Today we talk with Tim Near from Agrowgate, a group procurement organization, that helps breweries manage their supply chain and buy better.

Pound for pound, supply chain purchases represent the largest outlay of cash for a brewery.  In today's podcast, you'll learn tips and tactics from a supply chain expert to improve purchasing in your beer business.

Key Topics 

• The 5 Rights of Purchasing...and why they are important to your brewery
• How to implement a 9 Step Sourcing Model
• Sourcing strategy example using Porters' Five Forces
• Common purchasing pitfalls...and how to avoid them

Resources

• Learn more about Agrowgate
• Get the finance newsletter for brewery professionals

In this podcast we'll talk about best practices for recruiting and hiring for your brewery. Finding the right employees is harder than ever these days, but a few simple tips can make the task easier.

Key Topics

• Use a template for your job descriptions and job postings - get it in writing, and get it in the hands of the job candidate
• Be crystal clear about the priority or goal for the position - how do you define success?
• Set proper expectations for the position 
• People exist to make a difference: Use the job description, tell the job candidate how they will make a difference in the brewery

Resources

• Subscribe to the free finance newsletter for craft  breweries
• Check out the Brewery Job Descriptions Guide, it's included with your Craft Brewery Financial Training Subscription

If you sell beer through a wholesaler, you have inventory management challenges. In today's podcast we talk with Bud Dunn from GP Analytics and hear about a solution to these challenges called the Craft Portal.

The Craft Portal is a tool that allows you to easily track inventory and orders without losing time, money or your mind. Wholesalers and breweries can quickly track what was sent, what is inbound and what is needed in the future.

The rapid expansion of brands and SKUs in the beer wholesaler's portfolio has made inventory forecasting very complex. The Craft Portal helps simplify the forecasting process so that you can reduce out of stocks, over stocks, and increase sales of your beer brands.

Key Topics

• Inventory forecasting best practices
• How to identify (and quantify) lost sales due to out of stocks
• The high cost of over stock inventory 
• Understanding wholesaler incentives related to inventory levels

Resources

• Get the Craft Portal One Pager
• Subscribe to the Finance Newsletter for Craft Breweries

In today's podcast we dive into the wonderful world of beer distribution with Laura Lodge from Customized Craft Beer Programs. Laura has a tremendous amount of experience with beer distribution and in our conversation she shares her knowledge freely.

Key Topics

• Benefits of working with a wholesaler
• Pitfalls to avoid in the brewery-wholesaler relationship
• Distribution contracts: What you need to know
• Key elements to a good brewery-wholesaler partnership

Resources

• Laura's book: Distribution Insight for the Craft Brewer
• Listen to our first podcast: StartABrewery.com with Laura Lodge
• The Finance Newsletter for Craft Breweries

In today's podcast we hear from Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers' Association. 

Bart is a self-described "stats geek, beer lover, and Certified Cicerone®." And he holds a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.  So, the Beer Data Doctor is in the house. 

In our conversation we dig into the 2021 beer data and get Bart's key takeaways, trends, and outlook for the coming year. We also talk about "craft's leaky bucket" and how brewers can use this concept to maintain or grow market share. 

Key Topics 

• 2021 beer trends and outlook for 2022
• Bart's key takeaways from the 2021 data
• The state of big seltzer (and craft seltzer)
• On-premise outlook 

Resources

• Bart's articles on benchmarking data, survey results, and packaging trends
• The Finance Newsletter for Craft Breweries

In today's podcast we talk contract brewing with Brewmaster Mitch Steele from New Realm Brewing.  Mitch shares what the contract brewing process looks like, the contract terms you need to know, and how to structure pricing.

Key Topics

• Contract brewing tracking data 
• How to structure contract brewing pricing 
• The key steps in the contract brewing process 
• Lessons learned, mistakes to avoid, in contract brewing

Resources

• Learn more about New Realm Brewing Company
• Contact Mitch for info on their contract brewing services: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Finance Newsletters for Craft Breweries

In today's podcast you'll hear the audio version of the Taproom Success monthly Q&A.

In this session, Andrew Coplon and I discuss a wide range of topics, including best practices and lessons learned from taproom owners and managers.

Key Topics Covered

• 2022 beer industry look ahead: packaging trends, seltzer outlook, on-premise business, and overall beer consumption rates. 
• Focus on taproom key metrics: 2022 Most important measurements.
• Financing update: Market trends to share for taproom owners looking to expand or purchase equipment. 
• Taproom staffing issues? Tips to help, and best practices from Lady Justice Brewing about looking outside the box for candidates

Resources

• Learn more about the Taproom Success Membership
• Sign up for the free Craft Brewery Financial Newsletter

In today's podcast we hear from Lester Jones, chief economist for the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

Lester provides a recap of 2021 and his outlook for the beer industry in the year ahead.

In our conversation we dig deep into the data and review the key topics for beer wholesaler owners and managers:

• Total beer consumption in the US
• Packaging trends, and the outlook for cans, bottles and draft
• Forecast for on-premise business
• Past, present and future of seltzers

Lester also shares his favorite beer industry reads, and provides tips to use US Census data, labor statistics, and TTB reporting to better analyze your market.

Subscribe Free to the weekly Craft Brewery Financial Newsletter

Today we talk brewery financing and get an update on the state of the lending industry with Jason Sleeman, VP of Craft Beverage Lending for United Community Bank.

Jason shares his perspective on the current state of the market,  financial relief packages, and the inner workings of how the loan process works.

Key Topics

• Banking behind the scenes: What you really need in order to get a loan
• Loan processing times: 45 days to 14 months...tips to get approved faster
• How to build your team of brewery professionals (insurance, legal, accounting, banking)
• An update on mergers in craft beer
• Jason's favorite sources for beer news and information

Resources

• Podcast: Expansion Financing 
• Learn more about United Community Bank

Sign Up for the FREE and World Famous Craft Brewery Financial Training Newsletter

In today's podcast you'll hear the audio version of the Taproom Success Membership monthly Q&A call.  

In this discussion, Andrew Coplon and I talk about a wide variety of topics ranging from contingency planning for taprooms to how to build relationships among your front/back of house taproom staff. 

Key Topics

• How to reward and motivate your taproom employees 
• Team building tactics to help drive more revenue through your taproom
• How to use accountability and a proven system to build your financial plan

Resources

• Craft Brewery Professionals Live Event: Feb 2022
• Learn more about the Taproom Success Membership

Sign Up for the World Famous (and FREE) Craft Brewery Financial Training Newsletter