’s (HoJo’s). My Dad’s new restaurant, named Mug ‘n Muffin, was opened in July 1965, only 1.5 years after I was born, so I was essentially born into the family business. Even as a young kid, I was involved as my Dad grew his business, which had evolved to 26 restaurants by the early 1980’s.

I grew up flipping eggs and burgers at my family’s restaurant, and before I was old enough to do that, I watched guys like Bobby Orr and other decorated Boston Bruins stop in for coffee, as one of the main restaurants was conveniently located across from the old Garden. Over the years, I watched my Dad negotiate with vendors and landlords and I now realize that I was getting a front-row seat to a real-life masterclass in influence before I was old enough to drive. I knew I wanted to be a restaurant owner and run my Dad’s business.

After I graduated college in 1986, we re-developed the concept, worked hard, and I was able to grow from two to four restaurants that I managed for the family. A lot of work and stress brought a lifestyle I didn’t want to maintain as my own family grew.

Ironically, my Dad’s restaurant was a regular host to AA groups, and I’ve been sober since March 28, 1988.

 

To see how the next 20 something years go – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 16.

 

 

The Advisor Magazine: Issue #16 –

The power struggle continues and things heat up in the retail tier of the liquor license industry. With being approx. 6 months away from the Senate vote on the 21st Century Alcohol Reform bill, many storylines are surfacing.

In Issue #16 of The Advisor we discuss what comes after 20 years in the liquor license industry, which pre-mixed liquor is taking over, the end of revitalization and more.

In this issue, we take a hard look at what’s to come for all stakeholders involved in off premise and on premise alcohol bills.
Click Here To Read The Advisor – Issue #16.

 

More Towns Banning Nips & Miniatures In Liquor Stores

Quincy may be the latest Massachusetts town to ban the sale of nips, according to a March 31 Patriot Ledger report. Mayor Thomas Koch has expressed interest in asking the city’s licensing board to ban the sale of nips (alcoholic beverages in containers 100 milliliters or less) to control littering and waterway pollution, as well as address other problems, such as trash-lined streets, debris in storm drains and contaminating ocean water.

Koch also believes that nips make it more difficult for restaurants and other establishments to control underage drinking. Koch has reportedly given this decision time, as the pandemic has already hit many businesses hard.

Quincy would follow five other Massachusetts towns that have already banned nips: Chelsea, Mashpee, Falmouth, Wareham (to go into effect 5/11/22) and Newton (to go into effect 6/30/22).

Also interesting to note is that a Rhode Island legislator has proposed a law that would ban nips statewide.

The question is: Will some businesses be able to make up the revenue if nips and miniature bottles are removed?

 

For more articles on the liquor industry – check out The Advisor Magazine – Issue 15.

 

 

The Advisor Magazine: Issue #15 –

Controversy rising in both the off-premise and on-premise liquor industry is creating a ripple across the state.

In Issue #15 of The Advisor we discuss Sommeliers pushing the boundaries, north end Boston outdoor dining fines for restaurants, cocktails-to-go extended, again, banning of nips and miniatures in more towns, and more!

In this issue, we take a hard look at what’s to come for all stakeholders involved.
Click Here To Read The Advisor – Issue #15.

 

2022 Liquor License Advisor USA All rights reserved