Micro Brew Distributing

[Accrable]

Hi folks...new member here.

This question is for the beer store owners out there. How do you get the micro brews and imports that are not carried by your local distributor? I am thinking about opening a retail store that sells beer by the bottle and I am still trying to figure out the logistics. Is there any sites that have any info that would help me?

I appreciate any advice.

[barleyburps]

Try probrewer.com as it is geared toward all apects of the professional brewing industry. They have discussion boards that deal with distribution.

[hooky]

I'm not sure where you are in the OH Valley, but if it's Indiana, you'll have no other choice than going through a distributor.

[newportstorm]

The vast majority of the US is dominated by the three-tier system. Brewer --> distributor --> retailer. In some states, self-distribution is allowed, but most breweries have enough trouble keeping up with demand, brewing, packaging, promoting, paying bills, giving tours, etc. to deal with distributing their product.

Unfortunately, you're legally limited to what brands your state's distributors carry. Want a new brand? Ask, pester, plead, demand.

Word of advice....if you've never worked retail and seen the way buying, pricing, rotating stock, etc. works, you might want to seek out some part time work to gain experience/perspective.

[HogieWan]

a distributor buys beer by the pallet. If they can be sure to sell the whole pallet, they will (usually) buy it.

[Accrable]

Thanks for all the informaton. I may have to rethink my idea. I wish there was a store around here that sold a hundred different beers, then I wouldn't get these crazy ideas.

[hooky]

Accrable, where is here?

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Accrable
Thanks for all the informaton. I may have to rethink my idea. I wish there was a store around here that sold a hundred different beers, then I wouldn't get these crazy ideas.

Rethink, postpone....maybe? But don't give it up. When I moved to RI several years ago, there was a dearth of good beer on the shelves. But demand grew, word spread and now the state enjoys many stores that carry hundreds of brands, with more stores expanding their craft beer selection every day.

Nothing wrong with having big ideas. Just need some real world experience to understand how the game is played.

[Accrable]

Here is in Wheeling, WV

[Richard English]

The way of convincing a store to stock what you want is the way that kids get what they want. Pester Power.

Go in and ask what good beers they have and, if they don't know what you're talking about, enlighten them. If they have no good beers, walk out (don't, under any circumstances, buy chemical fizz as an alternative - that's what the cehmical-fizz factories rely on).

Repeat the process at regular intervals until the store owner asks what you consider "good beer". Tell him and then go in regularly and ask for it or them. Walk out as above if he or she hasn't.

In the end you will get what you want. And if you tell your friends to do the same then the change will happen even more rapidly.

[Mill Rat]

Even stronger than pester-power is money-power. Find a quality beer brand (or several) that you do like, go into the store and ask for your first choice. Do this at a reasonably early hour when you're likely to have a manager available who can add as case of your requested beer to their next order, because if they come up empty-handed, this is what you'll ask them to do. They may ask you to put up a deposit on the case, or even pre-pay. Then come back and pick up the case and ask for another in a week or however long it takes you to kill case number 1. Do this a few times and they'll buy a case of their own and put it out on the shelves. Buy that one and keep the stock rotating for them. When you see that it's disappearing without your assistance, repeat this process with the next brand on your list.