I want to Open a Homebrew supply store...

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I live way up in the Texas Panhandle, I moved back here 6 years ago.
Being that I have been brewing my own since 1988, I find it frustrating that there are no Homebrew supply stores anywhere near me.
The nearest supply store is a long way off in 3 directions.
Here in Texas I would either have to go to Lubbock which is 267 miles away from me, or Abaline (sp) which is 227 miles from me or I have to go out of state to Oklahoma City which is 200 miles away.

so I have come to a conclusion, I guess I will have to find investors ans supplyers inorder to make this a fact.
Any feedback would help.

Thanks for hearing me out,
Otis The Drunk

[brewmonkey]

Do you have the population base to support a shop? If you open one will it be P/T or F/T? If it is P/T how many hours will you be running it? If it is F/T will you make enough to pay your bills? If it is P/T will the hours be such that they do not interfere with your other job and such that people can have access to the store without having to shop at 9pm?

[fretlessman71]

You could always open a web-based storefront so that the few locals who want some can get some in person, and you could sell stuff over the net, too. Just a thought...

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I would have to start it out as a part time thing at first. I did plan on doing it webbased as well.
As far as the city being able to support a store, I would be the only brew store for 10 counties and advertising would bring the coustomer base in as I am getting some people in my area interested in homebrewing.

In time I would be considering becoming full time.

[wortchillergoal]

I go along with the online end as well as a store front. Even though you will be the only one for ten counties, in Texas no less, it would still be a long drive for some.

The LHBS here in the Syr area does both and it supports him full time and he even has a couple part timers. Some days the onmline order processing is so much work that he needs a second person in the store to take care of walk in traffic.

[Magnew]

How many people in those 10 counties brew?

[Otis_The_Drunk]

Originally posted by Magnew
How many people in those 10 counties brew?

As far as I know a lot, many people from my area go to the Lubbock Homebrew store with the same complaint..

[Caffinehog]

One important consideration is the location of your suppliers. Here in northeast Ohio, there are several homebrew stores. They generally supply themselves by driving vans to the LD Carlson warehouse in Kent, loading up, and bringing it back to the store. Can you do something similar? If not, how much is it going to cost to ship the stuff to you?

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
One important consideration is the location of your suppliers. Here in northeast Ohio, there are several homebrew stores. They generally supply themselves by driving vans to the LD Carlson warehouse in Kent, loading up, and bringing it back to the store. Can you do something similar? If not, how much is it going to cost to ship the stuff to you?

Hey Caffinehog, You ever try Leeners LHBS? They are near (south of) you in Northfield. I use them exclusively. Eileen & Jim are Homebrewing maniacs that are great to deal with.

BTW:- we ex-truckers used to refer to Cleveland as The Mistake on the Lake ...did you drop to cesspool?

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I'm an ex-trucker too

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by Otis_The_Drunk
I'm an ex-trucker too

Cool! I started with NAVL (North American Van Lines) in 85, then in 88 went to Cheeseman Trucking for 10 yrs and Pohl Trans then I became a bonified chicken hauler for a few years. I've been DreamWeaver on the two way communicatin device since I began... 10 dash 4.! :D Roger Beep! & I'm back out. *Beep*

[brewmonkey]

I was on the outskirts of a little southern town,
Trying to reach my destination before the sun went down.
The old CB was blaring away on channel one-nine
When there came a little boy's voice on the radio line.
And he said, "Breaker, one-nine, is anyone there?
Come on back, truckers, and talk to Teddy Bear."
Well, I keyed the mike and I said, "Well, you got it,Teddy Bear."
And the little boy's voice came back on the air.
"'Preciate the break. Who we got on that end?"
I told him my handle, and then he began:

"Now, I'm not supposed to bother you fellas out there,
Mom says you're busy and for me to stay off the air.
But, you see, I get lonely and it helps to talk
'Cause that's about all I can do. I'm crippled and I can't walk."

I came back and told him to fire up that mike
And I'd talk to him as long as he'd like.
"This was my dad's radio," the little boy said,
"But I guess it's mine and Mom's now 'cause my daddy's dead.
Dad had a wreck about a month ago.
He was trying to get home in a blinding snow.
Mom has to work now to make ends meet
And I'm not much help with my two crippled feet.
She says not to worry, that we'll make it all right,
But I hear her crying sometimes late at night.
You know, there's one thing I want more than anything else to see.
Aw, I know you guys are too busy to bother with me,
But, you see, my dad used to take me for rides when he was home
But I guess that's all over now since my daddy's gone."

Not one breaker came on the old CB
As that little crippled boy talked with me.
I tried hard to swallow, the lump just wouldn't stay down
As I thought about my boy back in Greenville town.

"Dad was gonna take Mom and me with him later on this year.
Why, I remember him saying, 'Someday this old truck'll be yours, Teddy Bear.'
But I know I'll never get to ride an 18-wheeler again,
But this old base will keep me in touch with all my trucker friends.
Teddy Bear's gonna back on out now and leave you alone
'Cause it's about time for Mom to come home.
But you give me a shout when you're passing through
And I'll sure be happy to come back to you."

Well, I came back and I said, "Before you go ten-ten,
What's your home-twenty, little CB friend?"
Well, he gave me his address and I didn't once hesitate
'Cause this hot load of freight was just gonna have to wait.
I turned that truck around on a dime
And headed straight for Jackson Street, 229.

And as I rounded the corner, boy, I got one heck of a shock--
Eighteen-wheelers were lined up for three city blocks!
Why, I guess every driver for miles around had caught Teddy Bear's call
And that little crippled boy was having a ball.
For as fast as one driver would carry him in,
Another would carry him to his truck and take off again.
Well, you better believe I took my turn at riding Teddy Bear
And then I carried him back in and put him down in his chair.
And, buddy, if I never live to see happiness again
I want you to know I saw it that day, in the face of that little man.

We took up a collection for him before his mama got home
And each driver said goodbye and then they were all gone.
He shook my hand with a mile-long grin
And said, "So long, trucker, I'll catch you again!"
I hit that interstate with tears in my eyes
And I turned on the radio and I got another surprise.
"Breaker, one-nine," came a voice on the air,
"Just one word of thanks from Mama Teddy Bear.
We wish each and every one a special prayer for you
'Cause you just made my little boy's dream come true.
I'll sign off now before I start to cry.
May God ride with you. Ten-four, and goodbye."




:D

[toneyc]

Aw, man, what'd you do that for? That song makes me bawl every single time!

:eek:
Toney.

[Caffinehog]

Originally posted by DreamWeaver
Hey Caffinehog, You ever try Leeners LHBS? They are near (south of) you in Northfield. I use them exclusively. Eileen & Jim are Homebrewing maniacs that are great to deal with.

BTW:- we ex-truckers used to refer to Cleveland as The Mistake on the Lake ...did you drop to cesspool?

If I wasn't 40 minutes away from Leeners and 5 minutes from the Grape and Granary, I'd use Leeners almost exclusively. They're great people to deal with and have the lowest prices.

I'm in Akron not Cleveland. In Cleveland, the police have been getting into trouble for telling people they stop that Cleveland sucks and they should move out. The city is cutting police and fire, making people adopt trash cans to keep them available, and then all of a sudden, they find the money to spend on pointless projects that nobody wants. Yet they're on the verge of bankruptcy, so they raise taxes. Businesses are moving out because they can't afford the taxes, so Cleveland has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation.

[toneyc]

Wow, that bad, huh? I guess I'm glad that I didn't move up there last year after all.

:(
Toney.

[DreamWeaver]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
If I wasn't 40 minutes away from Leeners and 5 minutes from the Grape and Granary, I'd use Leeners almost exclusively. They're great people to deal with and have the lowest prices.

I'm in Akron not Cleveland.

My mistake. I somehow thought you were in/near Cleveland.

Look on the bright side... You can always bounce back from anything cuz... We ex-truckers lovingly called Akron the Rubber City! :D

[Caffinehog]

Yeah... Akron.
I go to school in Kent, now... the're the Golden Flashes.
I went to Akron before.... The Zippers. Yeah, Akron is also known as rubber city. Before that, my high school was the Blue Streaks and our rival team was the Beavers. Is there some kind of a pattern here?

[Otis_The_Drunk]

The name of some whole salers would be helpful...